Equine Assisted Services
Equine Assisted Services
Definition of terms:
Animal Assisted Services (AAS): A goal-oriented and
structured service that intentionally includes or incorporates animals in
health, education and human services for the purpose of physical, mental and
social gains in humans. It involves people with knowledge of the people and
animals involved. Animal-assisted services incorporate human-animal teams in
formal human services (1).
Equine Assisted Services (EAS): An umbrella term utilised internationally in day-to-day communication of all services applying equine to benefit people with special needs.
- Equine Assisted Learning (EAL): The equine and its environment endorse the social-, cognitive-, motor-, and psychological domains through the goal-directed learning activities of a person(s) individually or in a group.
- Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT): Equine-assisted/facilitated therapy (occupational, physical and speech therapy) is an evidence-based comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation approach facilitated by equine movement (3D, rhythmic, regular, repetitive), equine conformation and environmental factors aiming to improve sensory, neuropsychomotor and cognitive functions to influence participant's performance, participation and quality of life.
- Equine Assisted/Adaptive Riding: Assisted riding is an activity in which a riding instructor team teaches horsemanship skills to increase the quality of life and riding skills. These activities with the equine aim to contribute to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of a person with individual needs (2).
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