Pony and Horseback Riding
at
Melka Resort / Lovina - Bali
In Melka, we also offer the opportunity of pony and horseback riding with our horses Sulu, Bindi, Jasmina and Princess.
For our therapy clients, we also offer accompanied horseback riding. At this moment we consider Horse Assisted Therapy as a promising complement of the Dolphin Assisted Therapy. We hope to offer this unique opportunity of enhancing the physiological and psychological treatment in the future. For further information, please have a look at the info box below.
Horse Assisted Therapy - healing with animals
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Horse Assisted Therapy is indicated for adults and children with a range of physical, emotional, cognitive and social disabilities.
With Horse Assisted Therapy the three dimensional movement of horses is used.
The clients get sensory input and neurological functions are assisted.
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The horses’ movement helps with the development of fine motor skills, Bilateral control, balance, postural / core control and stretching. Sensory processing addresses the vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, visual, olfactory and auditory systems.
Animals are unprejudiced, so they can improve children’s self-esteem. They can show children how to build a relationship or a feeling of connection. When children are in contact with animals, they show more interaction and improve their power of assimilation.
Children benefit a lot from the physical contact, especially children who are frightened about contacts and touching can learn from the animals when they have contact with the warm and soft coat.
So, how does horse therapy work exactly?
Besides the crucial point of being accepted as the very person it is, the child is encouraged to take care of the animal such as brushing, feeding and petting the horse, which allows it to take over responsibilty for a living creature. For most of the children, this is
a new and exciting situation – usually they are the ones been taken care of – not only letting them develop self esteem and personal empowerment,
but also improving social skills, compassion and the ability to gain respect for the sacricy of life. |
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Besides the emotional interaction, the horsebackriding (part of the therapy as well) is also very beneficial to the child. Considered to be quite important is the motivational aspect: enjoying the adventure of horsebackriding, even children with concentration problems stay focussed and are therefore open to take part in customized exercises the therapists apply in order to work on the child´s individual potential. |
For physically disabled children, the instinctive adjustment to the horses movements improves motor coordination as well as the sense of balance and muscle strength, over all being a very effective physical therapy.
The advantage of horsetherapy therefore lies in its ability to deal with emotional, cognitive and physical issues in combination, approaching the
patient in a Holistic way. |
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Therapy description:
For horse assisted therapy a therapist uses the animal to provide sensory inputs.
In the beginning of the therapy the patient gets in contact with the horse.
We can start with activities like cleaning, saddling, touching and feeding. With that we improve cognitive, physical, social and emotional functioning of the client.
Verbal interactions, attention skills, developing reaction skills, increase self-esteem and self-confidence and reduce anxiety are an important part of the therapy.
Riding on a horse in case of therapy means not just to sit on the animal, the therapist even might change the positions when it improves the treatment.
Even therapeutic practicing with a ball, rings or sticks on the back of the animal can be instructed by the therapist.
Indications:
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Cerebral vascular accident (Stroke)
- Developmental delay
- Down Syndrome
- Functional spinal curvature (Scoliosis)
- Learning or language disabilities
- Multiple sclerosis
- Sensory processing disorders
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spina bifida
- Athetosis
- Ataxia
- Posture disorders
- Vertebral Syndromes
Horse Assisted Therapy improves:
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Speak and language abilities
- Articulation
- Oral motor skills
- Respiration and postural / core control
- Sensory processing
- Behavioral and cognitive abilities
For any further professional information and questions please contact us!
