Therapeutic Horsemanship Coaching (age 4 to adulthood)
Therapeutic Horsemanship Coaching (also known as Therapeutic Riding) uses the unique movement and environment of the horse, in both mounted and ground based sessions, to enhance the quality of life of clients with additional needs. All of our Therapeutic Horsemanship Coaches are highly qualified and experienced and have participated in study and training in disability to enable them to effectively and safely work within the equine environment to facilitate fun and engaging sessions for clients with additional needs. One of the unique aspects of Therapeutic Riding in EquiSense is that the service is provided with the support of the Occupational Therapist. Our coaches receive regular clinical supervisions to support their practice.
Pre-Intervention Assessment
In EquiSense, we value Pre-Intervention Assessment in order that we can keep the unique needs of the young person at the centre of what we do.
A THC assessment takes place in four phases:
1. Background Information
Carers complete and return a comprehensive Background Information form.
2. Parental Interview
Initial meeting of the Therapeutic Horsemanship Coach with the carers via video consultation or face to face to discuss the young person’s strengths and needs in relation to this therapeutic input, and to create goals for sessions.
3. Equine Environment Assessment
The young person comes to the EquiSense yard, and is introduced to the Equine environment and equine movement. This session is usually less that 30 minutes in duration. At this point, goals and plans for upcoming sessions are discussed with the carers.
4. Brief Report
The Therapeutic Horsemanship Coach provides a brief report of the young person’s current level of functioning and areas that would benefit from support and can be incorporated in session goal setting.
Therapeutic Horsemanship 1:1 sessions (age 4-adulthood)
These sessions are 1:1 with the Therapeutic Horsemanship Coach, and may involve a mixture of activities, either in the stables, or mounted on the horse. A roller is used on the horse rather than a saddle, so that the client is sitting directly onto the horses back. In this way they can best benefit from the power of the horses movement. The pre-agreed goals for the young person are the focus of these sessions, so they may not hold the reins (the horse is led from the ground), and are not learning riding skills.
Clients engage in a pre-agreed number of weekly sessions, a block. During the block, the Therapeutic Horsemanship Coach will adapt sessions to provide the greatest opportunity for progression of goals for each individual client.
At the end of the block, goals are reviewed and a decision is made in consultation with clients and their families as to which of the following options will work best for the client:
- Continue with another block, to continue on originally agreed goals or on new goals
- Progress to Therapeutic Horsemanship group sessions
- Discharge with the option to re-refer to EquiSense in the future
Therapeutic Horsemanship Group sessions (age 4-15)
These sessions are typically comprise of two to three 1:1 therapeutic horsemanship sessions ongoing in parallel, with gentle scaffolded social interaction incorporated.
Some sessions follow a routine researched and devised by an Occupational Therapist (The Horse Sense Program). The groups typically have up to 3 participants, and similar to the individual sessions, they involve a mixture of activities involving stable management and mounted activities. Some clients with higher order abilities engage in our 'Introduction to Horsemanship' program devised at EquiSense to increase confidence, co-ordination, executive function and social skills.
The weekly groups are full of fun, social engagement, and lots of interactive activities. Being in nature is highly beneficial for young people with additional needs as it supports sensory regulation. Coupling that with the unique and powerful movement of the horse and the effect it has on our sensory regulation, muscle control and breathing to name but a few, means that young people enjoy greatly enjoy being in this environment and benefit on many levels from participation in these groups.
The individual goals of each clients will be taken into account, but working in small groups also affords the opportunity to work on additional goals such as social communication, turn taking and social skills.
A roller is used on the horse rather than a saddle, so that the client is sitting directly onto the horses back. In this way they can best benefit from the power of the horses movement. The pre-agreed goals for the young person are the focus of these sessions, so they may not hold the reins (the horse is led from the ground), and usually not learning riding skills.
At the end of the block, goals are reviewed and a decision is made in consultation with clients and their families as to which of the following options will work best for the individual client:
- Continue with another block, to continue on originally agreed goals or on new goals
- Discharge with an option to re-refer to EquiSense in the future.