Horse therapy aims to save troubled youths from crime

THE horse whisperer may have been a hit US movie, but equine experts here are also using horses as “therapists”.

Horse owners nationwide, including those working with troubled teenagers, will be invited to a seminar next month on “equine therapy”.

Owners and people working with horses will attend the Kildare event entitled Horse Health & Performance.

Owners in several disadvantaged areas, including Finglas and Ballymun, Dublin, as well as Moyross, Limerick, are expected to get involved. Already seen as a key method in steering teenagers away from crime in the US, equine therapy and horse welfare groups are growing in popularity here.

The seminar on February 16, is being organised by HEALS (Horse Energy Alleviates Living Scars), which promotes welfare with and through horses in Ireland.

Its president, Kevin Smith, said: “In the US, it’s been seen that they [teenagers] get close to the horses and they keep away from drugs. The teenagers get so much, because their time is spent caring for the horses.

“The horses sense human behaviour and when kids are being obstructive or too calm, they [the horses] can change behaviour to calm the children or even boost their activity.”

The seminar will be presented by a top equine therapist, Sarah Fisher, a British instructor and author of Know Your Horse Inside Out.

All seminar proceeds are being donated to the Irish Horse Welfare Trust. Its founder, Sharon Newsome, who is coordinating an equine project in Moyross, Limerick, explained the benefits of involving youngsters with horses.

“There’s a huge culture of horses in Moyross, especially with young people. We’re trying to establish a foundation course for out-of-school teenagers, which would qualify them in safe handling [of horses] or in basic stable management. We teach people respect for animals.”

Working with schools, community groups and the Limerick regeneration project, the trust hopes to successfully apply for funds to build a 50-acre equine facility in Moyross this year.

Details on the seminar can be obtained on 045-435791.