Rome, Italy - In an area of Rome that once hosted horse races, four horses and two ponies move at a much slower pace to help neurological patients restore their movements and confidence.With handles on the side of their saddles, the animals at the San Giovanni Battista Hospital allow some people to take their first halting steps after trauma, strokes, degenerative diseases, as well as long COVID."It's a beautiful feeling, to be able to stay in equilibrium, to be able to walk.
It also fosters connections between the animals and patients, who develop trust and affection for them in a gradual and sensory approach with huge psychological benefits.The hospital's program, which operates alongside traditional rehabilitation, has been running for a few years. In 2023 it involved more than 600 patients.Physiotherapist Giorgia De Santis says it helps that a horse "does not judge, is not prejudiced".