LETTERS: While looking for alternative intervention activities that could help educate my special needs daughter about global developmental delay, I stumbled on equine-assisted therapy (EAT) a few years ago.
I looked around locally for this therapy but to no avail. Most horse owners, however, are aware of EAT and the related intervention, but they do not have qualified personnel to do it.
So, instead of EAT, some stable owners allow equine-assisted activities (EAA) at their place to help people who are keen to improve themselves and their special needs children.
EAT was established a few decades ago in North America where health services are provided by licensed professionals.
They include physical and occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and counsellors who team up with equine specialists to hold therapy sessions using horses as mediators (therapists).
Many researchers have theorised and demonstrated in scientific, empirical and clinical data that EAT can address many issues, including mental illness.
They include mood disorders; personality disorders; anxiety disorders; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); PTSD in combat veterans; relationship issues; attachment issues in at-risk children and adolescents; and stress-related conditions.
EAT is recognised as an alternative psychotherapy as well as a physical method provided by professionals in more than 50 countries.
However, in most Asian countries, including Malaysia, EAA is provided by horse owners.
With the help of equine specialists during the activities, EAA includes horse interactions, such as horse feeding, bathing, grooming, leading and joy riding.
EAA improves people's social, emotional and cognitive functioning skills.
Studies of animal-assisted therapy incorporating psychological and physiological models that studied human-animal interaction showed a positive effect on participants.
Biologist Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularised the biophilia hypothesis, in which human survival has a natural dependence on cues from animals in the environment in response to safety or threat.
Taking care of horses, such as feeding them with carrots or touching their hair, increases the oxytocin (love) hormone.
My experience involving EAA with my daughter showed that she showed better self-discipline, was eager and excited to get involved in horse activities and exhibited pleasant behaviour after every EAA session.
So I am in favour of continuing EAA and would love to help establish EAT to help others.
DR ROSMINA JAAFAR
Adviser of Kelab Ekuin,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times