Therapeutic Horse Riding
The practice and accreditation of Therapeutic Horse Riding includes a range of horse-related activities that are beneficial for people living with disabilities.
Our Programs
TROtt offers three categories of programs that provide a spectrum of opportunities and benefits. Each program incorporates a different balance of therapy, sport and learning and is delivered by certified instructors or coaches.
Read below to learn more about each program!
Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic Horse Riding is a global term that encompasses all horse-related activities for people with disabilities. Historically, the therapeutic benefits of the horse were recognized as early as 460 BC and have been recognized as physically, psychologically, socially, and educationally beneficial.
What is it?
Children and adults with disabilities have fun while riding horses to achieve specific health and wellbeing benefits..
Who teaches the class?
Our accredited instructors, assisted by our great volunteers, teach classes tailored to the wellness goals for each person
Therapeutic Content
Classes may focus more on functional riding skills or on activities and activities, depending on the therapeutic goals of the participants.
Types of Riding
Riding Skills: Riding Skills classes are conducted in small groups of up to four riders. Qualified instructors, assisted by volunteers, teach riding lessons tailored to the riders’ abilities and requirements. Riders are encouraged to develop functional riding skills with a therapeutic benefit.
Developmental Riding: A trained instructor encourages the rider’s movement exploration through a variety of developmental motor, perceptual motor and other sensory and sequencing activities and games. This is carried out in small groups up to four riders.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of Therapeutic Horse Riding are an improvement in physical health, relaxation of tight muscles, an increase in balance, building of muscle strength, mobilization of trunk and pelvis, sharpening of hand/eye coordination, improvement in social skills, and a gain of sense of control and self-confidence as the rider experiences a freedom which has often never been felt before.
Apply to Therapeutic Riding!
To apply for Therapeutic Riding call 613-821-7877 or apply online.
Equine Assisted Learning
TROtt offers Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs for individuals or groups living with disabilities or injuries wishing to pursue personal well-being goals. EAL is an experiential learning approach using horses and the horse facility to promote well-being and the development of life-skills. Our EAL programs are mainly unmounted (no riding) and may be one-on-one or group activities. EAL may involve only one session or a series of sessions, depending on the participants’ goals.
What is it?
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach using horses and the farm environment to promote well-being and the development of life skills. It supports new ways to communicate, learn and grow
Who teaches the class?
Coming soon…
Therapeutic Content
Coming soon…
Types of EAL
Horse Connections is primarily for people who are neurodiverse or living with mental health issues. This program was launched during COVID for first responders, front-line workers and service people who had experienced operational injuries. It has since expanded to others whose mental wellbeing and personal development would benefit from interaction with horses. Participants are involved with the horses on the ground, without the pressure of riding. Individuals or groups with common experience are supported by certified coaches over a period of weeks to address challenges in their lives and achieve goals through interaction with our specially trained horses.
Beginning in October 2023 we will be offering EAL group sessions in a partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Grit and Gratitude Coaching.
Horse Powered Reading™ is for elementary school aged children having difficulty with reading. This program helps children increase confidence, promote self-efficacy and learn valuable reading skills to carry into the regular classroom. In private sessions, each student will interact with horses from the ground, while using toys and props to learn five critical reading skills – phonemic awareness, decoding, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.
Our Sensory Trail is a groomed pathway through the fields and small bush on the beautiful rural property. It is accessible by horseback, walking, wheelchair or horse buggy. It enhances the experience of participants in our EAL and therapeutic riding programs and builds on evidence of the importance of land-based activities and access to greenspace for wellness. The Sensory Trail provides additional physical and sensory stimulation for our participants and our horses.
Benefits
Some of the common benefits are listed below, but the true benefits are as numerous as the learners are unique in their needs:
- Improved mental well-being.
- An increase in self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improvement in understanding of non-verbal communication
- Development of self-awareness and understanding of a responsibility for actions.
- Improved social skills and work ethic
- Resiliency through access to new strategies for coping with new situations
- Better sensory and emotional regulation
The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH International) identifies different uses for EAL. TROtt offers programs to support the following benefits:
a) For Personal Growth:
- Problem solving
- Decision making
- Critical thinking
- Creativity
- Communication
- Confidence
b) For Education:
- Academic skills
- Character development
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
Apply to EAL!
Individuals, clinicians and community agencies, clinicians and Individuals are encouraged to contact us to discuss how EAL could benefit you or your clients
For more info & to book an EAL or Horse Powered Reading session, contact:
Para-Dressage, Special Olympics and Recreation
Our para-dressage riders are coached by certified Equestrian Canada coaches to improve their riding skills for recreation or competition (in-person or on-line). In our Special Olympics program, people with intellectual disabilities participate in equestrian sports and horsemanship in collaboration with “Special Olympics Ontario.”
What is it?
Riders living with disabilities improve their riding skills and achieve standardized riding level certifications with the support of our certified coaches. Our para-equestrians may enter on-line or in person competitions as one way to measure the development of their skills. However, para-riders may or may not participate in competitions, depending on their personal goals.
Who teaches the class?
TROtt’s Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association and Equestrian Canada certified instructors use their adaptive teaching skills to enable individuals with special needs to ride to the best of their ability in a safe and fun environment.
Therapeutic Content
Adaptive Riding
Riders work towards goals tailored to their individual needs to provide a positive experience for the individual.
Some common diagnoses of our adaptive riding community are: Developmental Delay, Down Syndrome, Amputation, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Generalized Anxiety and Autism.
Special Olympics
Being a part of our Special Olympics Team builds self-confidence and independence in the individual and fosters commitment and socialization skills. This is achieved through monthly team meetings and special events. We offer the opportunity to learn new skills in horse care, horse handling and riding skills. There is also the opportunity for participation in competition both in person and virtually.
Benefits
Goals may address leisure, education, social skills, competition in the sport, and fitness.
Apply to Therapeutic Riding!
To find out more about our Para-Sport and Recreation opportunities, email us: