Equine Therapy

Equine therapy groups together therapeutic and educational interventions that rely on the horse. It is not a horseback riding class: the goal is not to learn how to ride, but to use the animal's movement and the bond created with it to work on physical, emotional, or social objectives defined by a professional team. Several modalities are distinguished. Hippotherapy uses the three-dimensional movement of the horse's walk as a physiotherapy tool, with the therapist guiding the user's posture. Therapeutic riding and adapted riding incorporate exercises on the horse for psychomotor and autonomy purposes. And assisted therapy works from the ground, using the care and handling of the animal as a means of communication and emotional regulation. It is aimed at very different audiences: people with functional diversity, neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral or mood difficulties, and also those seeking a calm experience and contact with animals without any diagnosis involved. Each program is tailored to the individual. A session takes place in a center with horses selected and trained for this work, in a quiet environment and with support materials. It usually lasts between thirty minutes and an hour, and programs are designed with continuity in time rather than as a standalone activity. The team combines therapeutic and equestrian technical profiles.