Equine Assisted Activities at Good Hope Equestrian Training Center

MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES IN COGNITIVE, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DOMAINS

Within this facet of our program our NARHA certified instructors guide their students through individual and group sessions. The sessions provide persons with varying disabilities a healthy outlet to share the common love of horses with others, while simultaneously triggering all their senses.

BENEFITS OF EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES

Research has proven that the rhythmic nature of the horse’s gait provides therapy, helping to strengthen a rider’s muscle tone. Other physical benefits of the proposed program include improvements in balance, posture, coordination, reflexes, fine and gross motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. The repetition of various activities allows the rider to concentrate on their position while trying new activities. During the group sessions, the participants learn horsemanship (grooming, tacking and caring for their mount), as well as hunt seat equitation. As the participants interact with the horses, they develop respect and love for the animals. Because horses require a great deal of attention, the riders bond quickly with them as they groom, feed, and ride, developing responsibility, patience and compassion as they care for the horses. The excitement of riding brings new experiences and an overall sense of well-being. Winston Churchill once said, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” The staff and volunteers at Good Hope Equestrian Training Center have found that adage to be true. The individuals build friendships, as well as support and encourage one another as they discover the joys of riding. Their self-esteem and confidence soar as they conquer new challenges. The GHETC programs offer its participants an outlet to focus on their abilities instead of their limitations.

Horses are non-judgmental; they love unconditionally and provide a strong shoulder to lean on. They connect with people through positive interactions, not through prejudice and estimation. Equine assisted activities can provide a range of benefits for many participants.

SOCIAL BENEFITS

CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE/ANIMALS

Even though at times, riding can be a solitary activity, it can also be performed in groups. During their time at Good Hope, the riders share a common love of horses and a familiar experience of riding, which is a good foundation on which to develop friendships. In addition, the riders are provided positive social connections with support staff and through the volunteer’s assistance during their time on the farm. Since horses require a great deal of care and attention. Riders find themselves bonding with the animals. They develop an interest in them and learn to care for the needs of the horse, which helps the consumer to develop compassion and nurturing skills.

INCREASED SKILLS

The variety of experiences involved in horse related activities are endless. From tacking and grooming to learning all aspects of the horse nutritional needs, from going to horse shows to learning the parts of a horse, the consumer is constantly become more knowledgeable and growing. The horse also provides the rider with the ability to go places otherwise inaccessible due to the disability.

SATISFACTION

There is no doubt about it, caring and riding a horse is fun, while also challenging. The consumers experience excitement and pleasure every time they come for a lesson.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS

IMPROVED BALANCE

As the horse moves, the rider is constantly thrown off-balance, requiring that the rider's muscles contract and relax in an attempt to rebalance. This exercise reaches deep muscles not accessible in conventional therapies and activities. The three-dimensional rhythmical movement of the horse is similar to the motion of walking, teaching rhythmical patterns to the muscles of the legs and trunk. By challenging the rider’s balance through upward & downward transitions and lateral changes, the riders are constantly using the muscles within their torso to realign with the horse’s movement.

STRENGTHENED MUSCLES

Muscles are strengthened by the increased use involved in mounted EAA activities. Even though riding is exercise, it is perceived as enjoyment, and therefore the participant has increased tolerance and enthusiasm to extend the session.

ENHANCED COORDINATION AND IMPROVED MOTOR PLANNING

Mounted sessions necessitate a great deal of coordination in order to get the desired response from the horse. Since the horse provides instant feedback to every action by the participant, it is easy to know when you have given the correct signal Repetition of patterned movements required in controlling a horse quickens the reflexes and aids in motor planning.

STRETCH OF TIGHT OR SPASTIC MUSCLES

Since mounted EAA sessions require stretching of the adductor muscles of the thighs, many riders find this session a release for tight and spastic muscles. This is accomplished by pre-stretching prior to mounting the horse, and starting the rider off on a narrow horse, gradually working to wider and wider horses. Gravity helps to stretch the muscles in front of the leg as the rider sits on the horse without stirrups. Because the rider is required to place their heels level or down, this helps to stretch the heel cords and calf muscles. In addition, abdomen and back muscles are stretched out as the participant is encouraged to maintain an upright posture against the movement of the horse. While most riders are not aware of all the muscles they are utilizing, their arm and hand muscles are also stretched while holding and using the reins.

DECREASED SPASTICITY

Spasticity is reduced by the rhythmic motion of the horse. The warmth of the horse may aid in relaxation, especially of the legs. Sitting astride a horse helps to break up extensor spasms of the lower limbs. Holding the reins helps to break flexor spasm patterns of the upper limbs.

INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION OF THE JOINTS

Range of motion is also improved by the various activities performed in the EAA sessions. For example, the act of mounting and dismounting, tacking up, grooming, and exercises during lessons can assist the rider with their ROM.

IMPROVED RESPIRATION AND CIRCULATION

Although riding is not normally considered a cardiovascular exercise, trotting and cantering do increase both respiration and circulation.

SENSORY INTEGRATION

EAA sessions arouse the tactile senses both through feel and environmental stimuli. The vestibular system is also stimulated by the movement of the horse. For example, changes in direction and speed can provide the rider input necessary to assist them with vestibular deficits. Not to mention the positive benefits provided to the participants olfactory system, as the participant responds to the many odors involved on an equestrian site. The participant’s vision is used while controlling their horse or pony. The various sounds of the GHETC farm help to involve the participant’s auditory system. All of these senses work together and are integrated in the act of EAA experience.

EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

Before one can read, it is necessary to recognize and differentiate shapes, sizes, and even colors. As a part of games and activities within the riding ring, these concepts can be easily taught on horseback. Because the rider is engaged and having fun, they are able to effectively learn new concepts. Through the use of signs placed around the arena, letters can be taught, and reading of individual words by word recognition are also learned. Games involving signs for "slow," “whoa”, “go”, "stop," etc., help to teach important life skills involving reading.

In addition to the benefits of remedial reading, the EAA participant is able to learn addition. This concept is learned by counting the horse's footsteps, objects around the arena, or even the horse's ears and legs. Because the concepts are taught through games, we have seen that resistance to learning is decreased.

SEQUENCING, PATTERNING AND MOTOR PLANNING

As we all know, holding and using a pencil requires a great deal of motor planning. Understanding what comes first in a sequence of events is an important part of most activities. These and other similar skills are taught on horseback though the use of obstacle courses, working trails, sensory trails and many other games and activities.

IMPROVED EYE-HAND COORDINATION

Eye hand coordination is necessary for such skills as writing. These skills are taught in tacking the horse, as well as various activities and exercises.

VISUAL / SPATIAL ACUITY

This benefit helps the participant’s responsiveness in form and space in their environment. They also learn directionality (knowing right from left); space perception, which allows us to differentiate between items close in shape but spatially different; form perception; and visual sequential memory (such as remembering symbols in a particular sequence or pattern). Because reading and math concepts involve visual spatial perception, the rider improves as a natural result of control of the horse. Additional exercises are done on the horse to increase ability in this area.

DIFFERENTIATION

The rider learns to discriminate significant from less important stimuli in the environment. An improvement in this area occurs as the EAA participant learns to attend to his horse and those things that may influence the horse as opposed to attending the environment in general.

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