If you want to improve other peopleâs lives as an equine therapy assistant, then check out this "How To Be an Equine Therapy Assistant" guide.
A person with a disability is only limited if they allow themselves to be. Where doctorsâ methods fail, horses are there to help provide results. Equine therapeutic riding (commonly called horse therapy) is a fairly new form of therapy designed for people of all ages who live with any number of both physical and mental impairments.In its simplest sense, riding forces the human body to mimic the movement patterns of the horseâs pelvis, which in turn adds to their own range of movement while away from the barn.
Hereâs what youâll learn by reading this guide:
âą Eligibility requirements for riders
âą Explanations behind the reason that equine therapy works
âą How to become a volunteer, which is a necessary component of every therapeutic riding program
âą The positions open to volunteers
âą Tips on handling the horses
âą The equipment used during lessons
âą The variety of exercises and activities utilized in each lesson
âą The role of the volunteers in the improvement of the riders
âą The visible/audible benefits of therapy riding
âą The emotional impact of therapy riding on the volunteers
Equine therapy is a life-changing experience for everyone involved. Thereâs plenty more to learn in these pages before signing up to be a volunteer yourself!
About the Expert
My name is Dana Feiwus. I am a recent graduate of the University of North Texas with a major in English, Creative Writing. I began volunteering at ManeGait Therapeutic Horsemanship in McKinney, Texas two years ago because I was always fond of horses. However, I soon learned that therapy riding is about much more than horses, and I have been there almost every weekend since I began.
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