Humanitarian award for equine therapy proponent

L-R: 2011 EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award Recipient Molly Sweeney, Lynn Coakley, Tricia Watkins and David O'Connor. © Geoff Bugbee

Molly Sweeney was honoured at the United States Equestrian Federation's Pegasus Awards Dinner in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 14.

Sweeney has worked as a volunteer at local and national level for more than two decades in the equine assisted activities and therapies (EAA/T) field. Through her work, she came to fully understand how profoundly horses affect people on the physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, and even spiritual levels. She also became convinced of the importance of professional research to validate the impact horses have on human behaviour.

In accepting the award, Sweeney said, "I thought I should go to a dictionary and look up the meaning of the word, "Humanitarian". One definition says helping to improve the welfare and happiness of people.

"Given that definition, and this group of people, I believe the Humanitarian award should go to all the horses out there who bring so much happiness to so many people. As for me, I was born with a defective gene that makes me addicted to horses. I bet many of you have inherited the same one."

She said, "Why research you ask? Because research brings knowledge and knowledge leads to education. This research will educate the medical world about the value of equine assisted therapies. It will educate clients about results they can expect from riding. It will educate donors about why they and you should invest in EAA/T. It will educate insurance companies why they should reimburse riding expenses for clients. It will educate the therapists and instructors about best practices. And ultimately it will validate the power of the horse to transform lives."

KC Henry, Executive Director of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation, with Molly Sweeney at the Pegasus Awards Dinner. © Cindy Ruiz

Under Sweeney's leadership, the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) was established to support, promote and fund scientific research that explores the claimed, yet unsubstantiated benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapies. As part of the Humanitarian Award, the HHRF will receive a $5000 grant from The EQUUS Foundation.

"I am often asked why I am involved with all this research," Sweeney said. "And I reply - My vision is that one day, every child who is diagnosed with Autism or Cerebral Palsy, or Down Syndrome or any other disorder, will be given a doctor's prescription for horse-back riding. Every adult with a traumatic brain injury or depression or recovering from a stroke, or requiring rehabilitation, will be given a prescription for horse back riding.

"Every at-risk child or adult will be given the chance to work with horses. And dare I say that every stable, every barn, every horse facility will offer sessions for people with special needs, and insurance companies will pay for it. And every horse will be appreciated for their intrinsic value to bring happiness and healing to people."