Equine Assisted Therapy Session
Equine Assisted Therapy Programs
Working with a team of retired racehorses, Racing Hearts offers Equine Assisted Therapy programs to individuals and groups to assist them with whatever challenges life throws at them.
What is Equine Assisted Therapy? It’s essentially traditional counselling offered in a non-traditional way. Sessions are conducted in a similar fashion to traditional counselling while exercises with the horses are integrated in ways that are relevant and meaningful to the client.
Navigating the world can be a confusing time even without a mental health diagnosis. We focus on any challenges that clients feel are important to their wellbeing as well as focusing on helping to develop an awareness and understand the connection between our thoughts, physical feelings, emotions and behaviors and how to manage these in a healthy way.
Research has shown that when people come into contact with horses the area of the brain responsible for memory and emotion is activated therefore allowing the practitioner to have easier access to these processes that may be causing challenges for the client. When we practice exercises with the horses the client has the opportunity to experience change, this creates new neural pathways in the brain and therefore healthier coping mechanisms and behaviors. Furthermore, when people are in contact with horses, hormones such as oxytocin that are associated with feeling good and relaxation are released in the brain, assisting the client in relaxation. When clients are more relaxed they often find it easier to talk about their issues and this aids the practitioner in their treatment method.
After an initial consultation session with a client we agree on a plan moving forward. We can formulate a set program over a number of weeks or we can have open ongoing weekly or fortnightly sessions. The plan can easily be changed as we progress as it is important to be flexible and meet the clients needs.
We work with many clients with NDIS, DVC and other referrals and are always open to a conversation with you to establish how we can help.
Duration: up to 60 minutes
Cost: $190/session
Equine and Art Assisted Autism Program
Our Equine and Art Assisted Autism Program is an innovative community participation program helping young people with Autism build the skills to thrive in life! Research results state that equine and art assisted interventions can have positive effects on many of the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Therefore, our program focuses on many of these symptoms including:
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Sensory processing
- Community participation and social phobias
- Anxiety
- Emotional regulation and expression
- Social and personal communication
- Cognitive processes
- Physical difficulties
Clients take part in a range of on the ground and mounted activities with the horses and finish with an art based exercise to compliment the therapeutic goals of the session.
Program Duration: 8 weeks
Cost: $1200 (Can be claimed through NDIS packages)
School Programs
Our School Programs are designed to cater to Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary students to offer Equine Assisted Therapy to young people.
School Programs are offered either at our facility in Moorooduc or can be brought to you to be conducted on site at a school. Each program runs over a block of 6 or 8 weeks with the children selected to participate in the program.
While we have a general program designed, before we begin we discuss specific needs for the group or the school so that we can create a flexible program as needed. However, most programs include themes of:
- Life challenges
- Awareness
- Boundaries
- Feelings
- Thoughts
- Relationships
We encourage you to get in touch to let us know the specific needs of your school. From there we’ll outline a program that suits.
