Equine therapy / Equine assisted practioners

[nikicb]

Just wondering whether anyone has any experience in this field? I've recently got to know someone who is involved with this, and will definitely ask her more about it, but thought I'd also ask on here to get a balanced opinion.

I'm not necessarily looking to get involved, but would do if it appeals to me once I knew more about it, especially as I have a couple of older ponies, one of whom is all but retired as he is outgrown by my boys.

Any information you have, or views, would be much appreciated.

Thanks. x

 

[Goldenstar]

Do you mean things like Bowen and equine touch and that sort of thing ?

 

[fabian]

I'm an equine assisted therapy practitioner so feel free to ask me anything you like. The Welsh Institute for Therapeutic Horsemanship's website is also good place to go for more information. They're based in Wales but offer information and training to people from all over the UK. In fact, they are going to be running courses for practitioners this summer I think.

 

[RockinRudolph]

This is something I have often thought about doing too but I don't know how I could use it if I was to get qualified. The training I have looked at in the past was quite pricey so I'm wary of doing it unless there's a clear pathway for me to use it. I already work in mental health and horses have always been my passion, so it seems logical to bring the two together. I will have a look at the website mentioned above I think, thanks fabian.

 

[nikicb]

Do you mean things like Bowen and equine touch and that sort of thing ?

No, using horses as part of a therapeutic programme for people with mental health issues, etc.

I'm an equine assisted therapy practitioner so feel free to ask me anything you like. The Welsh Institute for Therapeutic Horsemanship's website is also good place to go for more information. They're based in Wales but offer information and training to people from all over the UK. In fact, they are going to be running courses for practitioners this summer I think.

Thank you, that's great - I'll take a look at the website. In the past I have helped out with RDA and seen the benefits of interaction with horses for the participants. However I will have to admit to not being desperately into all the Parelli type stuff and prefer the common sense approach to horsemanship to gain mutual respect. If I got involved it would very much be from the point of view of providing horses and time which will benefit people in need, not because I want my horses to like me more, if that makes sense.

This is something I have often thought about doing too but I don't know how I could use it if I was to get qualified. The training I have looked at in the past was quite pricey so I'm wary of doing it unless there's a clear pathway for me to use it. I already work in mental health and horses have always been my passion, so it seems logical to bring the two together. I will have a look at the website mentioned above I think, thanks fabian.

Good luck!

 

[fabian]

I know that one of the reasons that WITH are setting up their new training scheme is to make this field a bit more accessible and less 'fluffy'. So, the training is supposed to be affordable and straightforward. I think that they're more into providing people with practitioner skills rather than pushing a certain school of horsemanship. Then people can go away and decide for themselves whether they would like to practice in a way that is traditional, classical or natural horsemanship based. They're definitely worth getting in touch with anyway. I've always found them very helpful. Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.