Make A Difference – Become A Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Harness the power of horses to heal by becoming a therapeutic riding instructor.
Horses have been used as therapeutic agents for healing since at least Hippocrates’ time (Ancient Greece). Early Greeks reportedly sent people suffering from incurable diseases on rides to ‘raise their spirits’. And – admittedly – there really is nothing better than a stroll through the countryside on the back of a horse for improving one’s mood!
However, riding is good for more than just mental and psychological therapy. It also works well for physical therapy. Someone who works in this field is called a therapeutic riding instructor.
What Is A Therapeutic Riding Instructor?
As a therapeutic riding instructor, you provide equine-assisted therapy and training to individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities. Specifically, you design and implement therapeutic riding programmes to help improve the overall wellbeing and physical and emotional health of participants.
Good therapeutic riding instructors should have a unique blend of horsemanship skills, teaching proficiency, and a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic interventions.
Background Information About Therapeutic Riding Instruction
Hippocrates, the Father of modern medicine, noticed a lot of things we are only just now coming to fully understand. The ancient medical man, who lived between 450 and 380 BCE, is on record as noting that ‘riding’s healing rhythm’ has much to offer humans in terms of both physiotherapy and psychotherapy. Although he probably didn’t understand the nitty gritty, or physiology, of why that is, today we do know why horses are good for therapeutic riding.
Why Are Horses Good For Therapeutic Riding?
Horses have a similar way of moving their hips to humans when walking. Therefore, when riding one, your muscles, hips, and spine not only automatically move in sync with the horse’s hips, they also move in a way that is natural to us as well. This produces familiar rhythmic vibrations that stimulate our sensory, cognitive, and neurological function via our sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
The Sympathetic Nervous System and its Relationship to Therapeutic Riding
The SNS is a system of nerves in your thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae (the thoracic vertebrae sit below the neck vertebrae and run down to the lumbar vertebrae in the lower back). It controls your flight and fight responses by triggering the physiological changes (increased blood circulation, oxygen absorption and delivery to muscle tissues) required to respond to danger. These physiological changes heighten your cognitive skills and improve your ability to perform certain behavioural tasks that, from an evolutionary aspect, allowed you to fight or flee from danger.
This ability to stimulate primitive sensory responses is one of the fundamental concepts behind a raft of therapies that use horses and horse riding in a therapeutic capacity. In particular, it is used in therapies like Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding.
A Love Of Horses And A Career As A Therapeutic Riding Instructor
As a therapeutic riding instructor, you will use your knowledge of the interaction between human physiology and riding horses, like its effect on the SNS, to help individuals with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities improve a range of core motor skills and mental wellbeing through therapeutic riding and interaction with horses. It may include mounted and unmounted work.
Skill Requirements and Experience To Become A Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Becoming a therapeutic riding instructor requires a unique blend of skills. First, you need a deep connection with horses. Strong riding skills, horse handling know-how, and a keen understanding of equine safety are also essential.
Second, a passion for working with people with disabilities is crucial. Direct experience in this field provides invaluable insights into their challenges and needs. Additionally, it provides important knowledge of therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Effective communication is likewise key to building trust and helping riders progress.
Teaching experience is also important. You need patience, empathy, and the ability to adapt your teaching style to different learning abilities. Creating a positive and encouraging environment is vital for rider success.
Additionally, you may require a minimum of 2 years of experience working in therapeutic riding or a related field. You’ll also need formal certification as a therapeutic riding instructor from a recognised organisation. First Aid and CPR certification are also important.
Responsibilities and Duties of a Therapeutic Riding Instructor
| Responsibilities | Duties |
| – Build rapport with therapy participants and their families. | – Conduct therapeutic riding sessions tailored to participants’ needs and abilities. |
| – Collaborate with healthcare professionals, family members, and other team members involved in the process. | – Create engaging activities that address therapeutic needs, such as improving balance and coordination. |
| – Understand equine behaviour, conformation, and physiology. | – Develop and implement lesson plans aligned with participants’ therapeutic objectives. |
| – Select suitable horses for individuals based on therapy needs. | – Incorporate various exercises, games, and activities targeting specific challenges. |
| – Adapt the program to the specific characteristics of each horse. | |
| – Tailor lessons to accommodate physical, emotional, or cognitive challenges in participants. | – Assess riders’ progress regularly and track progress towards goals. |
| – Modify lesson plans and interventions based on ongoing assessments. | |
| – Understand the unique struggles of participants. | – Ensure safety during sessions by implementing and enforcing safety protocols. |
| – Maintain vigilance to prevent accidents and ensure the wellbeing of participants and horses. | – Conduct thorough safety briefings and provide clear instructions. |
| – Understand and enforce safety protocols, including proper mounting and dismounting procedures. | – Collaborate with healthcare professionals to integrate therapeutic riding into participants’ treatment plans. |
| – Work closely with healthcare professionals to adjust interventions as needed. | – Communicate regularly with interdisciplinary teams to share progress. |
Education and Training For Therapeutic Riding Instructors
Training covers a broad spectrum, including horse selection and training for therapeutic purposes, horse care, safety protocols, equine medical knowledge, and first aid. Maintaining a current first aid certificate is essential.
Upon completion of training, you usually receive a certificate indicating your level of expertise. This might range from Assistant Coach to Senior Coach or Assessor. Ongoing professional development is crucial, often involving attendance at workshops and clinics.
To further your understanding of the therapeutic aspect, additional study in disability studies, psychology, or equine science can be beneficial. This knowledge empowers you to tailor programs to individual needs and collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals.
Certification typically needs renewal every four years to ensure ongoing competency and adherence to industry standards.
Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certifications and Licences
Associations like the Riding for the Disabled Association are primary employers of therapeutic riding instructors. They provide training and certification for their instructors through their websites, so if working with the RDA is something you’d like to pursue, contact your state organisation to arrange appropriate training and certification.
Further to these, advertised courses currently available in Australia are:
- Certificate III in Equine Therapy Programs for People with Disabilities (Riding for the Disabled Association NSW). Other local organisations and branches of the RDA offer in-house therapeutic instructor certifications for riding instructors within their own programmes.
- Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI) from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) – USA. PATH Intl is a globally recognised organisation providing certification for therapeutic riding professionals. Their certification is widely recognised in the field and indicates that an instructor has met specific standards in both horsemanship and therapeutic skills.
Advanced Certifications and Continuing Education
Throughout your career, you will have opportunities to pursue advanced certifications and continuing education. This could include certifications in specific therapeutic modalities, advanced riding instructor certifications, or graduate-level coursework in related fields. Continuous learning ensures you stay current with evolving industry standards and practices. As mentioned previously, it’s also often a condition of maintaining current certification.
Career Paths
A career as a therapeutic riding instructor offers many paths for growth and development. From hands-on roles to leadership positions, there’s something for everyone.
Many start as assistant instructors, gaining valuable experience in supporting certified instructors and learning about program operations. With skill and experience, you can progress to senior or lead roles, taking on more responsibility for teaching and program development.
For those seeking leadership positions, program management or directorship roles are available. These involve overseeing program operations, managing staff, and building partnerships within the community.
Highly experienced instructors may choose to become entrepreneurs, establishing their own therapeutic riding programs or consulting businesses. Alternatively, you might focus on advocacy and leadership, promoting the benefits of therapeutic riding and driving industry advancements.
Specialisation in areas like Hippotherapy or equine-assisted mental health can also be rewarding.
Work Environment
Riding instructors of all types, including therapeutic ones, work in outdoor settings such as equestrian centres or therapeutic riding facilities. You also collaborate with healthcare professionals and may work with various age groups and abilities.
Salary Range
The salary range for therapeutic riding instructors in Australia varies based on experience, location, and the type of organisation. On average, it ranges from AUD 50,000 to AUD 70,000 per year.
Job Outlook
The demand for therapeutic riding instructors is expected to grow as awareness of the benefits of equine-assisted therapy increases. Opportunities exist in both private and non-profit sectors. Most therapeutic riding instructors currently live in rural and regional areas, and the majority are females.
Overview Of A Career As A Therapeutic Riding Instructor
Becoming a therapeutic riding instructor is a rewarding journey for the right person. It offers the chance to make a positive impact on people’s lives through the unique combination of horseback riding and therapeutic interventions.
