ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDING THERAPY

IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION, TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE AND/OR EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL THROUGH EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPIES AND ACTIVITIES, WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: THERAPEUTIC RIDING (TR) - TR IS FOCUSED ON LEARNING RIDING AND HORSEMAN SHIP SKILLS. MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE IS INHERENTLY THERAPEUTIC, AND RIDERS FREQUENTLY ENJOY SECONDARY BENEFITS SUCH AS INCREASED FOCUSED ATTENTION, POSTURAL CONTROL, BALANCE, AND STRENGTH. HIPPOTHERAPY - IS OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL OR SPEECH THERAPY USING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE AS A TREATMENT STRATEGY. THESE SESSIONS ARE CONDUCTED BY A THERAPIST WHO HAS SPECIALIZED TRAINING AND IS CERTIFIED THROUGH PATH INTL. THE GOALS FOR A CLIENT ARE THE SAME AS THOSE WITHIN A TRADITIONAL THERAPY SETTING, SUCH AS IMPROVING POSTURAL CONTROL, BALANCE, COORDINATION, ARTICULATION, COGNITIVE SKILLS, FINE OR GROSS MOTOR SKILLS, ETC. EQUINE ASSISTED OR FACILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP OR EFP) - IS AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS IN WHICH A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS WITH HORSES TO ADDRESS PSYCHOTHERAPY GOALS SET FORTH BY THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND THE CLIENT. EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) - IS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING APPROACH WHICH PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES. THE MAIN GOALS ARE TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS AND GAIN EMOTIONAL GROWTH THROUGH GUIDED HORSE INTERACTION AND UNMOUNTED ACTIVITIES. EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) - IS AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING APPROACH WHICH PROMOTES EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EQUINE-ASSISTED ACTIVITIES. THE MAIN GOALS ARE TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS AND GAIN EMOTIONAL GROWTH THROUGH GUIDED HORSE INTERACTION AND UNMOUNTED ACTIVITIES. ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDING THERAPY HAS A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TAILORED TO THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF EACH CLIENT. CHILDREN AND ADULTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN OUR THERAPEUTIC RIDING, HIPPOTHERAPY, EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY, AND EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING PROGRAMS. LESSONS ARE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND AND EACH PARTICIPANT CAN CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS AS LONG AS THEY, THEIR FAMILY AND INSTRUCTOR FEELS IT IS BENEFICIAL. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 50 VOLUNTEERS GENEROUSLY DONATING TIME TO ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDING THERAPY ON A WEEKLY BASIS. WE ALSO SERVE 75 PARTICIPANTS FROM CHILDREN THROUGH ADULTHOOD. IN THIS PAST YEAR WE STARTED AN EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) INITIATIVE CALLED CLASSROOMS TO PASTURES: TRANSITIONING FROM TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS TO PASTURES WITH EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING AND HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH BOTH THE TEMPLE GRANDIN SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS WITH AUTISM AND WATERSHED SCHOOL WHICH SUPPORTS NON-TRADITIONAL LEARNERS. AS PART OF OUR EAL INITIATIVE WE HAD A GOAL TO PRESENT OUR PROGRAM AT ONE CONFERENCE RELATED TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH OR EQUINE THERAPY. WE EXCEEDED OUR GOAL AND PRESENTED AT TWO CONFERENCES. THE FIRST WAS THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLABORATION DAY CONFERENCE AND THE SECOND WAS THE PATH INTL., REGIONAL CONFERENCE. BOTH CONFERENCES WERE WELL ATTENDED AND RESULTED IN NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING YEAR'S COLLABORATIONS AND GROWTH OF OUR EAL PROGRAM.