Page 33 - November 2013 ST

ACRONYMS

I have never seen (and needed to learn) so

many acronyms so fast!

Here is a list to help you through the article:
• EAL--Equine Assisted Learning

• EAP--Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

• EASB--Equine Assisted Skill Building

• ES--Equine specialist

• LPP--Licensed Parelli Professional
• PATH, Intl--Professional Association of
Hippotherapy provides physical, occupational,
Therapeutic Horsemanship, International
or speech therapy for clients.

fulill their mission. Working together, we created Donna and Shannon were assisted by Ashley
an in-depth course, ofering Parelli Professionals Edmonds Hayes, MA, the Founder & Executive

important insights into the Therapeutic industry and Director of Shepherd Youth Ranch and Parelli Edu-

how they might help individual centers identify their cational Institute Youth Programs Coordinator. “I
core principles, run safer programs and, ultimately, have been providing equine assisted therapeutic

provide higher quality services. The second half of programming and studying Parelli for a decade,”

the course was designed to give Therapeutic Centers she said. “Marrying the two entities together in this
clear, speciic ideas and even inspiration on how they inspiring, educational setting and assisting with fa-

might incorporate Parelli into their operations. In cilitation was truly a dream of mine. The ultimate

addition to showing them the beneits of using the reward at the end of the day was knowing that we
Parelli Program to enhance the horsemanship skills were helping to make the world a better place for

of those delivering therapeutic services, the course horses and humans!”

helped them build on their successes and reach for Also assisting was Kris Batchelor, owner of Triple
the best possible methods to train and interact with Play Farm, LLC and Parelli Institute Therapeutic

their horses, staf, volunteers, and clients.”
Horsemanship Coordinator. “It was so inspiring to

Hosted by Donna Blem and InStride Therapy in see the culmination of many years’ efort to connect
Nokomis, FL, the event attracted 9 passionate LPPs Parelli professionals and leaders in the therapeutic

from as far away as Hawaii and Australia, as well industry,” she said.

as the continental U.S., and 13 Therapeutic Profes- “(The) enthusiasm and energy (was) contagious...”
sionals from around the country. The irst two days The second two days added the therapeutic pro-

were devoted to the LPPs. We were introduced to fessionals. The common ground was the Parelli

ive diferent branches of therapeutic riding, given Promises and Principles. Besides the teaching of the
an overview and demonstrations of various types, Principle Games and Horsenality by Licensed 3-Star

and enlightened as to how LPPs can help these Parelli Instructor Dawn Roth, the equine special-

programs. From horse selection to volunteer training ists and health professionals received teaching from
to becoming certiied specialists with any of a variety the other professionals in the important concepts of

of certifying bodies, the sheer scope of the ield was ripple efect, knots, and bubbles (horse and human).
astounding! From traditional hippotherapy - provid- Donna presented a vast amount of information

ing physical, occupational and speech therapy - to on volunteer training, and Shannon gave demon-

programs for returning veterans, autistic children, strations in discussing Horsenality and using that
battered women, children at risk, wellness/whole- knowledge to place horses in the most appropriate

ness, and personal growth and skill building, there therapy program.

seemed to be a niche for everyone.
Here were some of the participants’ highlights:

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