Ask Maggie: Equine Therapy

Hi Maggie,
How did you get involved with Equine therapy? Can you tell me the best way to get active in my community?
Anonymous

We got involved with equine therapy when the MS Foundation briefly sponsored 8 weeks of lessons. That was four and a half years ago and we are still riding at the same place! After the funding ran out, the lady who owned the stable wanted us to continue riding so she was willing to take a greatly reduced fee for us to do so. They even conjured up an “MS class” for a horse show they had, so we strutted our stuff to a wildly cheering crowd!

There is a specific licensure for equine therapy. If you go to the PATH website (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) you will be directed to a stable near you that offers therapeutic riding and you can check out the requirements for licensure.

Be aware that riding is not without risk. I’ve fallen off twice without any harm. Each time the fall was prompted by my own foolishness; trying to do something beyond my abilities that day. You do need to be honest with yourself and your teacher. That being said, I would encourage you to pursue this. Hiking is something I thought I couldn’t do anymore…but I can on a horse!

PATH Website: http://www.pathintl.org/