Equine-Assisted Services Classes
Bringing Equines and Humans Together to Relax.Connect.Renew

Introduction to Equine-Assisted Services Classes

A veteran practices a therapeutic
grooming method on Echo at Wild Hearts
Therapeutic Equestrian Program.
I worked in the PATH Equine-Assisted Services Field (EAS) for ten years as a therapeutic and vaulting instructor. In 2010, I retired from the industry to focus my energy and time on the well-being of the equines, staff and volunteers at PATH therapy centers.

Equine Acupressure Basics, Greeting and Grooming with Gratitude, and Meditation are classes that I offer at PATH EAS centers and are all methods that are purposely designed to bring the therapeutic team of staff, volunteers, and equines together to relax, connect and renew.

Working and volunteering in the EAS field, can, over time, affect the mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical energies of both the equine’s and human’s body. The common occurrences that I witnessed and experienced, like those mentioned below, can cause anxiety, stress, depression, a lack of focus and spirit, and physical pain and/or illness:
  • the ongoing search for equines that are a good fit for the program
  • the loss of equines due to retirement, illness, burnout, death
  • the loss of students due to their leaving the program,  illness or death
  • the balance of the number of healthy equines available for the program and the number of lessons taught
  • last minute cancellation or delay of volunteers and staff
  • sudden injury with a therapy equine, staff or volunteer

Equine Acupressure Basics, Greeting and Grooming with Gratitude, and/or Meditation will support the therapeutic team on a daily basis and help them to move through trials that may arise at your center, with more ease, balance and peace in the mind, body, and soul.


Benefits

Equine Acupressure, Greeting and Grooming with Gratitude, and/or Meditation classes are an investment in the health of the staff, volunteers, and therapy equines at PATH therapy centers. The practice of these methods can ease anxiety, stress, and fear, reduce acute and chronic pain and inflammation, and strengthen the immune system.

The teaching of these methods onsite at a PATH EAS center provide an opportunity for the individuals on the therapeutic team to practice with the equines they work with in lessons.

These benefits can bring positive results such as –

  • A therapeutic team  whose improved well-being can create a calmer and more relaxed environment throughout the center
  • A rise in compassion and gratitude for others
  • Elevated focus of the therapeutic team
  • Increased happiness
  • Heightened energy level
  • Enhanced connection between staff and/or volunteers and the therapy equines
  • Safer, more effective lessons
  • Diminished feelings of depression or lack of spirit
  • Improved ability to cope with and “bounce back” from a hardship
  • A decline in burnout and fatigue


NOTES: Because the EAS equines and the individuals who work and volunteer in the field hold such a BIG place in my heart,
I offer my classes at a discount to PATH centers.
 

Also, the purpose of a lower fee is to encourage a PATH therapy center to schedule and hold a class
to benefit multiple staff members and/or volunteers at their center, and to give the participants
the opportunity to learn and practice with the equines at their center.


Equine Acupressure Basics

A volunteer at Riding to the Top Therapeutic
Riding Center practices an acupressure point
that benefits hoof concerns on one of the
amazing therapy equines.
Acupressure is simple, therapeutic, effective, non-invasive and holistic. It’s a technique that is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and uses touch/light pressure to stimulate areas on the body to maintain and/or restore health of the mind, body, and soul. For more explanation of acupressure and its benefits, click here.


In this class, participants will learn the basics of acupressure – what, when, where, how, and why, how to be and interact with the equine during acupressure, and practice locating acupressure points for these common equine concerns that can arise in the therapeutic setting:  anxiety/tension/stress, hip and back pain, colic, and hoof imbalances.

Participants will receive a manual and a letter of completion for continuing education hours.

This class can count for 2.5 or 4.5 hours (depending on session) of CEU's (General Continuing Education hours) for a PATH International Therapeutic Riding Instructor or CR's (Certification Core Requirements) for an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL).

A 2.5 hour class covers the basics of acupressure and the learning and practicing of acupressure points for any two (2) equine concerns of your choice.

Investment:

 

$90 per PATH staff member and/or volunteer

 

 

A 4.5 hour class covers the basics of acupressure and the learning and practicing of all four (4) concerns listed above.

Investment:

 

$170 per PATH staff member and/or volunteer


Maximum of 10 participants. Depending upon your center's location, there may be a minimum number of participants required. Please contact me with any questions.

A travel charge will be incurred if your center is located more than 20 miles away from Bolton, MA.


Everyone, especially the horses benefited (and have continued to benefit) from this work. Staff and volunteers have found some simple acupressure points to be especially helpful for our horses prior to going into lessons.
S. Bronson, Executive Director
Riding to the Top Therapeutic Riding Center


Greeting and Grooming with Gratitude

The barn manager at Rein in a Dream
practices a therapeutic method on the hooves
of one of the therapy equines.
Gratitude. It’s a positive emotion. It brings feelings of goodness, of being loved, of feeling safe. It can influence and improve the emotional, mental and physical state of health.


The practice of gratitude in everyday life can increase happiness, decrease depression, and foster more empathy toward others. When we are grateful, it can increase mental strength which helps individuals to be more resilient during challenging times.

In this two-hour class, participants will learn simple, relaxation and healing techniques to use as they greet the equine, and practice therapeutic grooming methods using an attitude of gratitude and a mix of acupressure and massage.

Participants will receive a manual and a letter of completion for continuing education hours.

This class can count for two (2) hours of CEU's (General Continuing Education hours) for a PATH International Therapeutic Riding Instructor.

Investment: $50 per PATH staff member and/or volunteer

Maximum of 15 participants. Depending upon your center's location, there may be a minimum number of participants required.
Please contact me with any questions.

A travel charge will be incurred if your center is located more than 20 miles away from Bolton, MA.


After practicing Linda’s grooming and gratitude techniques, I noticed a change in several members of our herd. The horses were clearly more relaxed, and in this supple state, ready for work. Grooming with gratitude has helped all of us become mindful of our pre-lesson grooming routine to ensure that our horses (and ourselves) are calm and centered which sets the stage for a safe, productive therapeutic riding session.
Cassie Clark, Program Manager
Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding Program


Meditation

Meditation is a simple, effective, therapeutic method that can be practiced with the equines at the EAS center. Not only is it easier to move into and stay in the meditation when practicing with the equines, it's healing for the mind, body, and soul of the staff and/or volunteers and the equines, and more fun!

Meditation is a way to take our minds away from all of the to-do's, what-if's, I shoulda's, and I coulda's and pay attention, without judgment, to the present moment. Taking the time to quiet your mind and body - whether it's 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 60 minutes a day can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear. It increases the body's energy and decreases fatigue.

In this 1.5-hour class, participants learn the what, when, how, why, and where of meditation and learn and practice a Japanese breathing technique and guided meditations with the therapy equines.

Participants will receive a handout with meditations.

Even though this class has not been approved for CEU's by PATH International, I offer it at EAS centers because meditation can play a vital role in the daily life of the therapeutic team bringing calmness and focus to the workplace and other circles of life.

This is a great class to combine with Greeting and Grooming with Gratitude!

Investment: $45 per PATH staff member and/or volunteer

Maximum of 15 participants. Depending upon your center's location, there may be a minimum number of participants required.
Please contact me with any questions.

A travel charge will be incurred if your center is located more than 20 miles away from Bolton, MA.

Pete, a therapy horse at Lovelane Special Needs Horseback
Riding Program, voluntarily joins our circle of meditation.
Circle of Peace | Equine Acupressure | Reiki for All Animals