It's been proven that forming a special bond with an animal can help a person suffering from a disability.
We've seen this happen on many occasions when a dog is brought into a person's life. For example, there's the boy whose brain injury started to improve dramatically with the help of a therapy dog.
Dogs are even brought into nursing homes to help senior citizens suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, such as Winston, the 106-pound Great Pyrenees who lets every elderly person pet him.
Just like canines, horses are another animal that can also have a major effect on a person's life.
Bright Hope Riders in Indiana is a place where this positive interaction happens often as people with developmental disabilities take part in therapeutic horseback riding.
"They get on the horse and they sing us songs and they do all sorts of wonderful things," said owner Dr. Jerry Mansfield of the riders.
In the video below, we see the success through a young boy who refused to speak because of mental difficulty. Everything changed the minute he saw his horse. It's hard to even tell he once had a problem.
"It's really a joy to work with them and to see them progress," Mansfield said. "It really does help. It really does."
Please SHARE if you are stunned by the power of horse therapy!
