Many therapeutic riding centers offer only private lessons, but there are centers that only offer group lessons or have a mix of group and private. The center I work at has a mix of private and group lessons and the majority of my teaching hours are from groups.
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I recently began the process of getting my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology and it is fascinating! Expect the content here on this blog to reflect more of what I am learning and how it can be helpful in therapeutic horseback riding. One interesting tidbit I learned is how taking turns is a precursor to a conversation.
Continue readingDisciplining horses in the middle of lessons is difficult. As instructors, we don’t want to show our riders negative behavior from us or point out negative behavior in our horses. I believe the best way to discipline a horse is to eliminate the problem through training, stress elimination, and positive reinforcement but that mostly takes place outside of lessons. I want to share how I discipline in lessons, but please know that this is my personal way of doing things and is not meant to be construed as the only way or the best way.
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Horseback riding is all about balance. Staying centered and balanced on the horse makes it easier to stay on if a horse spooks, takes a misstep, or does something unexpected. Balanced riders also keep their horses content. Think of a backpack on your back. If it’s sliding to one side, you are constantly shrugging your shoulder to center the bag. The horse feels the same way with an off-center rider.
In therapeutic riding, many riders struggle with balanced, centered riding so how do we work on it in lessons to make our clients better riders and our horses more content?
Continue readingTherapeutic riding is an alternative therapeutic option that uses the horse to provide clients with a unique experience. The bare necessities for therapeutic riding are an instructor, a horse, and a client. However, there are some typical toys and equipment that most therapeutic riding centers (TRC) or places that offer adaptive riding will have.
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The Equine Impact 