What is Equine facilitated Therapy?
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Equine facilitated therapy is a comprehensive and goal-oriented rehabilitation carried out together with a riding therapist and a therapy horse trained for the task, where the goal is to achieve individually set goals that support rehabilitation.
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In Finland, riding therapy is part of a medical rehabilitation carried out by a equine facilitated therapist who has completed a 3-year training course approved by the Finnish Equine Facilitated Therapy Association.
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Depending on the client, equine facilitated therapy focuses on e.g. motor, functional, pedagogical and psychological goals. Equine facilitated therapy is used to support and gain control of your own body, activities, mind and / or behavior.
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NOTE! Equine facilitated therapy is rehabilitation where the goal is to support the client in the challenges that everyday life brings, not to learn how to ride a horse. Equine facilitated therapy should not be confused with disability riding, where riding is practiced within lines of the client's injury or/and limitations.
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Equine facilitated therapy education require:
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At least a bachelor's degree (210 cr) in the field of social or health care.
At least two years' work experience (Full-time) in the field of practical rehabilitation in one's own profession.
Strong basic skills in horse handling and good riding skills.
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What is equine facilitated therapy based on?
Movement
A horse’s movement affects a person through the sensory, balance, and motor sense systems, improving awareness of our own bodies, resulting in improved movement planning and skill.
Equine facilitated therapy in stable environment also enables a very diverse sense of smell, hearing and sight.
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As the horse moves, about 100 multidimensional, symmetrical, and rhythmic impulses are transmitted to the rider in a minute. These create walking-like movement patterns in a rider sitting on the horses back.
The horse’s warmth and movement will also help relax the muscles that are affected by a hyper muscle tension.
Interaction
Working with a horse motivates and activates the client in the rehabilitation process. Many children who are unable to concentrate on a regular physiotherapy session often benefit from equine facilitated therapy because the stable environment and the horse increase the motivation for the tasks and make the therapy more meaningful.
Equine facilitated therapy to support physical functioning
Equine facilitated therapy may be recommended to increase sitting and standing balance, head and body control, and rough motor skills.
Research data shows that equine facilitated therapy increase balance, body control and motor skills as well as functionality over all in children with mild to moderate physical impairment and spastic Cerebral palsy.
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Mental rehabilitation
Equine facilitated therapy is also used to support rehabilitation that supports mental health care. The horse’s inherent sensitivity of reading emotional states allows mirroring and processing of emotions and behaviors.
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Here is a list when equine therapy ain't directly recommended, however all customers ability to participate in equine therapy is always assessed separately, so please contact directly if some of these appear:
-If the child or adolescent is allergic to animals / horses and / or has previously had an allergic reaction.
-Strong fear of horses
-If susceptibility to fractures due to osteoporosis
- Hip joints that easily luxates
-Strong uncontrolled dystonic movements
-Unbalanced epilepsy
-Very poor or no head control at all (excluding children under 20kg)
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-EFT Liekki Oy also has a maximum weight limit of 75 kg for customers for safety reasons.