HORSE ASSISTED THERAPY SERVICES OF NORTH LOUISIANA

The benefits of riding are limitless, but improvements are typically seen in:
• Balance: dynamic movement of the horse teaches midline orientation and can be used in sitting or standing positions other than the usual riding position.
• Strength: riding improves core and postural muscle strength allowing for improved use and function or the extremities.
• Coordination: motor planning in sequence with correct timing and muscle grading to perform a task.
• Sensory processing: being outdoors in a place that allows different sights, smells, tactile, moving off the ground
• Range of motion: just sitting on the horse provides a stretch to many muscle groups of the lower body, and the warmth and movement help tone to relax.
• Self-esteem: feeling of accomplishment and a job well done, participating in an activity that most people enjoy or would like to! Positive reinforcement.
• Socialization: learning to be socially appropriate without fear of judgment. Belonging and acceptance in a place outside of home.
The horse can be a strong motivator to encourage better behavior, more speech or basic sign, or even learn those dreaded multiplication facts!

What is Therapeutic Horsemanship? In a nutshell, it involves teaching someone with a disability how to ride a horse, but so many amazing things seem to happen as we ride! The participants may learn traditional and adaptive riding skills, ground work, horse care, and grooming.  Lessons are goal oriented, and often include games on horseback that pertain to the skills we are working toward. But most importantly, it's a really enjoyable way to improve impairment and function. We work with persons age 2 years and older with some type of physical, cognitive, social, or emotional difficulties. Examples include, but are not limited to stroke, MS, CP, Autism, SMA, Downs, visual impairment, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, and amputations.

HATS is a proud member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, an international organization that provides standards and guidelines, certification, and education in the field of equine assisted activities and therapies. A physical therapist, PATH Certified Instructors, a variety of horses, and specially trained volunteers work together to maximize the safety of and benefits to participants.

We began as a small mobile unit providing services to 10 or more individuals weekly, to a 60+ acre facility with a barn, arenas, sensory trails, and a "homey" facility for volunteers, participants, and families to enjoy. Although we are still a largely volunteer driven organization, we are currently serving 20-30 individuals per week. We have partnered with Louisiana Tech University to provide practical experience in working with persons with disabilities to their students, especially in their Family and Child Studies program. We are currently working to become sustainable with fundraising and grant writing to increase our ability to pay and retain employees in order to increase the number of participants we can serve.