Horses have been a helpful player in the rehabilitation process where there have been integrations of equine-assisted therapies. They have become useful intervention techniques in various therapeutic areas, such as physical therapy. This work will explain how equines could be incorporated into physical therapy practices, with Bethany Nugent, a licensed physical therapist with a connection in equine-assisted therapy, as the informant.
Interview Insights
Bethany Nugent, certified with a Master’s in Physical therapy, serves as the CEO and founder of Bethany’s Equine & Aquatic TS, INC., and she offers the details about qualifications, techniques, and integration of equines in therapy sessions. As a specialist in equine therapy with over 29 years of experience, Nugent puts emphasis on the multitasking aspect of this type of work. She provides examples of the great importance of keeping a holistic approach in order to achieve a better understanding of the wide spectrum of client’s issues.
Nugent talks about how, during therapy sessions, not only do multiple aspects have to be balanced by the therapists, but all these factors also have to be carried out strategically and in a much more comprehensive manner. In addition to being intensely involved in a client’s therapeutic needs, the volunteers also need to be observant of the well-being of people, horse behavior, and the state of the environment. Therefore, this amount of multitasking is rather challenging to handle concurrently, as it takes much attention and memory, which is essential for each session to be safe and effective. The role calls for the therapists to display a sharp eye for detail and have a deep grasp of the dynamic interactions that exist between the clients, the volunteers, and the equine partners.
In addition, Nugent points out the encouraging attitude during the conceiving and settling of horse therapy. These major breakthroughs are usually expressed as explicit evidence of the clients’ progress, either in the level of their physical mobility, emotional control of their impulses, or the social connections they establish. The special connection that links clients, volunteers, as well as horses during these occurrences provides a chance to have breakthrough moments, which nurture an environment reflecting trust, empathy, and mutual assistance. By making this statement, Nugent focuses on these interconnections’ significant influence on the curing process by moving emotions to another step.
On the other hand, along with the rewards, some challenges pose problems for therapists like Nugent. Volunteer coordinators face some of the same difficulties; the only difference is that they tackle problems related to voluntary work. Adequate insurance for equine therapy is a challenging task simply because some risks and exposures are unique to equine-assisted outpatient therapy and inherent in the outdoor setting where animals are involved. Moreover, to protect not only sending therapists but also our clients, we should negotiate with insurance providers to ensure they provide full coverage.
Apart from the enrollment obstacle, recruiting volunteers for equine-assisted therapy services is the second challenge. Regular recruitment, training, and retention of volunteered individuals to assist in the sessions are needed to keep them consistent and committed to supporting the therapeutic process. These campaign materials emphasize the need for a competent team of volunteers to enable the therapy sessions to run effectively, according to the required treatment standards. Hence, these agreements point out not only the multifaceted and intricate nature of equine-assisted therapy but also more.
Scope of Practice and Certification
A certification in equine-assisted therapy is your provider’s proof that he is knowledgeable in the field and very involved in his work. The AHA grants qualification degrees such as the High-Quality Hippotherapy Provider (HQHP) and the prestigious Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HCPS). These authority authorities show advanced expertise in the field of equine-assisted therapies. The ability of the therapy practice to become accredited is associated with the minimum number of direct hours of mastery in therapeutic techniques and horse-handling skills that must be accumulated.
Furthermore, certification may require continuing education that involves examinations or execution of specific requirements to verify that the therapists still employ the latest and most efficient approaches in their practice. Besides the fact that certification comes hand in hand with some demanding requirements, it does not essentially change or suspend a therapist’s duty. However, in contradistinction to this, certified therapists are no different in the fact that they maintain the set limit within their scope of practice, which requires adherence to ethical guidelines and clinical protocols. At the same time, they seek to incorporate equine-assisted interventions in their therapeutic methods. In this way, certification is kind of significant marker of a clinician’s quality in equine-assisted therapy, even though it does not empower therapists to work in areas beyond defined professional boundaries.
Populations Served and Contradictions
Among many other conditions, equine-assisted therapy has proved to be incredibly flexible in its treatment of wide-ranging population groups, especially children, through its diverse set of exercising apparatus involving cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism (Peters et al., 2020). Thus, these therapeutic activities propose an excellent scope for people to interact with horses in a manner that stimulates individuals’ physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Although equine-assisted therapy as an approach has gotten wide acceptance, therapists must display prudence in considering patients having given health restrictions. It is important to emphasize here that no populations in their entries are contraindicated for such interventions. However, arthritis is an example of a condition where heightened risks or possibly increased discomfort may occur during the flare-up. Further to this, the safety of the horse and the associated behavior will also be important in deciding whether equine-assisted therapy is suitable for a client and the physical environment used for the sessions (White et al., 2020).
Therapists comprehensively assess patients and regularly collect information about their health status to make sure that clients can comfortably follow their treatment plan without medical rights interference. By setting security standards and always paying attention to possible contraindications, therapists reduce risks and thus increase the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted interventions for their clients.
Challenges and Benefits
The incorporation of equines in the psychotherapeutic context is a novel method of therapy that is more than just a different approach to traditional ones. Clients have a history of achieving quicker progress in physical, emotional, and social aspects, which are factors that make satisfaction during their interaction with the horses. Hence, the feeling of natural pleasure and curiosity when interacting with animals helps customers stay on top throughout the process (White et al., 2020).
On the other side, their job faces obstacles like finding an insurer for the services so it will cover equine-assisted therapy sessions and the volunteers that can support therapy sessions. It is essential to have a proactive management policy in place to help deal with operational issues and make sure the services run seamlessly. Moreover, being ethical and responsible by keeping in mind and handling the natural environment and the colorful and life-enriching aspects of working with animals against burnout helps to breed a sense of fulfillment and wonder among those who practice (White et al., 2020).
Professional Guidelines and Standards
Professional associations pinch the best of some outputs to promote equine-assisted therapy’s quality and honesty. PATH International and AHA establish standards and guidelines that assist therapists in incorporating equines into their practice. The standards incorporate several elements, such as a code of conduct, principles of ethics, and the most effective practices in giving grief therapy.
Above all, PATH International develops the trainer credentials by maintaining the facility of ongoing comprehensive training and assessment to ensure that all instructors are well-qualified and adhere to the required growing professionalism of the equine-assisted intervention. In contrast, the AHA calls for the certification of therapists and curriculum development, providing specialized credentials and educational tools solely designed for relational practitioners. By following these professional guidelines and codes of ethics, equine-assisted therapists can achieve the highest quality and ethical standards in their practices, ultimately improving the safety and efficacy of the clients.
Conclusion
Therapy with animals involving equine movement embodies a dynamic and unique procedure of rehabilitation and wellness. The words from Bethany Nugent bring out the complex and tangled nature that situates at the same crossroads of challenges and rewards in this field. It comes from adherence to the standards of practice and efforts to self-develop by equine-assisted therapists; they will manage to utilize the full potential of equine-assisted interventions, enriching the lives of their clients and forming deep interpersonal relationships between humans and animals.
Reference
American Hippotherapy Association. (n.d.). About AHCB. Retrieved from https://americanhippotherapyassociation.org/
PATH International. (n.d.). Therapies Incorporating Equines. Retrieved from https://pathintl.org/programs/therapies-incorporating-equines/
Peters, B. C., Fields, B. E., & Erdman, E. A. (2020). Hippotherapy practice and safety patterns in the United States: a descriptive survey study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 26(8), 743–749.https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0039
White, E., Zippel, J., & Kumar, S. (2020). The effect of equine-assisted therapies on behavioural, psychological and physical symptoms for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 39, 101101.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2020.101101
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