benefits of equine-assisted factsheet for special …...equine-facilitated psychotherapy (efp). both...

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horseman-ship International® (PATH Intl.®) is a professional membershipassociation providing standards, credentialing and training resources forthe equine-assisted activities and therapies industry, which uses thehuman-horse bond to help people with special needs achieve health andwellness goals in a safe and effective setting. With more than 4,800 certi-fied professionals and 877 member centers, 8,000+ PATH Intl. membersaround the globe help more than 62,000 children and adults with physical,cognitive and emotional challenges find strength and a sense of independence through the power of thehorse. In addition to therapeutic riding, centers offer a number of therapeutic equine-related activities, in-cluding hippotherapy, equine-facilitated mental health, driving, interactive vaulting and ground work. Pro-grams offer services in human growth and development to serve wide-ranging audiences for sucheducational purposes as leadership training, team building and other human capacity enhancement skills forthe workplace and for daily use.

What Are Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies?Throughout the world, hundreds of thousands of individuals with special needsexperience the rewarding benefits of equine-assisted activities and therapies(EAAT). A physical, cognitive or emotional challenge does not limit a personfrom interacting with horses. In fact, such interactions can prove highly reward-ing. For instance, experiencing the rhythmic motion of a horse can be very ben-eficial. Riding a horse moves the rider's body in a manner similar to a humangait, so riders with physical needs often show improvement in flexibility, bal-ance and muscle strength.

Whether it's a five-year-old with Down syndrome, a 45-year-old recovering froma spinal cord injury, a senior citizen recovering from a stroke or a teenagerstruggling with depression, research shows that individuals of all ages whoparticipate in EAAT can experience physical and emotional rewards. For indi-viduals with emotional challenges, the unique relationship formed with the horsecan lead to increased confidence, communication skills, patience and self-esteem.

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Fact Sheet for Special EducatorsBenefits of Equine-assisted Activities and Therapies Working with horses can have a major physi-cal and emotional impact on people with awide variety of issues and disabilities. A few(but not all) issues and disabilities for whichEAAT are useful are listed below.

Attention Deficit DisorderChildren with attention deficit disorder (ADD)or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) have difficulties with attention andself-control of behavior. Therapeutic horse-manship requires attention to the instructorand the horse. Children who participate in ariding program are taught sequential steps forlearning to control their horse and becomingmore independent. Riding lessons can bemodified in length to accommodate for de-creased attention span.

AutismChildren and adults with autism participate ina variety of PATH Intl. center programs includ-ing riding, driving, vaulting, hippotherapy andequine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP). Bothequine-assisted activities, such as riding andvaulting, and equine-assisted therapy, suchas hippotherapy or psychotherapy, can impactthe life of a person with autism.

Bass, Duchowny, and Llabre (2008) studiedchildren with autism participating in a 12 weektherapeutic horseback riding program. Two in-struments were used to measure social func-tioning before and after the intervention: theSocial Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and theSensory Profile (SP). They found the childrenwith autism who participated in the therapeu-tic horseback riding program improved in sen-sory integration and directed attention ascompared to the control group.

Cerebral PalsyPeople of all ages with cerebral palsy mayenjoy interacting with horses. Children canlearn a sport such as riding to share with theirpeers. Adults may treasure riding as a life-long leisure activity. Horseback riding requiresskills including good posture, coordinationand balance to direct the horse. Riders withcerebral palsy may progress from riding withsidewalkers to riding independently. Somepeople with cerebral palsy may prefer to learncarriage driving and may even be able todrive from their own wheelchair in a speciallydesigned carriage.

Hearing ImpairmentPeople who are deaf or hard of hearing mayexperience improved self-esteem and asense of independence and empowerment bybecoming an independent equestrian. Peoplewith hearing impairments will develop uniqueways to communicate with their instructor andequine partner while learning riding or driving.

Developmental Delay/Cognitive DelayPATH Intl. centers are able to provide a vari-ety of recreational programs that reflect per-sonal preferences and choices for the personwith developmental delays. Learning horse-back riding skills includes leisure and recre-ational activities alone and with others, ridingsocially with others, taking turns, extendingthe time of the riding lesson and expandingone's repertoire of skills toward independentriding. Some persons may choose to competein programs such as the Special Olympics.

Down SyndromeChildren and adults with Down syndrome mayparticipate in EAAT if atlantioaxial instability(AAI) has been ruled out with current x-raysand/or the participant has no signs or symp-toms of this condition per their physician.

Learning DisabilitiesParticipants in a PATH Intl. program are pre-sented information about riding and drivingskills and horsemanship in a variety of meth-ods. People with learning disabilities have thechance to learn through visual, auditory andkinesthetic methods while learning to ride ordrive a horse. They may be motivated to learnmore about horses than they are in theirschool classroom. The horse’s response tothe aids given by the rider or driver is naturalpositive reinforcement and helps participantsbuild skills.

Multiple SclerosisTherapeutic riding can be a great source ofexercise in which people with multiple sclero-sis may choose to participate. They can par-ticipate in riding within their limits of strengthand energy and still enjoy an active recre-ational activity or sport. Riding may help peoplewith multiple sclerosis stay limber and active.

Muscular DystrophyPeople with muscular dystrophy may partici-pate in programs at PATH Intl. Centers tokeep active while engaging in an enjoyable

activity. Riders may start out more independ-ent, but may need more support as their dis-ease progresses. Riding lessons may betailored to the abilities and stamina of therider. The PATH Intl. instructor may supporttheir transition to a non-mounted programsuch as driving or a hippotherapy program astheir needs change. This flexibility helps theperson with muscular dystrophy stay activeand engaged while coping with changes intheir abilities.

Spina BifidaParticipants with spina bifida may participatein equine-assisted activities or therapies at aPATH Intl. center. Prior to participation, theclient’s doctor will need to carefully screen theparticipant for concerns such as tetheredcord, hydromyelia or Chiari II malformation.Any changes in neurological status must becarefully monitored during participation in rid-ing programs. Learning to ride a horse maybe an empowering experience and allowsomeone with limited mobility from spina bi-fida to experience a greater freedom on theback of a horse.

Spinal Cord InjuriesPeople who have had a spinal cord injury mayhave varied levels of impairments from sen-sory loss to quadriplegia. A complete spinalcord injury above T-6 is a contraindication forriding, but would not necessarily prevent aclient’s participation in other types of equineprograms such as driving and unmounted ac-tivities. Many people who have had a spinalcord injury may participate in therapeutic rid-ing lessons, carriage driving or may choosean equine-assisted therapy program to ad-dress challenges with trunk control or copingwith their injury.

Visual ImpairmentPeople who have a visual impairment areable to learn to ride or drive independentlyand compete in equestrian events. Peoplewith visual impairments may participate aspart of a vaulting team. Strategies to helppeople with visual impairments include use ofintercom systems with the instructors, learn-ing to count steps/strides, or auditory markersin the arena. These strategies are frequentlyused at PATH Intl. Centers and both instruc-tors and horses are able to accommodate andaccept the rider or driver’s differences.

*Reference citations for the above benefitsare available at www.pathintl.org

© 2017 PATH Intl. All rights reserved. Professional Associationof Therapeutic Horsemanship®, PATH Intl.®, PATH Intl. Ensur-ing excellence and changing lives through equine-assisted activ-ities and therapies®, and the PATH Intl. logo are PATH Intl.registered trademarks and may not be used without PATH Intl.permission.

Autism Spectrum DisorderDevelopmental DelayADD (Hyperactivity Disorder)Learning DisabilitiesCerebral PalsyIntellectual DisabilitiesEmotional, Behavioral or

Mental Health ChallengesSpeech ImpairmentDown SyndromeHead Trauma/Brain InjuriesHearing ImpairmentVisual ImpairmentGenetic Conditions/Disorders

Orthopedic ChallengesMultiple SclerosisYouth at-riskStrokeSpina BifidaMuscular DystrophyPTSDParalysisSpinal Cord InjuriesAmputationsViolence, Abuse or TraumaTerminal IllnessSubstance AbuseWeight Control Disorders

Why horses?New scientific research continues to re-veal critical information about equinesentience—their abilities of perception,cognition, memory, and emotions suchas pain and fear. Equines are able toperceive, respond to and learn from theimpressions they receive from minimalsensory stimuli. The stimulus may origi-nate from changes in human biochem-istry, body language or vocalintonations. It can also come fromchanges in the equine’s environment,relationships with other equines or theequine’s general health. In this way,equines make decisions based upon

the stimuli they experience from others or from their environment (Hangg, 2005; Nicol, 2002; Proops, Mc-Comb, & Reby, 2009; Saslow, 2002).

These abilities are based in natural, biological, physiological and psychological traits of equines. Eachequine is unique in personality and has individual likes, dislikes and habits. The information gained fromequine communication can be highly useful in all EAAT settings. Listening to equine communication canhave an effect on the care of the equines, their rate of burnout and the success of the human-equine in-teraction. In EAAT sessions or lessons, viewing the equine as a partner invites opportunities for relation-ship building and skill building with all participants served.

IMPORTANT: Educators must IMPORTANT: Educators must always be familiar with the rules andalways be familiar with the rules andregulations for their school districtregulations for their school districtbefore suggesting an activity for abefore suggesting an activity for astudent.student.

PATH Intl. certifies EAAT professionals and accredits centers. A nonprofit organization inbusiness since 1969, PATH Intl. is the premier professional association and an interna-tional voice for the therapeutic horsemanship industry. The PATH Intl. mission is to pro-mote safety and optimal outcomes for individuals with special needs. This commitment tooffering the safest and most productive experience is the reason medical professionals,organizations and families seek out and trust PATH Intl. credentialed professionals with

the well-being of their loved ones. Certified professionals go through a rigorous credentialing process that in-cludes testing related to horsemanship and teaching skills and disabilities knowledge.

PATH Intl. member centers in the United States and around the world range from small, one-person pro-grams to large operations with several certified professionals and licensed therapists. And while they vary insize and/or the types of services provided, they all have one thing in common—they voluntarily operateunder the direction of the PATH Intl. Standards for Certification and Accreditation. The purpose of thesestandards is to educate administrators, credentialed professional program personnel and the public regard-ing best practices in EAAT.

As the benefits of EAAT garner more attention and the industry continues to grow, more stables and instruc-tors have begun offering services. They may not choose to follow the PATH Intl. standards nor take the rigor-ous professional “PATH” chosen by our members and centers. Ask your local center if they are a member ofPATH Intl. or if they have PATH Intl. Certified Professionals on staff. If not, encourage them to contact us formore information. And if the answer is yes, by all means schedule a visit and observe some sessions to bet-ter familiarize yourself with therapeutic horsemanship!

PATH Intl. Member Centers and Certified Professionals insist upon safety and focus on possibilities!

Looking for the PATH Intl. Center nearest you? Want to learn more about therapeutic horsemanship? Please visit pathintl.org to search for centers

by state, disabilities served and activities offered.

Just some of the special needs served at PATH Intl. Member Centers