What are Equine Assisted Therapies?
Finding the right horse-based therapy can be challenging with so many therapies on offer. Equine-assisted therapies have numerous terminologies but are broadly categorised under: equine-assisted mental health; therapeutic riding and equine assisted learning. Below is a brief guide and comparison of equine assisted therapies with horse riding.
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an innovative approach to clinical practice and psychotherapy where clients are invited into safe relational experiences with horses to address therapeutic goals. It is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. EAP is engaging and effective for diverse clients including adults, children, adolescents, organisations, and specialist client groups such as Aboriginal youth, veterans, and clients with trauma, anxiety, depression, and addictions.
A service offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) will be conducted by a qualified mental health practitioner. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a modality (just like CBT, ACT etc.) and will form part of your treatment. Your treatment will always utilise the modalities most suitable to your needs, rather than being a one treatment-fits-all.
Here are some tips for finding a qualified practitioner:
Is the practitioner a qualified allied health professional under an Australian registration body?
Has the practitioner gained additional qualifications in equine assisted psychotherapy? Certification bodies include: Equine Psychotherapy Institute of Australia (EPI), EAGALA, and PATH
Is the practitioner insured to practice EAP?
Does the practitioner have adequate horse knowledge and experience?
What is Equine Assisted Learning?
Equine Assisted Learning is a unique approach to experiential learning, where clients are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of learning social-emotional skills, personal development, and professional development skills (e.g. leadership and team building). EAL is a fast-growing modality across Australia and the globe. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) clients benefit greatly from EAL services as do children, adolescents and adults.
A service offering Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) will be conducted by a person certified by a Equine Assisted Therapy regulatory body e.g. EPI, PATH.. Anyone from teachers, coaches, integration aides, disability support workers, horse riding coaches, to anyone with a love of horses and people can become qualified to offer EAL.
Here are some tips for finding a qualified practitioner:
What professional background has the practitioner come from?
Has the practitioner gained additional qualifications in equine assisted psychotherapy? Certification bodies include: Equine Psychotherapy Institute of Australia (EPI), PATH
Is the practitioner insured to practice EAL?
Does the practitioner have adequate horse knowledge and experience?
What is Equine Assisted Riding?
Equine Assisted Riding uses horseback riding as physical therapy. It aims to improve balance, posture and through horseback exercises that improve flexibility or gross motor control.
The horse acts as a tool to produce a physical response and can be substituted with a mechanical or simulated horse, as opposed to other forms of Equine Assisted Therapies where the horse acts as a partner.
Also called Hippotherapy, it is conducted by qualified health-care professionals such as physical, speech and occupational therapists.
Here are some tips on how to find a therapeutic horse riding service:
Are the practitioners adequately qualified both as allied health and/or horse riding?
Is this a Riding for the Disabled or another credible disability riding centre?
Are they adequately covered by insurance for therapeutic/equine assisted riding?
Is the centre set up to cater for disability, including assistance staff?
Are the horses well cared for?
Is the environment safe for clients and horses?
How is Equine assisted therapy different to horse riding lessons?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) has a fundamental therapeutic benefit for the client and can should only be provided by a health care professional. EAP works with consent and partnership with the horse.
Horse riding has its basis in sport where the rider learns how to control the horse. Many people use horse riding for the purpose or enjoyment and exercise.
Here are some tips on how to find a horse riding lessons:
Is the teacher qualified through Equestrian Australia (EA)?
How long have they been teaching riding, to who?
Are they fully insured as a horse riding teacher?
Are their horses well cared for?
Are their facilities safe for rider and horse?
