You likely have heard of dogs as emotional support animals, but have you heard of therapy horses?

Those who have experience with horses can tell you that being in a barn grooming, feeding and caring for horses helps relieve stress. Research shows it also lowers blood pressure and improves overall health. Equine therapy benefits people with many mental health concerns.

This approach doesn’t require any previous experience with a horse, and you won’t need to do any riding. Instead, you might spend your sessions doing things like stroking, grooming, feeding, or leading horses – or even simply observing them – under the guidance of a professional.

Studies show it helps reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression, particularly in veterans, with more than 50% of participants reporting marked improvements three months post-treatment.

By making a personal connection with a nonjudgmental animal, you can gain empathy and independence while increasing your impulse control. You also may increase your threshold for stress.

Source: Healthline

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/equine-therapy