Stable Health & Wellness Center

Connecting Hands, Hooves & Hearts
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Benefits of
Therapeutic Riding
 
Therapeutic riding is able to benefit individuals with nearly any disability, whether it be a physical, cognitive or an emotional disorder. 
 
The gait, or movement of the horse rhythmically moves the rider's body.  Each therapy horse will offer a slightly different movement to the rider.  These movements help to improve riders' muscle tone, strength, balance and flexibility.   The independence and confidence rider's gain from learning horsemanship skills is quite remarkable!
 
For individuals with emotional or mental disabilities, the bond formed with a horse can transform the individual's self-esteem, motivation, confidence and compassion.   Often the lessons from a horse are more easily accepted by individuals than when it comes from their parents, therapists or teachers.
 
For details on the TR Program through SHAW Center, please click on the "Therapeutic Riding" tab on the left.
 
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a TR participant at SHAW Center,  please download the forms here, or give us a call or email.
 

 What is

Equine Facilitated Learning

 Equine Facilitated Learning is an experiential (not experimental) process.  We learn by doing, by experiencing, and reflecting on the process afterwards.  The focus of EFL is not on horsemanship or riding skills, but on the individual needs of the participants.  In fact, a majority of EFL sessions will take place on the ground.  
 
WHY THE HORSE?
 
Horses have mastered the art of relationships.  Horses are always working toward balance and harmony within their herd.  They balance their need to depend on and protect each other with their need to find their own place in the herd and in the world around them.  Everyone wants to fit in somwhere.  Horses show us the healthy way to do this. 
 
Horses are prey animals.
Horses have had to develop an abundant sense of awareness.  It is what has kept them alive for centuries and what today makes them so unique and ideal for this work.  They are extraordinarily aware of emotional states in their environment (similar to the "gut feeling" you may get) and non-verbal cues.  Horses are able to tune into our thoughts and give us their hearts so that we may learn to follow ours.
 
Horses use body language to communicate.
Horses are herd animals that use body language/posturing to communicate.  They are able to pick up on the most subtle, and at times subconscious body language cues we as humans often miss or misinterpret.
 
Horses never judge.
A horse does not care how you look, how much money you have, that you talk differently or if you can sing well.  A horse accepts you as you are. 
 
Horses never lie.  Horses do not seperate how they feel, from how they act.  It's just not in them to lie - even to "spare our feeling".  They will give us honest, non-judgemental, immediate feedback on our true feelings and emotional states. 
We are able to see ouselves through their eyes, which provides us the opportunity for real change.
 
For details on the EFL Program at SHAW Center, please click on the "Equine Facilitated Learing" tab on the left.
 
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming an EFL participant at SHAW Center, call or email us.  You can also download all the necessary forms here.