Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) assists rehabilitation – Athletes with disabilities hope to gain government support

The 12th International Hope Cup (第十二屆希望盃身障馬術賽) took place on August 10 at The Therapeutic Riding Centre of Taiwan in Zhongli. Raised under the theme “Hand in Hand”, the event hopes to break barriers by allowing athletes with disabilities to compete on the same field as able-bodied athletes. Chief coach at The Therapeutic Riding Centre of Taiwan, Zhang Zhao-yuan (張兆遠), said that the event hopes to create a fair stage for competition, so that everyone has the opportunity to shine.

For those with physical and mental disabilities, equestrianism is not only a competition but also a treatment. Compared to the physiotherapy that hospitals provide, equestrianism allows those with disabilities to ride on horseback outdoors, providing what many feel is a unique and ultimately superior treatment. Jiang Xian-you (姜炫佑) is one patient with severe cerebral palsy who is undergoing equestrian therapy and is currently training to be a para-equestrian athlete. Another person undergoing equestrian therapy is Li Fang-rong (李枋容). Her mother, Xiao Ru-yun (蕭茹云), who is a strong proponent of the efficacy of equestrian therapy, said: “At any mention of the hospital treatment she would only cry and become disturbed. Through equestrian therapy her stomach and back muscles have gained a lot of strength”.

Though equine-assisted therapy is a wonderful method to treat people with disabilities and has been effectively used for 20-30 years in Europe and the United States, the Taiwanese government has yet to provide much assistance or been willing to include the treatment into the national health care system. As a result, The Therapeutic Riding Centre of Taiwan must rely on public fundraising in order to promote the treatment. Zhang Zhao-yuan said: “I hope that the government will place more importance on this therapy, because although the cost is high, its value is irreplaceable.  

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) assists rehabilitation – Athletes with disabilities hope to gain government support 

URL：https://www.peopo.org/news/321407

(以下是中文對照)

馬術治療助復健 身障選手盼獲政府重視

第十二屆希望盃身障馬術賽10月8日於桃園市中壢區台灣馬術治療中心展開，以「Hand in Hand」為主題，期待打破隔閡，讓身障與一般選手在賽場上共同較勁。台灣馬術治療中心總教練張兆遠表示，這次比賽重在塑造一個公平競爭的舞台，讓大家都可以在舞台上發光發熱。

對身心障礙者來說，馬術不只是競賽，也是一種治療方式，比起醫院單一的物理治療，身障者可以騎上馬背走出戶外，得到更好的治療效果。姜炫佑是接受馬術治療的其中一位重度腦麻患者，目前正接受帕運馬術選手的培育訓練。另一位腦麻兼多重障礙患者的李枋容，她的母親蕭茹云表示，「相關的醫院的治療，她就只有哭跟鬧。」而她也肯定馬術治療的功效，「她的肚子和背肌的力量有比較好，所以我發現馬術治療是很棒的。」

馬術治療對身障者有益，在歐美也已經施行20、30年之久，但台灣政府並未提供太多協助，仍未將馬術治療納入健保。台灣馬術治療中心必須仰賴民眾募款才能順利推動，因此張兆遠表示：「期盼政府可以看重這一塊，雖然成本很高，但這個價值是無法取代的。」