This article is general in nature and should not be read as personal professional advice. Always seek the opinion of your trusted advisors. This article is provided as general information by Heartfelt Support, a supplier of equine therapy and related horse activities in Adelaide, South Australia.
Equine therapy, also known as horse therapy or hippotherapy, is a type of therapy in which participants interact with horses to achieve therapeutic goals. It can be an effective treatment option for people with a variety of disabilities, including physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments.
If you are a participant in Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and want to try equine therapy, here are some steps you can take:
- Determine whether equine therapy is a good treatment choice for you. This will be determined by your personal needs and goals, as well as any physical or medical concerns, and of course, if it interests you. You might also talk to your doctor or another healthcare professional about whether equine therapy is right for you.
- Discuss your desire to work with horses to achieve your goals with your team, which includes your Support Coordinator (if you have one), Plan Manager, NDIS planner, or Local Area Coordinator (LAC). They can help you determine whether it is a good use of your NDIS funds.
- Make sure you find out whether you are eligible for an Equine Therapy program (such as Heartfelt Support’s Multi-Disciplinary Team Equine Therapy) or a social horse program (such as Heartfelt Support’s Horse-Centred Wellbeing). In particular, your Plan Manager and/or Support Coordinator should be able to guide you in what you have funds for, what suits your goals, and how often you can engage in your horse program.
- Find a local equine program service. There are numerous organisations and practitioners offering equine therapy services throughout Australia. You can look for suggestions online or speak with your Support Coordinator
- To discuss your needs and learn more about the provider’s services, contact them. They can tell you more about the process and help you decide if it is right for you. Not every provider is appropriate for every participant. For example, at Heartfelt Support we concentrate more on emotional and mental health support and less on physical therapy and do not offer horse riding.
It’s important to note that equine therapy and horse program availability and accessibility may vary depending on your location and other factors. It may also be necessary to talk to or even try a few different providers before settling on one. If equine therapy is an appropriate treatment option for you, you should be able to access it through the NDIS with a little bit of research and planning.
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