Articles and Research

Dr. Anita Shkedi is a leading authority on
Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies
(EAA/T). In December 2022, Dr. Shkedi
came to the Republic of Korea to provide
an Equine Therapy lecture series and
workshop in collaboration with Grace Stables, American Red Cross, and Wounded
Warrior. In this essay, Dr. Shkedi explains
the effectiveness of EAA/T, the intentional
matching of horse and person, and the
design of the sessions.

It is widely believed that early diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder is essential for better outcome. This
is demonstrated by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to screen all 1.5–2.5-year-old toddlers for
autism spectrum disorder. However, multiple longitudinal studies of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
at 1.5–6 years of age and treated in community settings have not reported any associations between earlier diagnosis
and improved outcome in core autism spectrum disorder symptoms.

During the past eighteen years I have witnessed the countless benefits of horseback riding for innumerable challenged riders through the teaching and treatment
modality of Therapeutic Riding. The challenged or special learner, now, the
horseback rider has the experience of performing as a normal person, (i.e. being
mobile, independent of others and free), and having the opportunity to actively
participate in and upon the environment. The rider can improve self-image, self-respect,
and self-esteem. He is motivated by a sense of achievement, and experiences pure joy and carefree pleasure…

It can be said that EAA/T began many centuries ago, when humans first realized the importance of their relationship with horses. The horse was drawn into every aspect of their life, and became relied upon for power, performance, pleasure, food and health. Emerging from the time of images, myths and magic, the horse became known as an excellent exerciser. Since Hippocrates, doctors have suggested the horse be used to exercise people and raise their spirts. Some even suggested it was good for digestion, while others, found the movement to resemble that of humans, and must be good for all life activities.
Today, EAA/T was developed through two models – the German and British model, and then shortly afterwards came the American Model.

Fear is “hard-wired into our brains and represents a genetic wisdom designed to protect us from bodily harm. It activates a survival system in our bodies that immediately bypasses our rational mind and moves us into “attack” mode. This state of alert causes us to perceive almost everything in our world as a possible threat to our survival. In this state, we tend to see everyone and everything as a possible enemy. Fear exaggerates and distorts our thinking as we narrow our focus to those things that can harm us and becomes the lens through which we see the world. (Neimark, (011)