Hippotherapy helps Ukrainian soldiers cope with war stress

Ukrainian soldiers dealing with the stress of war are taking part in hippotherapy sessions, which use riding and contact with horses for therapeutic effect. The programme, called Spirit Warrior, is run by an organisation called Spirit and is based at Kyiv’s hippodrome. The soldiers begin by establishing contact with the horses and choosing one that they see as sharing some of their characteristics. They then ride in circles, gradually raising their arms and taking the reins, before finally breaking into a trot. The therapy aims to help soldiers relax and deal with the difficulties of war.