Equine Facilitated Occupational Therapy UK website

Equine Therapy Profile

What is Special About Horses?

It is widely recognised that the interaction between people and horses has a powerful and varied benefit. The benefits are physical, mental, emotional and intellectual. Horses compliment the work of many practitioners such as Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Therapist’s, Educationalists and Psychotherapists, who use equine facilitated activity to enhance their work.

The movement of the horse’s walk closely mimics the human walk and through riding, the horse’s walk stimulates and synthesises the human walk making it a transformational treatment base.

It provides an intense, multi-sensory experience which is highly motivating, and also promotes awareness of another being.

EFOT offers the connection of being around the animal and the interaction within the stable environment, and it offers the physical act of riding. The horse’s large size, unique characteristics, and its ability to read body language are some of the significant benefits of EFOT.

To ensure a horse or equine is fit for purpose.

Careful consideration of the equines features needs to be examined  such as the:

Health

Temperament

Movement  

These are very important factors that should be considered in order for the equine to be used to facilitate treatment.

Also looking at the general balance and symmetry of the equine is essential

Addressing angles at their shoulders, hindquarters to identify smooth movement.