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Equine-assisted instructor

Description

Equine therapists design, create and deliver therapeutic activities, based on the potential of horses and horse riding as a work method and instrument in order to improve the physical, mental, sensory and social recovery of people with disabilities or social maladjustment issues. These activities may be independent, or may serve to complement others, as part of a wider social or health-care programme. This variety of therapy is aimed at people who, owing to their disability or condition, are unable to ride or control horses themselves. As such, there is always a qualified riding instructor to control the horse and the equine therapist is always there by the person's side.

Tasks

  • Examine the patient's history or interpret their diagnosis in order to design an appropriate programme and lead specific equine therapy sessions focusing on the areas of motor planning (primarily mobility, balance and spatial awareness), communication and sensorial or social integration.
  • Either alone or in conjunction with other professionals, design a personal treatment and therapy programme, in response to each person's particular issues or pathologies, so as to improve their physical, mental, sensorial or social recovery, using the horse and riding as a method or working tool.
  • Select the most suitable horse depending on the exercises and activities to be carried out with the patient, ensuring that animal's personality and physical characteristics fit the aims of the therapy and the nature of the rider.
  • Accompany users throughout the horseback therapy sessions, guiding the horse's movements (forward and backward movements, being off or off the ground, movements to one side or turning around), in the case of disabled patients. In the case of socially maladjusted patients, focus on the cognitive, communicative and emotional aspects of the patient-horse relationship.
  • Analyse the patients' response to the horse and the exercise, adapting the horse's movements to their needs.
  • Adequately train the horses in their care to prepare them for the therapy activities scheduled.
  • Oversee the tasks involving the care for and maintenance of the horses, facilities and equipment performed by other professionals at the centre (stable boys, tack assistants) responsible for looking after the animals.
  • Perform control and technical supervision tasks on the horses in their care in order to ensure they remain in optimum health and physical condition.
  • Perform control and technical supervision tasks on the riding equipment, as well as all of the equine infrastructure and facilities, in order to maintain them in perfect operating condition.

Quick access and copyright:

Centre per al desenvolupament professional Porta22

Barcelona Treball (Porta22)
Llacuna, 156-162, 08018 Barcelona
bcn.cat/treball

900533175
Monday to Friday from 9 to 18 h

Generalitat de Catalunya
Unió Europea FEDER
Unió Europea FSE