Onotherapy: Why donkey therapy is so effective

Onotherapy is a form of pet therapy that uses interaction with donkeys to improve physical, emotional , and psychological well - being. It works particularly well with :

1. Children

Learning or language disorders: the presence of the donkeys It can stimulate communication, concentration and self-esteem.
Kids with ADHD or hyperactivity: interaction calms and regulates behavior.

2. People with physical or motor disabilities

The donkey's slow, steady gait helps motor development, balance and posture, similar to hippotherapy with horses, but often more suitable for those who fear larger animals.

3. People with emotional or psychological disorders

Anxiety, stress, mild depression: the donkeys They are empathetic animals and can promote relaxation and a sense of security.
Support for people with autism spectrum disorders: guided interactions with Donkeys improve nonverbal communication and emotional management.

4. Elderly

Light activities with donkeys can stimulate socialization, movement and cognitive stimulation, reducing isolation and apathy.

Index of topics

What

Onotherapy is a classic pet therapy (with donkeys at the center of the healing process), which first spread to France, Switzerland, and the United States. It then arrived in Italy. The donkey is an animal considered particularly suitable to be used for therapeutic purposes for some fundamental reasons. First of all the weight: it is a animal Solid, offering immediate assurances of reliability and safety. Secondly, it is a typically empathetic animal, perfect for connecting with children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals in general. Thirdly, it is an animal that readily lets itself be touched and petted, and this attitude has a calming effect on the patient.

They were disappearing, and yet now in Italy there are 59 of them, 90 percent more than ten years ago . And furthermore, thanks to the scientific community, we have understood that they can heal us, both physically and mentally, and also provide us with a very precious milk, especially for those 15 children allergic to cow's milk . I'm talking about donkeys , one of the great rediscoveries of the animal world, which never ceases to amaze us, and a huge waste of natural resources that we are finally overcoming. Thanks to the recovery, and the knowledge, of the many things donkeys can give us, through their school and through onotherapy.

How much can animals teach us , even if they are literally, not metaphorically, donkeys? An animal that seems lost in the (scarce) memory of the black-and-white world, of a sort of agricultural, economic, and cultural archaeology. And yet the donkey is very modern , I would say a symbol of modernity and its problems , with everything it brings us in terms of an example of meekness, in an increasingly violent world, of the ability to master time , where we live immersed in the vacuous and short-sighted anxiety of presentism, of the strength of relationships, while we suffer from the virus of a solitude also made up of eternal virtual and unreal connections.

How it works

A friend of mine brought two donkeys to the island of Panarea, in the Aeolian archipelago, who now live wild in the woods. Every now and then we go to say hello and spend a few hours with them. They help us understand how much this animal , which is not coincidentally used for a specific treatment called onotherapy , has to teach us, and how useful it is to think like a donkey. It means learning the gentleness that helps smooth out the rough edges of our character, rediscovering the pleasure of slowness , of taking the right pace and not rushing, and cultivating the ability to connect with others . It is donkeys who teach us that gentleness is not to be confused with weakness, but rather represents the value of solidity, of inner strength.

Onotherapy takes place through four phases that involve gradual contact with the animal, until complete trust and complicity are achieved.

In the first phase it is as if the patient and thedonkey they began to sniff each other, to get to know each other. And so you come into contact with the animal, getting close but without actually riding it.
In the second phase, the contact becomes closer. The patient cares for the donkey, cuddles it, and leads it. Still without riding it.
In the third phase, direct contact between bodies finally begins. And thedonkey is ridden by the patient.
In the fourth phase, onotherapy activities become group-based, rather than individual. Other people, including the staff, are involved.

What does it cure?

Treatment can be helpful for people with a variety of conditions, including:

Emotional disorders: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress
Physical or mental disabilities: especially for people with cognitive or motor disabilities
Children: They love donkeys very much, and can even be helped to bear pain.
Senior citizens: to improve the quality of life and stimulate socialization.

When needed

The donkey was an animal destined for eclipse, with the advent of agricultural technology that effectively eliminated its economic function in the fields. Yet, throughout the world , including in Italy, the value of this extraordinary animal, of which there are 50 million specimens worldwide, is being rediscovered through onotherapy.

The city of donkeys

It's suitable for everyone, but especially for children and the elderly , as well as for those with disabilities or mental and emotional disorders, as explained on the website La città degli asini (The City of Donkeys ). It's also suitable for specific activities with children, such as the donkey bus in Treviso, where donkeys take children to kindergarten in groups. So, let's make way for donkeys, and give them space in our lives.

Onotherapy and autism

Onotherapy is giving interesting results in the care of autistic childrenThis is why donkeys are often used to treat this terrible disease, and scientific studies investigating their potential benefits are growing. Currently, these are the certainties. Donkey therapy helps autistic children relax and not become defensive. It improves their appearance and body tone. With donkeys, unlike horses, the child is not at risk of being frightened.

Donkey-assisted healing: ideal for depressed seniors and hyperactive children