Animals have been helping humans for a very long time now. Some have become the pets to give us emotional support, while others assist us with our day-to-day work. Farm animals, in particular, have been a source of income for many small farmers in developing countries.
Today, however, these animals are more than just livestock or helpers in agriculture. They now play a significant role in therapies, assisting people with mental health issues and improving their quality of life.
What is farm animal therapy? How does it work?
Farm animals are considered therapeutic help to those with emotional and mental health problems. These animals are classified under Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), where they assist individuals in their treatment. Patients create a bond with farm animals, and doctors communicate through them for individuals with emotional struggles to share their feelings.
A research paper on Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health discusses psychiatric patients’ involvement with farm animals. The result is that there is a significant increase in coping ability and self-awareness in psychiatric patients.
Examples of common therapeutic farm animals
Not all animals can be therapeutic but there are some you want to consider if you need one.
Horses
A horse is one of the farm animals used for therapy. It is common for those children diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) uses horses as part of its treatment. They describe that having a farm animal like a horse helps children calm down and relax. Moreover, horses help boost focus since children are encouraged to feed and brush them.
Related: Why Do Miniature Horses Make Great Service Animals? 5 Reasons Why
Goats
Aside from horses, goats are also good therapy farm animals. They provide a sense of calmness to the person holding them. Snuggling with goats can help release oxytocin — commonly known as the love hormone. Taking care of goats increases a person’s carefulness.
Cows
A cow is another animal that can comfort you. Someone with anxiety and depression can cuddle cows and help in cow milking. People can snuggle up with cows after they eat (when they start to lie down quietly). Fun fact: cows have a slower heart rate than humans, and when a person with anxieties snuggles up with a cow, their heart rate slows down.
How can farm animal therapy benefit people?
Farm animals benefit people’s overall emotional well-being. This kind of therapy allows persons with mental health issues to unload their stress and relax for a while. There are a lot of fun activities used in therapeutic sessions, such as feeding and grooming the horses, riding a horse, snuggling goats, and cuddling cows.
Conclusion
Aside from dogs and cats, farm animals can also be great companions that provide emotional support for struggling individuals. People living in the city can appreciate these kinds of animals even more because they don’t see them very often. If you need some mood boosters, you can go to the farm and spend a wonderful time with horses, goats, or cows. These animals can significantly help in improving your mental well-being.
Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet.
The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.
Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.
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