by Dan Ross

How long have humans been aware of the cruel psychological toll of war? For a clue, just turn to the Ancient Greeks, and the play Ajax, about a decorated general whose hellish recollections of battle drive him into deep depression and eventually to suicide.

For millennia then, we have recognized many of the conditions that now fall under the umbrella of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). And yet, beyond a handful of common treatments for PTSD with only so-so success rates, the medical establishment has largely ignored so called “alternative” treatments for which there’s overwhelming anecdotal evidence as to their benefits.

Until now, that is. Columbia University’s ongoing Man O’ War research project, scheduled to wrap this summer, seeks to finally confirm what has also been suspected since the heyday of Greek antiquity: that horses, whose hardwired flight instincts mirror in so many ways the human symptoms of PTSD, have the unique ability to help heal the mental wounds and scars of traumatized veterans.

“Even the best treatment currently is effective for no more than 50 to 60% of patients with PTSD,” said Yuval Neria, professor of medical psychology at Columbia and a co-director of the program. Which is why the patients involved in the Man O’ War Project are “looking for something more promising,” Neria said. “There’s a lot of room for improvement.”

The study aims to standardize the way horses can be used to help veterans with PTSD recover from the horrors of their past by producing a manual that other equine therapy programs–many of which vary in approach–can use as a blueprint to work with and from. And by standardizing and legitimizing equine therapy in this way, it could open the door much wider for more racehorses to be used in such programs once their racing careers end.

Read more: Man O’ War Project Helping the Soldiers of War Heal

by Douglas Spatz, President, EyeOn Equine Care

I had a discussion the other evening with a family member about the pros and cons of icing and was told it’s used to treat horse’s legs and is recommended by so many professionals. My response was “Ice does not reduce swelling; the lymphatic system does.”

Actually, ice has been shown to reverse lymphatic drainage, causing backflow of fluid into the injured area and worsening edema . What is needed is anything that promotes circulation and movement of fluids that will help the lymphatic system do its job.

Icing damaged tissue does sometimes give temporary pain relief. However, it also delays healing, causes additional damage, increases swelling, and, perhaps most importantly, shuts off the nerve signals that alert you to which movements are harmful to your recovery process.

Since “good movement” is an essential part of the healing process (and bad movement is harmful), you need (and want!) the feedback more than you need (want) a short-term distraction that ultimately makes your problem worse, not better.

Read more: Is Icing Still a Valid Treatment for Injuries?