Facilitation Technique Category: Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Activity Title: Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy

Source: Dattilo, John, & McKenney, Alexis, (2016).Therapeutic Horseback Riding.
Facilitation Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation. (pp. 637-664). State College, PA:
Venture Publishing
Materials: Horse, Safety Helmet, Adaptive Equipment
Activity Description: Equine-facilitated psychotherapy is a form of therapeutic
horseback riding, primarily focusing on improvement of cognitive abilities and social
skills. More specifically, setting perspective, decreasing isolation, improving
communication, and building self-efficiency. Participants are informed of the
relevance of horseback riding, which emphasizes the similarities between horses
and human beings in social and responsive behavior. Next, participants are given
briefs safety rules and regulations, prior to being introduced to various adaptive
equipment. Each session may focus on learning and perfecting, to ones best ability,
various techniques of horseback riding. Common lessons focus on bending forward
at the hip while riding, mounting the horse, and controlling the horse in movements
like side to side. Gaining control of balance is essential, however not always easily
learned. The CTRS is responsible for assisting the participant in practicing balance
by having the participant rotate on seat in a 360 degree motion or holding arms out
while seated on horse and maintaining balance. The participant may also, if
possible, attempt to stand up in stirrups of the horses saddle with comfort.
Leadership Considerations: A licensed mental health professional works with an
equine professional to facilitate identified goal outcomes (Dattilo, 639). An
appropriate equestrian environment should be sectioned off, allowing the horse only
a certain distance to roam without disturbance. No more than two participants
should be assisted at a time, in order to foster an effective learning experience for
the participant (p. 641). Therapeutic riding instructor must be properly credentialed,
by completing the on-site PATH Intl. exam and obtaining instructor certification
(Dattilo, p. 653).
Adaptations: Mental Illness: Though there is no specified equipment especially
for individuals with mental illness, it is important to consider several factors when
preparing participant to ride. Initial assessments are completed, which help to
determine necessary equipment. This assessment considers physique, age, health,
type and extent of impairment, temperament, ambition, knowledge, and attitude.
Temperament is extremely important in deciding which equipment may be
necessary for each rider, it is important to correctly do this assessment as not to
offend or upset any participants (Dattilo, p. 651). As mentioned previously,
individual lessons are preferred for participants with mental health issues.
Stroke: If participants are stroke patients, certain motor and sensory movements
may be compromised. The adaptive equipment commonly rendered useful in this
scenario are the safety belt, body harness, special stirrups, hand-holds, and special
reins. Special stirrups host a snap-off rubber band making it easier to get in stirrups
for individuals with weakness in lower limbs. There are various reins created to

make it easier to grasp, such as the looped rein, ladder rein, and check reins. Handholds are typically used for all beginners, but in this case can provide better balance
and control for participants who need improvement (Dattilo, p.652).
Adaptation References:
Dattilo, John, & McKenney, Alexis, (2016).Therapeutic Horseback Riding. Facilitation
Techniques in Therapeutic Recreation. (pp. 637-664). State College, PA: Venture
Publishing
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