Equine Assisted Therapy
What is Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic approach that incorporates interactions with horses to support emotional, mental, and physical healing under the guidance of professionals. This ground-based therapy helps individuals build trust, improve self-esteem, develop emotional regulation, and enhance communication skills through activities such as grooming, leading, and observing horse behavior. It is particularly effective for those dealing with anxiety, trauma, PTSD, autism, and other developmental or emotional challenges. The horse’s natural sensitivity to human emotions makes them powerful partners in therapy, creating a calming, non-judgmental environment for healing and personal growth.
Program Structures
We offer a wide variety of program options to ensure you can find the perfect equestrian experience to meet your individual needs and goals.
Drop-In
- Booked as least 3 weeks in advance
- Based on availability
Punch Pass
- Available through Fall/Winter/Spring
- Gives you flexibility
- Must be used within 3 months of purchase
- Must book 1 week in advance
- 24 hour cancelation policy
- If injured, there is no extensions offered
Monthly Lessons
- 4 lessons a month
- Lessons are a set time/day every week
- No make up lessons if missed
How to Join: Expression of Interest
Due to the popularity of our riding programs and limited availability, we invite you to complete this expression of interest form. This will help us understand your interest in joining a specific program, and we will contact you with available options when a space becomes available. Please note that submitting this form does not guarantee enrollment.
Additional Program Information
Age
- We accept Riders 3 years old and up
Volunteer Hours
All participants in the Lesson Program will be required to pay a $100 Volunteer fee when they first register for the season. Once the participant completes 10 hours of volunteer work – the amount will be credited back to their next session.
Waivers
It is MANDATORY that everyone who is around horses signs a waiver. That means that it is not only riders. It is parents, siblings, friends and family that come out and watch.
AEF
This membership is highly recommended. While it offers many benefits – It covers riders if they are handling/riding a horse and that horse goes on and causes damages or injures someone else. Yes – that is a lawsuit that has happened many times in this industry and NO – you don’t have to own the horse to become liable. It is also required to compete in any SHAMROCK SHOW or other off property competition.
Find information at www.albertaequestrian.com.
Horse Welfare
Riding horses is an absolute privilege and one that we don’t take lightly. While you will be learning skills to develop yourself as a rider, you will also be required to learn about horse care and management. Thus, not only will you be riding, but you will also be handling and grooming horses, inspecting for injuries, tacking up and untacking, keeping tack organized and clean, tidying the stalls, grooming and feed buckets, cleaning the aisles and cross ties, feeding and watering the horses.
Additionally, there will be a large portion focused on rider fitness. Horseback riding is an Equestrian Sport and as a ‘sport’ both the riders and the horse must be fit. Fitness holds multiple benefits for riding. Fitness is imperative to the humane treatment of the horse. We must be as balanced as we can as riders be to allow the horse to not only move itself as safely as possible, but to do so with extra weight on its back. Riders core, leg and back strength are the most important. Add to that the benefit of improved in coordination, stamina and reduced risk of injury when a fall happens as well as the mental strength and clarity one gets from fitness.
We do know this is a process, but we expect riders to make a concerted effort to work on fitness. If you find it hard to find motivation to work out on your own, our facility offers work out classes 2x’s a week.
Please note – if you are coming just to ride a horse, this program is not for you.
Maximum Weight of Riders
- 5’0 and under – 150 lb
- 5’0 – 5’6 – 175 lb
- 5’7 – 6’0 – 200 lb
*** Please note that weight will limit the horses that we can put riders on.
*** Decisions will also be based on horses ability, and balance of rider.
Contact Us
We are here to help with any questions or inquiries you may have about our lesson and training programs, products, or services. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced equestrian, we are excited to be a part of your journey.