The enthusiasm of a dog, a special connection with a horse or the feel of an alpaca’s fur – activities with animals are some of the most popular amongst service users at Richardson Care.

We organise a wide range of events and activities to cater for all of our service users’ interests and preferences. Here we focus on those involving animals, which give the guys a real boost, bringing benefits for both mental and physical well-being.

For individuals with a brain injury or learning disabilities, the mental and emotional benefits of contact with animals can be especially powerful because animals provide consistent, non-judgmental interaction that supports emotional stability and self-worth.

Some of the guys have started visiting a local animal rescue charity to take dogs for a walk and another man visits stables to care for horses each week. We also have visits from Dave from Pets as Therapy and his cockerpoo, Freddie, as well as special events. This might be some alpacas or donkeys coming to visit, or Andrea with her exotic collection of reptiles and other animals.

All these activities provide a valuable sensory experience with a range of emotional and cognitive benefits, such as:

Emotion Regulation and Calming

Contact with animals can help to reduce anxiety, agitation and emotional outbursts and has been shown to lower cortisol (a stress hormone). Animals provide a calming sensory experience (for example stroking fur or grooming a horse) and they can create a sense of safety, which makes it easier to regulate feelings.

People who have an acquired brain injury or autism spectrum disorder often experience difficulties managing emotions and this calming effect can prevent emotional overload, and therefore support with daily functioning.

Improved Mood and Reduced Depression

New, novel or positive experiences, such as interaction with animals can boost mood through increased dopamine and serotonin. Animals can also provide comfort and companionship, and give individuals something to look forward to.

For someone with an acquired brain injury, who has a passion for horses, for example, going to the stables every week can help them to reconnect with the person they were before they had their injury. This may be to go riding, or to groom and care for horses. Re-discovering their sense of self can help to improve mood and reduce depression.

Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence

Still being able to follow your passion can make a big difference to someone who has a brain injury, and caring for animals provides a sense of purpose and achievement. It builds confidence through successful interactions and reinforces a positive identity.

Structure and routine is also beneficial: regular activities provide consistency, which can reduce anxiety and help individuals feel more in control of their environment.

Cognitive benefits

Emotional stability can support better cognitive development, and interaction with animals can also help with attention, focus and engagement. Animals can provide a natural focal point, helping to sustain attention for longer periods.

In addition, animal interaction can strengthen memory processes by creating emotionally meaningful experiences, which are easier to remember. Building routines – such as feeding or grooming practices can help to reinforce procedural memory. And remembering an animal’s name, commands or care steps can encourage recall. Therefore these activities can help rebuild both short-term and long-term memory pathways.

Animals can also help to improve communication and language skills. An animal is a non-judgmental listener, reducing anxiety when someone is attempting to speak. They can encourage verbal interaction by providing a relaxed, engaging context. People may find it easier to practice communication with animals than with humans.

Individual choice

The benefits of interaction with dogs, horses or other animals depends on the preferences of each individual. Not everyone enjoys or feels comfortable around animals so we support service users to make choices in what they do. The above benefits depend on safe, positive interactions, and hygiene, allergies and proper animal care are also important considerations.