Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)

• Horses have been used

in physiotherapy at
least since the 1950s
• Today there are many
forms of Equine-
Assisted Interventions
(EAI).
• Camels can fill similar
functions as horses,
including riding
 Camels vs horses
• Horses and camels are big,
soft and warm
• Horses and camels can
mirror emotions
• Horses and camels can carry
a human
• Horses and camels provide
tactile stimulus
• Horse and camel riding
provides sensory, motor
and vestibular stimulation
• Horses are an integrated
part of western culture
• Camels are relatively new
and unknown in the
western culture
• Camels are less flighty than
horses – fewer predators
during evolution
• Horses walk in footpace,
moving legs diagonally
• Camels walk in pace,
moving legs at same side
almost simultaneously (hind
leg slightly before front leg)
 Camel-Assisted Interventions
• A form of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)
• Complement to Equine-Assisted Interventions (EAI)
• Many activities possible, including riding
• Physiotherapy
• Learning activities, social training, possibly part of school
curriculum
• Leisure activities for disabled
• Psychotherapy?
 Special features of camels
• Unusual appearance - enhances alertness and interest
• Camels’ calm behaviour transmits to people.
• This duality makes CAI potentially suitable for people
with ADHD or autism.
• A camel in recumbent position is on eye-level with
children, allowing safe, direct contact.
• The camel responds immediately to the child’s
behaviour.
• If the child becomes restless, the camel stops
ruminating or gets up: authentic, non-judgmental
feedback.
 Kamelhof Nassenheide, Germany
• Gabriele Heidicke
• Physiotherapeutic camel riding
• Co-operation with
physiotherapist
• Stroke patients
• MS patients
• Camels can carry heavier weight
than horses
• Bactrian camels easier to ride
than horses
• Multiple effects of camel riding
and grooming
• 3-dimensional pelvis movement
similar to human walk
• Camel riding is fun!
• Joy is important for motivation
and healing
• www.kamelhof-nassenheide.de
 Physiotherapy with Bactrian camels
• Two-humped camels are suitable for
physiotherapy
• Camel lies down when mounting and
getting off – extra stimuli when camel
stands up and lays down
• Safe and comfortable seat
• Upright riding position strengthens
muscles on both sides
• Rhythmic movements stimulate both
sides of the body equally
• Riding strengthens trunk muscles and
balance
• Front hump:
o Visual orientation
o Support and tactile stimulus for
hands, arms and body
• Back hump supports and stimulates
rider’s back
• Improved symmetry of movements Copyright: TheraKamel
and muscles
 Daniela Huttel, Handeloh
• Small farm, west
from Hamburg,
Germany
• Camel-assisted
educational activities
• Riding and camel
handling for children
with NPD (autism,
ADHD etc)
• www.kameloase.de

Mie Meiner, Katharina Pejov and Daniela Huttel

 CAI with NPD children at Handeloh
• A resting camel’s head is at
level with kids’ heads – secure
feeling
• Ruminating camels’ relaxation
transmits to people
• Camel grooming can have
calming effect on hyperactive
children
• Immediate feedback on
restless behaviour
• Riding may improve motoric
skills and balance
 CAI in education
• CAI can teach kids many things:
– Patience
– Social skills and
communication
– To understand needs and
signals of others
• Camels stimulate children’s
curiosity, making them open for
learning
• The farm setting and animals
can be used for teaching all
school subjects
 Camels and at-risk youth, Texas
• Doug Baum, Texas,
USA
• Work with camels
and at-risk youth in
the 1990s
 Survey to practitioners of CAI
• No scientific studies on CAI available yet
• More research is needed to evaluate effects of CAI.
• Still quite few CAI practitioners around the world
• Survey to practitioners, through Facebook group
Cameleers
• The survey showed that camels have a potential in
AAI and may be a complement to horses.
 CAI survey
• Survey sent by e-mail to 17 practitioners in 5 countries
• 6 answers from 4 countries - Australia, Austria, Germany, USA
• Purpose
o To locate practitioners of CAI around the world
o To collect information about experiences from CAI
• Questions:
o Kinds of CAI performed
o How the camels react
o Diagnoses of participants
o Participants’ reactions and effects of CAI
 Survey results
• 5 respondents had worked with CAI for more
than 10 years.
Age groups
• All had worked with young people (15-24 years)
• 5 with children or adults, respectively
Diagnoses
• All had worked with people on the autism
spectrum
• 5 with depressed people
• 4 with people with ADHD
• 4 with physically disabled people
 Activities
• All respondents had worked with ground-
based activities
• 5 with educational activities
• 4 with leisure riding
• 3 with CAI together with a therapist
• 2 with physiotherapeutic riding
 Typical first reactions
• According to all respondents, typical first time
reactions to camels were surprise and joy
• 4 respondents also reported curiosity
• 3 also reported fear or withdrawal as reactions
when meeting camels first time
• No respondent reported aggressiveness or
indifference as typical first reactions
 Some of the reported improvements
• Well-being
• Attention
• Social engagement
• Physical coordination
• Self-esteem
 Animal welfare
• Camels used in CAI were selected for the tasks
and acclimated to the work.
• Camels were reported to be calm and relaxed
and they liked being groomed.
Thanks for the attention!