Therapeutic horseback riding is for individuals with a range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social special needs. There are several different kinds of programs that utilize horses and horseback riding for therapeutic benefits. Equine-assisted activities, including therapeutic riding, driving, and vaulting are not therapy but sport and recreational activities that have therapeutic value. Therapeutic riding is usually most effective in children because of the nature of mental, and social development. However, equine-assisted activities produce very favorable improvements in riders of all ages.

There are hundreds of programs around the world as well many organizations dedicated to the various forms of equine-assisted activities. "Therapeutic riding" refers specifically to horseback riding lessons for people with special needs in which the therapeutic benefits of riding are a result of learning riding skills. Licensed therapists who incorporate the horse as one of their tools during therapy sessions conduct equine-assisted therapy. This is different from therapeutic riding where the rider influences the movement of the horse. Forms of equine-assisted therapy include hippotherapy, in which a certified therapist uses the horse as a therapeutic tool, and equine-facilitated psychotherapy in which a certified mental health professional uses the horse in various ways for therapeutic benefit. Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy used by occupational, physical and speech therapists. The movement of the horse is carefully modulated to influence neuromuscular changes in the client.

We are proud to offer the following programs and services:

The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) maintains centers providing a variety of beneficial services to people with special needs. These services fall into two general categories, equine assisted activities and equine assisted therapy. Equine assisted activities are those services provided by a trained professional focusing on recreational, leisure, sport or education. Examples of Equine Assisted Activities are: therapeutic riding, therapeutic driving, vaulting and equine facilitated learning. These activities are guided by an educational or learning model. Skills are taught to riders, vaulters and students. The professional guiding the experience is a specially trained NARHA certified instructor. The professionals’ expertise provides them with training in specialized, adaptive teaching methods that allow people with a variety of disabilities to learn horsemanship skills and experience the equine environment.

The other category is Equine Assisted Therapy. These services are provided by licensed medical professionals. In order to provide equine assisted therapy the professional facilitating the service must have proper training, education and state licensure appropriate to their own scope of practice. Examples of equine assisted therapy include: hippotherapy and equine assisted psychotherapy. These services are guided by the medical model. Treatment is provided to clients or patients based on the professionals area of expertise and utilizes the horses’ movement or equine environment to meet the patients’ goals. Therapeutic riding is considered an animal-assisted activity. However, horses provide more than just skills acquired from a relationship with an animal or learning to care for an animal. Riding a horse provides a unique and often profound activity for many people. The motion of the horse, concentration needed to acquire riding skills, and the communication between instructor and rider allow people with a variety of disabilities to benefit from riding.

We are proud to be a member of the NARHA!

For more information regarding our programs, please email: info@reindancer.org

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