Historian’s quote Greek physician Hippocrates, the so-called ‘Father of Medicine’, as saying ‘Riding in clean air strengthens body muscles and keeps them in good form,’ referring to horse riding having therapeutic value. Thousands of years later and from my own experience, I couldn’t agree more! 

Before I took up Para-canoe I was obsessed with horses. My dream was to go to the Paralympics in the sport of equestrian. This dream blossomed from humble beginnings and what is now called Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). AAT is the term used for any therapy involving animals that is designed to improve physical, emotional or social wellbeing, and cognitive function for those living with a disability. 

At the age of seven, I started riding at The McIntyre Riding for the Disabled Centre (RDA) which still operates today as part of HELP Disability Care. There I benefited from equine-assisted physiotherapy, improving my strength, balance, and coordination. 

But riding horses didn’t just improve my physical skills. RDA pathways lead me to set/achieve goals, compete internationally, develop better confidence and resilience, and discover a life-long passion for working with animals. Ultimately, I switched sports to achieve my Paralympic dream, but I absolutely loved every second I spent with horses and what I learnt helped me become the person I am today. 

While AAT focuses on human rehabilitation, there are programs that also aim to enrich the lives of unwanted and neglected animals. Such as the Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation, which conducts programs using animals waiting to be adopted from shelters. I love this mutually beneficial concept that aims to heal both parties. 

If you have ever wanted to try AAT now is the time to sign-up for programs starting in the new year. Feel free to share your AAT experience in the comments and check out these websites for more information…

Riding for the Disabled Association of Australia www.rda.org.au/rda-national

Riding for the Disabled New Zealand www.rda.org.nz

Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation www.hphhfoundation.org

About the author:

Susan Seipel is a diverse para-athlete with a background in swimming, equestrian, and is a triple World Champion in the sport of Paracanoe.

She won a Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games and was the first Australian in history to win a medal in Paracanoe at Paralympic level. Currently, she is training towards the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Outside of sport, Susan is a proud ambassador for the RSPCA Queensland and is passionate about animal welfare, as well as disability issues. 

http://www.susanseipel.com