PTSD and the Benefits of Horsemanship

Is there a benefit to equine guided therapy and what could that benefit be and to whom? The communication through the electromagnetic field from the heart of the horse and individual helps to facilitate the release of oxytocin and benefit the individual working with the horse. The release of oxytocin helps to calm an overly emotional response, which is seen more in those who are suffering from PTSD in stressful situations. Overall work with equine therapy can assist individuals to better understand the message that ​ emotions carry. Those emotions can be hard to access and work through, another ​ benefit of working with horses is the release of oxytocin, which helps to relieve stress and promote a calm feeling.

Time spent with animals, horses in this case, help to facilitate the release of oxytocin which can be linked to reduced feelings of stress and anxiety, depression and help to elevate mood. The reduction of subjective psychological stress (fear, anxiety) due to animal contact, as well as the dampening of physiological stress parameters in connection with activation of the oxytocin system represent a core mechanism in explaining many of the positive effects of human animal interaction. (Andrea Beetz). One study found that “…college students got a dose of oxytocin from a nasal spray, they were more willing to share their emotions about a painful memory with a stranger than participants who got a placebo ​ ​ (Links to an external site.)

spray.” (Jade Wu) While no oxytocin is going to be administered while working with the horses, the interaction from working with horses can help to release naturally occurring oxytocin, allowing individuals to work through emotions in a calm state mind. ​ Horses do not communicate verbally, but rather with emotions. “Horses do not think in language, but rather feel the energy within and around them, which makes them highly intuitive and emotionally attuned to the slightest gesture, body posture or tension, tone of voice, or glance” (Dempsey). Emotions that we experience often carry ​ information that needs to be processed, unfortunately with PTSD, those emotions are challenging to process because of the nature in which those memories were created because the base of PTSD memories is trauma. When the person can ​ safely examine the information that is given through the emotion they can then begin to heal. Triana-Del Río 2019 examines the extinction of conditioned fear responses entrains the formation of safe new memories to decrease those behavioral responses. When interacting with horses, oxytocin is released, quieting the autonomic nervous system, creating a calming sensation for the individual a safe space to learn. Linda ​ Kohanov, author and works in equine assisted therapy, has created an immensely powerful tool, the Emotional Message Chart, allowing guidance of what the deeper meaning of the emotion hold, for example: Emotion- Fear, Message- intuitive, focused awareness of a threat to your well being (external threat), Questions- What is the threat? What action must I take to move to a ​ ​ position of safety? Intensification- Worry, fear, confusion, dulling of the senses, panic, terror, dissociation. (Kohanov) The individual working with the horse can ask ​ these questions of themselves and safely feel into the emotion supported by the horses calming energy. “Participants’ PTSD symptoms, emotional distress, anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and alcohol use decreased significantly following program participation. (Julie L. Earles)”

The communication of emotions from the horse to the individual is carried out over the electromagnetic field of the heart from horse to individual and vice versa. This is ​ because information about a person’s emotional state is encoded in the heart’s magnetic field and is communicated throughout the body and into the external environment (Rollin McCraty). This is the electromagnetic field that can be felt and ​ interpreted by the heart of other individuals’ feelings and state of being. Since humans could do this with our size heart, which is about half of a pound, then it would be possible to connect with the energetic field of the horse’s heart. The size of the average ​ horse’s heart is approximately 1% of its body weight, meaning a 1000-pound horse will have an eight to ten-pound heart! (Joan Norton) Larger heart, larger electromagnetic ​ field. At Mearas, a ranch that works with individuals suffering from PTSD, makes use of the electromagnetic field by establishing and communicating clear boundaries with integrity and compassion. One such example is a participant walks toward the horse and watches for the slightest movement, which signals that they have hit an energy field. This movement could be as small as an ear turned toward the person walking and as large as the horse walking ways, setting a boundary that it does not want to be approached at that time. Though the activity is a small one, it teaches respect for ​ boundaries, grounding, as well as an assessment of, what energy, or emotion, was I carrying that the horse did not want to interact with? This brings us back to ​ ​ ​ information from the Emotional Message Chart from Linda Kohanov, a moment to pause and reflect to learn what we are carrying with us, how to grow from it and how to move on if it is no longer serving us. At the same time, it is teaching the participant how to pause when agitated, question the emotion, learn, and move on. “…By becoming more horselike in your responses to emotion, you can successfully align thought, ​ ​ feeling and action for optimal performance…” (Kohanov) This is how the horse moves ​ through those emotions “1. feel the emotion in its purest form; 2. get the message behind the emotion; 3. change something in response to that emotion; and 4. go back to grazing. (In other words, they let the emotion go, and either get back on task or relax, enjoying life fully…)” (Kohanov) These techniques take time ​ to learn, but are achievable and highly beneficial to those suffering from PTSD.

Individuals that suffer from PTSD would greatly benefit from the emotional assistance that horses can provide. They are giant walking hearts, kind, non-judgmental and ​ greatly supportive in learning how to understand and communicate emotions in a healthy manner. Working through the scarier emotions in a safe loving environment can ​ help to re-write the pathways of the trauma allowing the individual to begin to heal and ​ ​ have a more normal life. Lesson learned with horses are not just work done on the ​ ​ ranch, but lessons that are carried in daily life to help create the best life possible.

Works Cited

Andrea Beetz, Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg,Henri Julius,and Kurt Kotrschal. Psychosocial and ​ Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin. 09 07 2012. 06 2020. ​ Chloé, Rodrigo Triana-Del Río & Erwin van den Burg & Ron Stoop &. "Acute and long-lasting effects of oxytocin in cortico-limbic circuits: consequences for fear recall and extinction." Psychopharmacology January 2019. ​ ​ Dempsey, Elizabeth. "The Effects fo Equine Assisted Psycotherapy on Emotion Regulation: self-efficacy and self-awareness as potential mediatiors." Ph.D. Dissertation ​ in Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, 2017.https://www.heartmath.org/research/research-library/dissertations/effect-equine-as ​ sisted-psychotherapy-emotion-regulation-self-efficacy-self-awareness-potential-mediato rs/, 2017.

Jade Wu, Ph.D. The Power of Oxytocin, Psycology Today. 11 02 2020. 26 06 2020. ​ ​ Joan Norton, VMD DACVIM. https://equimed.com/health-centers/general-care/articles/the-equine-circulatory-system# author. 22 04 2017. Website. 26 06 2020. ​ .

Julie L. Earles, Laura L. Vernon and Jeanne P. Yetz. "Equine-Assisted Therapy for Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress symptoms." Journal of Traumatic Stress 28 April ​ ​ 2015: 150. website. .

Kohanov, Linda. "The Power of the Herd." Kohanov, LInda. The Power of the Herd. ​ ​ 2012. 207-208.

Rollin McCraty, Ph.D. Science of the Heart Vol. 2, Exploring the Role of the Heart in ​ Human Performance. Boulder Creek: HeartMath Institute , 2015. ​

I really enjoyed reading your paper about horses. It taught me a lot about the science of the ways that horses and humans can interact for therapy. Most of the bold points that I made are because you had some run-on sentences. Others were because you had a word choice that was incorrect due to its tense or form. Like, in paragraph one you used work and it should have been working. I didn’t put questions in the ​ ​ paragraphs about this, but I’m wondering where your citations are for the ideas you took from other resources. You have all of the resources in the Works Cited page, but not mentioned where the information came from in the paper. Paraphrasing or the scientific information should be addressed just like regular quotes if they weren’t your ideas.

The things I underlined were really interesting facts. I would like to know some more about those particular comments. I would have liked to know more about the oxytocin experiment. Also, I would have liked to see more about the horse’s heart size! Your information is good and it covers a lot of different facts. One of my ideas is bold and underline. It’s a great thought, but it was a run-on sentence. I also wonder if you can include some more information about disorders that horses help that aren’t PTSD. And, if it makes sense to talk about other animals who are used for therapy, that would be helpful to make a connection, too.

Veganism After becoming vegan for a few months, I noticed drastic changes to my lifestyle. I’ve been a carnivore since I was a child and never thought that I would choose this route to become a vegan. “” is defined as a way of living without ​ eating meat and using any animal products, such as, clothing, makeup, or food. However, there are different types of ​ vegans: dietary, whole-food, junk-food, raw-food, and low-fat/raw-food. A dietary vegan is typically a person who doesn’t eat meat, but will still use other animal products, like clothing and cosmetics. A whole-food vegan is a person who eats , , whole , , nuts, and seeds. A ​ junk-food vegan is a person who relies heavily on processed vegan foods, such as, vegan meats, frozen foods, desserts, and anything that is processed similar to the “real thing,” like , cheeses, etc. A raw-food vegan is a person who only eats foods ​ that are raw or cooked at temperatures below 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Lastly, a low-fat/raw-food vegan is a person who also only eats raw foods, but they’re also known as fruitarians. I am considered a dietary vegan. The reason why I decided to alter my ​ diet was mainly to better my ways of eating and to improve on my health. Before I became vegan, my diet was typically meats, veggies, and a carbohydrate, which most of the time after eating ​ my meals, I felt fatigue or drowsy. After I watched “Game ​ ​ Changers” on Netflix, it totally changed my mind about the way I ​ look at meat or animals. Becoming a vegan can be difficult at first, especially if you are a meat eater like I was, but the lifestyle ​ ​ changes are more rewarding and can improve your digestive system, exceed your exercises, and lower health risks to your medical concerns. Vegan diets are completely -based, providing more fiber and antioxidants, helping to maintain a healthy digestive system. One thing I noticed the most about the change in my own digestive system is that I don’t feel as bloated as I did before. I also really like how regular my bowel movements became due to all the fibers I was gaining from the foods I ate. I’ve never felt so satisfied with the way my body feels now. When ​ ​ eating foods that are high in fiber, you tend to feel fuller. This would help with people who are trying to lose weight or control their eating habits. Eating foods that are high in fiber can also keep foods and waste moving smoothly through your digestive system, avoiding constipation and diarrhea. Being able to ​ maintain a healthy weight can help with unpleasant digestion problems, such as, acid reflux. Vegan diets can also reduce ​ ​ ​ inflammation and fight oxidative stress because of the and nutrient plant-based foods you are consuming. (NEED A ​ TRANSITION SENTENCE HERE. ENTER QUOTES IN THIS PARAGRAPH) When food is digested properly, it turns into energy which can give you access to potentially maximize your workouts without making you feel over exhausted or worn out. There are ​ many athletes and celebrities, like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went vegan and describes the myth that meat is needed for protein and strength is actually a result of marketing. “Meat is for ​ men,” is a typical marketing phrase used to make people believe that the best protein for people who work out is meat. But there has been many studies of olympic athletes and body builders ​ ​ who and state they can last longer or feel stronger in a competition. According to the article “How a Vegan Diet Can Improve Workout Recovery,” written by Cait Corcoran, she explains how eating animal proteins like chicken or eggs can obstruct your body’s ability to recover after a workout. Corcoran talks about an author, Dr. Michael Greger, and his book called,” ​ How Not to Die,” of how he explains, “.. this invasion of ​ endotoxins triggers an immune response in the body after perceiving this bacterial threat in which inflammation ensues. Thus, hindering your body’s ability to recover after a workout.” The main nutrient that is found solely in plants that helps fight inflammation are phytonutrients. Phytonutrients is a substance found in a certain plant which can be beneficial to human health and help prevent various diseases. Corcoran states, “the more phytonutrients you consume as an athlete, the faster your body can recover from exercise-induced inflammation.” Consuming plant-based foods can lower your LDL cholesterol levels and limits your intake of trans saturated fatty acids found in animal products. Working in a vascular clinic, we are all about the veins and arteries. If you consume high levels of LDL cholesterol, you can build up plaque in your arteries, thus, reducing the flow of blood to the rest of your body. Because your muscles are constantly asking for oxygen when working out, being on a vegan diet can help to open up the arteries to increase oxygen levels to your muscles, making it easier to perform your workouts. Changing your diet can be very beneficial to your health ​ because when you become vegan, you lower the risk of developing chronic diseases, such as, cancer, heart disease, and hypertension. According to the article, “What to Know About ​ Vegan Diets,” medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.D. and written by Amy Smith, they talk about the benefits of a ​ ​ vegan diet that can better your heart health in several ways. As written in the above paragraph, saturated fats and cholesterol can increase plaque in your arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease or stroke. Smith explains that eating a vegan diet may reduce a person’s risk of cancer by 15%. In another article, “ How Plant-Based Food Helps Fight Cancer,” by Mayo Clinic Staff, it states, “researchers asked nearly 70,000 volunteers about their diets, and tracked them over time, they found lower cancer rates among people who didn’t eat meat at all.” If you are on a plant-based diet, research linked the effect of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. If you are re-evaluating your health like I am, you would see that reducing the risks of these diseases can be important to maintaining a healthy body. In conclusion, becoming a vegan can have many benefits to having a better and healthier lifestyle. In my experience, I feel a lot happier with the way my body feels now than it did before I was vegan. I believe that making better choices are always ​ beneficial no matter what the change is! (MAYBE ADD MORE ​ EXPERIENCES AND FEELINGS?)

Works Cited Cait Corcoran How a Vegan Diet Can Improve Workout Recovery Website Title: One Green Planet https://www.onegreenplanet.org/natural-health/vegan-diet-can-i mprove-workout-recovery/ (Links to an external site.)

Mayo Clinic Staff How Plant-Based Food Helps Fight Cancer Website Title: Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-health y-eating/in-depth/how-plant-based-food-helps-fight-cancer/art-2 0457590#:~:text=But%20when%20researchers%20asked%20n early,of%20cancer%20of%20any%20diet. (Links to an external site.)

MPH Madeline R. Vann Website Title: The Digestive Perks of Being a Vegetarian EverydayHealth.com https://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/go-vegetarian- without-the-gas.aspx (Links to an external site.)

Alina Petre, MS, RD (NL) What Is Veganism and What Do Vegans Eat? Website Title: Healthline https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-is-a-vegan (Links to an external site.)

Amy Smith Vegan diet: Health benefits, foods, and tips Website Title: Medicalnewstoday.com ​ https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149636 (Links to an external site.)

Kiera Carter 7 Vegan Trainers Explain How They Fuel Their Toughest Workouts Website Title: Shape https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/how-vegan-train ers-fuel-tough-workouts (Links to an external site.)

Questions: Are each of my paragraphs clear? Are you confused when you read them? What can I do to make it more organized?

Your paper was very interesting and helped someone like me learn about a topic I didn’t know much about. To answer your question, your paragraphs are clear, but they are too long. I know in high school we learned the 5 paragraph essay structure. You can keep the structure of that with a three part thesis, but have more body paragraphs. I think you can break some of your ideas up into smaller paragraphs to help with the organization. I bolded some grammatical errors here and there, but not too many. I also bolded one time the words, “they talk about” because, unless it was an interview, you want to say that they “wrote” or “stated” instead of talked about. Make sure you are using MLA format for your citations, too (like book titles should be italics, not in quotes).

The information I have underlined is really interesting. I really like the personal touch that you gave your paper by including how YOUR body has changed over the course of your dietary changes. I would add a little more about the Netflix show you watched. Maybe include some specific details about why it impacted you. I also think you could find some quotes from celebrities about why Vegan life is for them. Talking about Arnold was a good addition, but you can definitely have more.