© Equine Therapy Associates: Services

ETA OFFERS SIX EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITY (EAA) PROGRAMS

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ETA is a fully accredited and insured NARHA Premier Center. All instructors are NARHA certified and life-long equestrians. Virtually all lessons are private, offering one-on-one interaction between rider and instructor. ETA offers a fully range of equine assisted activities, formerly called therapeutic riding or horse therapy.

ETA offers lessons for individuals aged three and up, and focuses primarily on learning disabilities, ADHD/ADD, sequencing and processing disorders, Autism, mild to moderate Cerebral Palsy, emotional disabilities, hearing impairments, mental retardation, Downs Syndrome, developmental delays, strokes, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, speech impairments, and visual impairments. (Generally, due to constraints offered by space, equipment and the horses and ponies that we use, we refer those with other types of disabilities and conditions to other NARHA centers).

ETA now offers six separate horse therapy programs:

(1) The Pre-Riding Program for 3 yr. olds (Skills Development); (2) the Pre-Riding Program for most autistic students and those with substantial development delays (Skills Development); (3) the Pre-Driving Program; and (4) the regular therapy program. (5) ETA also offers an equine education component, with texts, a lending library, bound clips and articles for staff and parents, a summer lecture series, and seminar programming. In addition, (6) ETA also offers instruction for children and adults who do not have mental and or physical handicaps. These clients come to ETA because they value private English or Western lessons from certified instructors that emphasize safety, and who teach at a pace and with content that closely matches individual needs.

The gentle therapy process of instruction works wonderfully well for most candidates, as we emphasize exercise, music, singing, theory and ground lessons, as well as mounted lessons. We follow NARHA guidelines, and each potential client is screened extensively to determine whether our program can meet their needs safely and effectively. Each rider is assessed according to whether there are medical precautions and contraindications that would affect service, whether our staff is qualified to meet their needs, if our horses are appropriate, and if we have the required facilities and or equipment to meet their needs. If we cannot meet a particular client’s needs, we refer them to another program(s). A release of liability form is required, as is pre-certification from your medical professional(s). Of course, recent IEPs and therapy goal letters from PTs and OTs are vital, and should be received at least a week before class.

The benefits of equine assisted activities (formerly called horse therapy or therapeutic riding) are as numerous as the types of disabilities and conditions the field serves, and lesson fees are reasonable. Medical research shows that students who participate in therapeutic riding can experience physical, emotional and mental rewards such as enhanced flexibility, balance and muscle strength, as well as increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. Families benefit also, as their member grows in strength and confidence, while meeting new friends (four-legged as well as two), and enjoying our beautiful countryside. Almost all of our students typically ride once a week, although those with more intense therapy needs may require two to three sessions per week.

We find that the time invested in grooming and tacking/untacking the horse or pony, as well as in learning valuable lessons about nutrition, stable management, equine health and riding theory is at least as valuable -- in terms of fine and gross motor skills, a general knowledge base, and self-confidence -- as is the actual mounted lesson. Thus, we typically ask our riders to invest a half-hour in ground exercises and in preparing the pony or horse for class, 45 minutes in the mounted lesson and game, and 15 minutes in cooling down/untacking and grooming the horse before he/she is put away. Quite often we use written materials as well, tailored to the level and age of the client. Clients who need work on balance and sequencing, coordination and or strength, also enjoy the mini-tramp, a Kangaroo ball, or other apparatus, as well as riding. These aides reinforce the riding therapy, as well as that of other professionals.

Registration is simple. There is a $30.00 registration fee per student per quarter, payable with your tuition. (Some individuals may request an initial evaluation, if they or our staff are unsure as to whether or not therapeutic riding is indicated. This costs $100.00 and takes about two hours.) Instruction is offered in a series of 8 or 12 lessons, prepaid in advance. Quarterly scholarships are available, and usually require a week to process. The processing fee is $25.00 to us and payment must be submitted when the forms are mailed. A materials fee of $35.00 allows our staff to pick instructive materials tailored to the client’s level, as well as puzzles, poems, and illustrations. For those applying late, refunds are given to successful scholarship applicants.

What Else Is New? ETA now offers the services of a physical and an occupational therapist on an on call basis, both for initial assessments and IEPs, as well as for lesson plan development. These services are provided with an additional charge, and may be reimbursed by insurance. Whenever possible, parents or older siblings are trained as side walkers, to enhance the benefits for the entire family.

ETA offers primarily private lessons of 1.5-2 hours in duration, with ground lessons and exercises, grooming and tacking, mounted exercises and games, untacking and cognitive work in each session. We tailor each session to the effective attention span of each client. Exercises and cognitive work is sent home each week for daily investment in the program. A few semi-private lessons are offered especially for more experienced riders, those coming from the same home, or those preparing for shows and drill teams. A twelve lesson horsemanship lecture series is offered in the summer or by private agreement. It includes twelve one hour lectures and 12 practical experience sessions on selected topics in the areas of theory, stable management, pasture management, first aid for horses and pets, grooming and tacking, trail ring, trail riding, and so forth.

ETA trailers to open shows, Special Olympics, MCET, eventing, and up to five shows with divisions for the Challenged Rider. Driving opportunities may soon be offered at ETA. ETA currently has two excellent driving ponies, with carts and harnesses. Therapeutic driving, challenged competition, and pleasure driving will soon be offered to those whose balance is not appropriate for riding, who find it uncomfortable to be mounted, who are overweight for our horses, and/ or who would learn best in a cart behind a horse or pony. Elementary Drill Team and Vaulting will soon be offered as an adjunct activity along with a therapeutic riding series, if requested.

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