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Equine Therapy Courses

Equine therapy courses are designed to provide rehabilitation therapy to people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. The use of equine therapy for children with autism, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit disorder is becoming increasingly popular. According to the website Way of the Horse, equine-facilitated learning programs have been proven to help people with communicative and social disorders overcome their fears.

  1. National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

    • The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy (NCEFT) is a nonprofit equine therapy center located in Woodside, California. NCEFT has been in operation since 1972 and offers therapy to both children and adults. Courses include social skills programs, therapeutic carriage driving, and therapeutic riding. NCEFT offers special services to veterans and works directly with a number of organizations in the San Matteo area, including the San Matteo County Office of Education and Achieve with Kids of Palo Alto.

      National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy

      880 Runnymede Road

      Woodside CA 94062

      650-851-2271

      nceft.org

    Aspen Ranch

    • Located in Loa, Utah, Aspen Ranch is a residential treatment center licensed to care for troubled teens. Aspen Ranch employs thirty-five horses in its equine therapy program, including a small herd of wild mustangs that are part of a specialized program for troubled and rebellious teens. The ranch also offers a unique hospice program, designed to help teens with grief, loss, and attachment issues and empathy deficits by allowing them to care for ailing horses. Financial aid and loan opportunities are available through Clark Behavioral Health Financing.

      Aspen Ranch - Admissions

      P.O. Box 500

      Loa, UT 84747

      877-231-0734

      aspenranch.com

    Sierra Tucson

    • Sierra Tucson, in Tucson, Arizona, is a full-care psychiatric hospital that specializes in addictions and behavioral disorders. Most equine therapy at Sierra Tucson occurs in a group setting, with a maximum of eight patients in one group. The equine therapy course is part of the hospital's Therapeutic and Recreational Activities Program, and it can be combined with other courses to increase benefits.

      Sierra Tucson

      39580 South Lago del Oro Parkway

      Tucson, AZ 85739

      800-842-4487

      sierratucson.com

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