Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies I is a lecture based course that introduces students to the practice of utilizing equines in a therapeutic setting. The course will provide a comprehensive examination of the physical, cognitive and emotional benefits of equine assisted therapy for a variety of populations. Along with studying the history and benefits of equine assisted therapies students will also understand the selection and training of therapy horses, how to provide a safe and appropriate setting for sessions, best practices for case notes and client interactions, and how to properly utilize the EAGALA model of practice.
The EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model of practice will be utilized, centering on ground-based activities with the horses, and therefore there will be no emphasis on mounted sessions with clients/patients.