The Basic Benefits of Therapeutic Horsemanship

Horses provide a unique opportunity to reflect, moderate, and restore people.

Warm Beach Horsemanship offers therapeutic classes that help people in the following areas:

• disability/mobility impairment
• rehabilitation (recovery from surgery, illness, accident)
• restoration (trauma, emotional, spiritual)

Therapeutic riding and/or vaulting strengthens core muscles in a non-weight bearing environment. The horse’s gait at the walk mimics a human’s gait. It is unimpeded and allows for full range of motion. This unimpeded walking motion supplies a sensory stimulus up the spinal column to the central nervous system. The respiratory, nervous, limbic and internal organs all benefit from this stimulus.

Warm Beach Therapeutic Horsemanship combines the reflective nature of horses with the caring guidance of trained instructors. Time spent with the horse, whether in an Equine Assisted Learning unmounted environment or in a therapeutic riding or vaulting class, provides an opportunity to discover the boundaries of your courage, inner strength, and physical mobility.

Therapeutic Horsemanship is modified for specific disabilities and needs. This is a basic overview of the benefits, but each individual will also experience unique benefits based on their specific exercises.

All of this occurs in an environment of acceptance, care, and empathy that challenges while emphasizing fun as well.

-Ginger Reitz, Assistant Horsemanship Director
Warm Beach Camp and Conference Center