What is EAA/T?
Equine-assisted
activities/therapies (EAA/T) is a comprehensive term for all equine activities
and therapies designed for people with disabilities or diverse needs.
Some examples of EAA/T include: Therapeutic Riding, Equine Facilitated Learning, Therapeutic Driving, Vocational Rehabilitation, Hippotherapy and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy.
Some examples of EAA/T include: Therapeutic Riding, Equine Facilitated Learning, Therapeutic Driving, Vocational Rehabilitation, Hippotherapy and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy.

Who participates in
EAA/T programs?
EAA/T programs are designed for
people of all ages with cognitive, physical, emotional and social challenges or
disabilities. Hundreds
of accredited centres with certified instructors now exist around the world,
offering a range of program opportunities for interested riders of all economic
backgrounds.
How can I find an accredited
program?
USA - North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) was founded in 1969 to “promote and support equine facilitated activities for individuals with
disabilities”.
Different types of Equine Assisted Activity/Therapy (EAA/T)
- Equine Assisted Activities/Therapies (EAA/T) – An umbrella term inclusive of all the various offerings of accredited centres and all of the equine activities and therapies designed for people with disabilities or diverse needs. This term is used for making global statements about centre activities involving participants (e.g. a centre that offers therapeutic riding, vaulting and/or hippotherapy offer equine-assisted activities).
- Therapeutic Riding (TR) – Mounted activities including traditional riding
disciplines or adaptive riding activities conducted by a certified
instructor.
- Interactive Vaulting – Horsemanship activities, movements around, on and off
the horse or barrel, and gymnastic positions on the back of the horse at
the walk, trot or canter. Interactive vaulting offers educational, social,
creative and movement opportunities for a varied population.
- Therapeutic Driving – Activities related to Carriage Driving.
-
Carriage Driving is a fast growing sport. It offers students with physical, mental, sensory or emotional conditions the rewards of interaction and control of a horse or pony while driving from a carriage seat or in the their own wheelchair.
Using a horse and carriage gives participants an alternative or an addition to riding, opening up the world of horses to those who may be unable to ride due to weight, balance, fatigue, fear of heights, the inability to sit astride, or other issues. Therapeutic Driving is imparting knowledge of safety, horses, harnessing, and driving skills to children and adults using teamwork
- Equine Facilitated Learning
(EFL) – (also, Equine Assisted Learning) - Includes equine activities incorporating the experience
of equine/human interaction in an environment of learning or
self-discovery. EFL promotes personal exploration of feelings and behaviours
in an educational format. It is conducted by a certified instructor, educator or therapist. Goals may be related to self-improvement,
social interaction and/or education.
- Centre – A centre that has established membership with its peak body and agrees to comply with the peak bodies Standards.
- Horse handler, horse expert,
equine professional, horse leader, equine specialist – Terms which may be used to indicate the person
handling the equine during a session and/or training and conditioning the
equine for participation in equine-assisted activities. Usage may vary by
discipline (e.g. a Hippotherapy session where a horse is long lined might have a
horse handler; whereas, the person leading the horse in a therapeutic
riding lesson may be the horse leader).
- Equine – A general description inclusive of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, or miniatures.
- Hippotherapy (HPOT) – Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. A body of research undertaken in the past decade indicates that Hippotherapy is a valuable treatment strategy in the field of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Children from 2 years of age to adulthood with neuromuscular disorders and other disabilities gain positive outcomes in a natural environment.
- Tandem Hippotherapy (T-HPOT) – A treatment strategy in which the patient undergoes
handling by the therapist or skilled designee who is mounted on the horse
behind the patient.

- Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) – Treatment that incorporates equine activities and/or the equine environment. Rehabilitative goals are related to the patient’s needs and the medical professional’s standards of practice.
- Equine Facilitated Mental
Health (EFMH) –
Inclusive of equine-assisted activities and therapies with a focus on
mental health issues.
- Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) - Experiential psychotherapy that includes equine(s). It may include, but is not limited to, a number of mutually respectful equine activities such as handling, grooming, lunging, riding, driving, and vaulting. EFP is facilitated by a licensed/credentialed mental health professional working with and/or as an appropriately credentialed equine professional.

- Therapy – Claims of providing therapy or treatment, or billing
for services with a third party may be done only by a
licensed/credentialed professional such as a PT, OT, SLP, psychologist,
social worker, doctor, among others. Laws differ by state/country. If
non-licensed/credentialed personnel claim to be doing therapy or providing
treatment, this is often considered fraudulent.
Horses for Hope® www.horsesforhope.org.au
Horses for Hope® (Uniting Care), is a unique, powerful and
challenging program that has wide application in both the community and
corporate sectors.
The organisation focuses on
developing and strengthening interpersonal skills, self confidence,
self-awareness, communication, teamwork and leadership.
In its programs, participants
develop a relations partnership and leadership. This unique and challenging
process enables participants to reflect on their emotions, feelings, and life
experiences, and identify, understand, and learn how to resolve personal and
professional issues.
One-off and on-going programs are tailored to meet the needs of a broad
spectrum of community and corporate groups and individuals including young
people at risk, people in prison, new and established working teams, and those
with specific personal and professional development needs.
‘Helping Real People Achieve Real Change’
Horses for Hope® is often a last resort for many of the
people who reach out for its help, as they have sought relief from a range of
other therapeutic options to no avail. Through its unique combination of Equine Assisted Therapy and Narrative Practice, Horses for Hope
helps participants achieve real change in their lives.
Sometimes
those changes may be small, slow or gradual but they always represent
improvement and relief in real lives where it is desperately needed.
although there may be several advancements with the means of treating mental Ailments in the past 50 years, there is still a good certain stigma surrounding the views with mental illness. Many people still mistakenly believe That a person which has a mental illness can be very easily lazy or even they will probably location blame towards the parents if your patient is often a child.Kevin Perelman
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