Equine Assisted Physiotherapy: Movement and Neuroplasticity

You can work towards the same therapeutic goal in a clinic or in an equine environment. But are the conditions for therapy really the same?

The presence and movement of the equine can change the client’s engagement, motivation, attention and willingness to participate. The walking equine also provides a rhythmic, reciprocal and three-dimensional movement experience that creates continuous opportunities for postural responses and motor learning.

This short discovery course introduces the clinical principles behind Equine Assisted Physiotherapy and explores what makes it a valuable rehabilitation approach.

The course is designed for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation professionals and students who are curious about new approaches to movement, motor learning and client engagement. It will help you understand whether Equine Assisted Physiotherapy may be relevant to your clients, your referral decisions or your future professional development.

During the course, you will explore:

• how the equine environment changes the therapeutic situation;

• what happens in the client’s body and nervous system during the equine walk;

• how the client responds at different levels of motor control;

• how three-dimensional movement and repetition can support postural organisation and motor learning;

• how the equine, speed, surface, direction, terrain, therapy position and support change the movement experience;

• why assessment, therapeutic goals, clinical reasoning and outcome measurement are essential;

• how these principles are applied through the story of a five-day intensive Equine Assisted Physiotherapy programme.

By the end of the course, you will be able to explain the clinical value of Equine Assisted Physiotherapy, recognise when a referral may be worth considering and decide whether this specialist field could enrich your own professional journey.

This is an introductory course for professional discovery and understanding. Practising Equine Assisted Physiotherapy independently requires appropriate professional qualifications, specialist education and supervised practical training.