Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine therapy, also known as equine- assisted therapy model, is a treatment that includes equine activities or an equine environment to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons with a myriad of afflictions from anxiety and depression to dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder, genetic syndromes such as Down syndrome and more.
It is also beneficial for treating patients who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries or those who’ve experienced abuse and drug or alcohol addiction.
Equine Therapy is experiential in nature, meaning that participants learn about themselves and others by taking part in activities with the horses, and then processing or discussing feelings, behaviors, and patterns. EAP has the advantage of utilizing horses, dynamic and powerful living beings.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. It is utilized as part of an in integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. Incorporating hippotherapy into an occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech language pathology session can serve as a powerful tool for the facilitation of the key neuromotor systems that support function.
Strength, Muscle Coordination and Sensory Processing used for walking, talking, and the use of fine motor skills for activities of daily living and general attention to tasks have all been shown to be positively impacted by equine movement as a facilitation tool/strategy.
Horsemanship
Collins Dictionary defines horsemanship as:
the art, ability, skill, or manner of riding on horseback.
The structure of our riding lessons is as broad and adaptive as our client base. Our instructors aim to produce the best possible outcomes and results for each individual client by focusing on their unique needs and goals. Lesson are taught by professional, certified riding instructors who have many years of riding instructor experience. It is our absolute pleasure to work alongside with with you setting and reaching new goals. Ride under our guided and caring direction so you get the most out of your riding time!
Ground Based Program
There's more to what we do than just getting on top of a horse, some of the magic happens right on the ground! Ground Programs are “unmounted”, clients have the opportunity to learn horsemanship skills and have positive interactions with our equine partners without riding. These 45-minute classes may include grooming, horse handling, feeding, grooming, managing equipment, and learning about horse breeds, anatomy, and basic care. These concepts are also taught in our riding lessons, but offer an opportunity to learn and bond with our horses when they are not working in our riding lessons. These sessions are 1:1 with an instructor who can provide safe adaptations to our program, and offer social opportunities with other participants and volunteers. Ground-Based Horsemanship Lessons are also an incredible opportunity for clients who may not be medically able to safely participate in riding to interact with our therapy horses in a safe and therapeutic way.