By JONATHON HOWARD
RIDING and interacting with horses is helping a growing number of Noosa youngsters to cope with depression, stress, anger and anxiety.
Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled based at 2 Monak Road, North Armidale, meets with about 70 children on Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week from 9am to 12.30pm.
The program allows both able and disabled children to interact with horses and forces the kids out of their shells.
SSC Riding for the Disabled committee member Dianne Bennett said the equine assisted learning program was proving to be a huge success.
“We’re seeing more than 70 children attending each week over the two sessions,” she said.
“The health benefits of horses have long been known, but I think families are now taking notice and are eager to get their children involved,” he said.
According to ground breaking new research, from the American Psychological Association, teenagers who spent time grooming, handling and riding horses had lower levels of stress hormones.
Researchers tested the saliva of 130 youths who were taking part in a school horsemanship course that lasted 12 weeks.
They spent 90 minutes a week learning about grooming and horsemanship.
Each teenager gave six samples of saliva over a two day period before and after the 12-week program.
Researchers analysed the levels of stress hormone cortisol in the samples.
The results, published in the American Psychological Association’s Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, revealed that children who played with horses had “significantly” lower stress levels than a control group.
Horsemanship programs are now being used globally to provide therapy for people who have psychological problems and disabilities.
To find out more about Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled visit 2 Monak Road at 9am on Monday.
Alternatively, you can phone (07) 5472 7280.
