Animal therapists

The advance in medicine and the cooperation of other areas of knowledge have developed new therapies for various pathologies. Among these new developments, which intend to help people with difficulties on different stimulation points, are called zootherapy programs. It is a psycho-educational therapeutic method that includes an animal assisted technique.

In these types of therapies animals perform a crucial role, functioning as a powerful stimulation. Even though the best known zootherapies are those involving dogs, it has also been experimented with cats, horses, dolphins, etc.

Horses are animals strongly linked to humans since ancient times. Their beauty, intelligence and ability for work, but above all their loyalty and companionship to people, transform them into loyal allies. A zootherapy program that includes horses (equines) is called equinotherapy or hippotherapy (hippo, horse). In Santiago de Chile the TALA Foundation has developed an equinotherapy program that is achieving great success in the recovery of diverse pathologies.

Collaborated in this article: Dra. María Inés Bonvin

Even with good health it is convenient to visit a doctor.