Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT): a form of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) where a human participant is working with a horse that assists them. The interactions between the horse and participant help facilitate purposeful, regulated and positive health goals. EAT includes grooming, feeding, and caring for the horses. The focus is on personal physical goals and less on developing riding skills.
Therapeutic Riding (TR)/Therapeutic Horsemanship: a form of adaptive riding where sessions are focused on developing riding skills that in turn, help facilitate personal goals
Equine Assisted Mental Health services (EAMH): traditional talk therapy with the inclusion of hands-on work with a horse. Horses mirror our emotional state and give honest, in the moment reactions.
Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI): a voluntary, entry-level credential for those in the equine-assisted services (EAS) profession. Instructors provide riding sessions and therapeutic value to people with a range of disabilities. This may include mounted (on the horse) or unmounted (off the horse) work with an equine.
PATH Int’l Certified Instructor: Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. Instructors have met established standards of practice in the field. They demonstrate a strong knowledge on a range of disabilities, equines, teaching and human-to-animal interactions.
Side Walker: a person who stands/walks/runs next to the participant who is riding and helps guide the horse while providing support for the rider.
Reins, Saddle, Stirrups: all forms of horse and rider equipment that are used when riding. Reins are attached to the horses face, the saddle is what a participant sits in, and the stirrups are where a riders feet go.
Tacking/Untacking: Getting the horse ready (tacking) for a session, brushing them and putting on equipment. Taking off the equipment (untacking), brushing and then putting the horse away.