Dial It Down: A Wellness Approach for Addressing Post-Traumatic Stress in Veterans, First Responders, Healthcare Workers, and Others in This Uncertain World by Judith Kimball Otr/l Faota

Author:Judith Kimball Otr/l Faota [Faota, Judith Kimball Otr/l]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Self-Help, Self-Management, Stress Management
ISBN: 9781098374662
Google: b6yGzgEACAAJ
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2021-08-18T00:06:39.913522+00:00

Horseback Riding Programs

I have been privileged to be involved as an occupational therapy consultant with numerous horseback riding and other equine-based programs for veterans, helping plan these programs and assess what working with horses has meant to these individuals. While these programs are specifically aimed at military veterans, horseback riding is an excellent sensory activity for anyone with post-traumatic stress or PTSD, and first responders and frontline medical workers should consider whether adding scheduled riding or lesson time at a local stable to their sensory diets might work for them (even places like New York City often have accessible stables and therapeutic riding programs). Horseback riding provides a unique combination of vestibular and proprioceptive work, along with exposure to the outdoors, tactile input, and emotional ties to the horse. Other equine activities and barn/farm work are also good sensory diet activities. Here are just a few comments:

“I feel the best after my riding session. Both riding and grooming the horses is great!” (Vietnam veteran)

“When working with horses, it’s not just physical. It’s about the relationship with the horse, the feeling of connection.” (Vietnam veteran)

“When I’ve done several hours with the horses, I’m good to go for the rest of the day from a physical pain standpoint. I’m good to go for several days from a mental PTSD standpoint.” (Navy SEAL, Vietnam veteran)

A barn owner told me that the veterans were very good at working with wild mustangs, as the horses and vets seemed to understand each other.

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