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Strongwater Farm’s equine-assisted services (EAS) programs cultivate the unique bond between horses and people to promote improvements in physical, cognitive and emotional health. Our PATH certified and trained instructors work with children and adults living with special needs, disabilities, and other conditions, providing personalized lessons and goals to help them achieve their personal best.
We serve individuals with a wide range
of special needs, including:
For clients with physical challenges, our programs can help improve strength, endurance, balance, body awareness, range of motion, hand-eye coordination, muscle control, motor skills, and many other aspects of physical health.
Cognitive and emotional benefits include improved sensory integration and emotional regulation, higher self-esteem, and improved social and communication skills.
Read Evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horse riding for children and young people experiencing disability from the University of Otago Wellington
Equine-assisted services can help in the management of diverse behavioral health issues, such as:
Equine-assisted services can help cultivate mindfulness, the ability to self-soothe, increased motivation, and a positive self-image.
Read The Effects of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy on Emotion Regulation from Fielding Graduate University
Strongwater Farm serves veterans age 18 and older facing many different physical and emotional challenges, including:
These programs are provided through a special partnership with the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Bedford, MA and as part of a VA program for formerly homeless veterans.
EAS can help ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Read Evaluation of an equine-assisted therapy program for veterans who identify as wounded, injured or ill’ and their partners from PLOS One journal
Substance use disorders have reached epidemic proportions in recent years, with equine-assisted services playing an increasingly important role in their treatment.
Equine-Assisted Services have numerous benefits, from increased physical mobility to better communication and lower levels of anxiety. Below are some more of the ways EAS can improve health and well-being.
Equine-assisted services activities (EAS) are great for improving overall physical fitness, from cardio-respiratory functioning to mobility.
Though one of many EAS activities, horseback riding can be particularly beneficial to individuals with physical conditions that result in loss of muscle coordination and/or spasticity of the arms and legs, such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. It can also be of great benefit to people with one-sided paralysis and other conditions related to asymmetry.
Because a horse’s gait closely resembles the normal gait of a human being, the movement of the rider’s body by the horse stimulates voluntary and involuntary muscular activity, which can help improve posture, motor function, and balance. This transference of movement can also help relieve the contractures associated with wheelchairs and certain diseases by gently moving, stretching and suppling soft tissues.
Equine-assisted services can aid in the development of numerous cognitive skills, including:
The relationships and interactions between rider, instructor and horse also develop important rapport-building and role-modeling skills.
Individuals with low responsiveness, including those with autism spectrum disorders, often become more animated, interactive, focused, and willing to follow instructions while interacting with the horses. They may become more verbal out of a desire to vocalize commands to guide their horse. Some begin to demonstrate more initiative, for example picking up the reins to steer themselves rather than waiting to have the reins put into their hands by the instructor.
The social and emotional benefits of equine-assisted services are well-documented.
Caring for horses and working with them as part of a team provides an important sense of purpose, building self-esteem and promoting a deeper connection to one’s environment, community and peers.
EAS activities foster an understanding of the differences between individual horses and peers, as well as a deeper awareness of their needs. This, in turn, helps strengthen participants’ social skills and spur growth in their personal relationships.
EAS can also significantly reduce anxiety, ease depression, and improve coping skills.
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We serve individuals with a wide range
of special needs, including:
For clients with physical challenges, our programs can help improve strength, endurance, balance, body awareness, range of motion, hand-eye coordination, muscle control, motor skills, and many other aspects of physical health.
Cognitive and emotional benefits include improved sensory integration and emotional regulation, higher self-esteem, and improved social and communication skills.
Read Evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horse riding for children and young people experiencing disability from the University of Otago Wellington
Equine-assisted services can help in the management of diverse behavioral health issues, such as:
Equine-assisted services can help cultivate mindfulness, the ability to self-soothe, increased motivation, and a positive self-image.
Read The Effects of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy on Emotion Regulation from Fielding Graduate University
Strongwater Farm serves veterans age 18 and older facing many different physical and emotional challenges, including:
These programs are provided through a special partnership with the Edith Nourse Rogers Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital in Bedford, MA and as part of a VA program for formerly homeless veterans.
EAS can help ease symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Read Evaluation of an equine-assisted therapy program for veterans who identify as wounded, injured or ill’ and their partners from PLOS One journal
Substance use disorders have reached epidemic proportions in recent years, with equine-assisted services playing an increasingly important role in their treatment.
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