Salutations!

Actor Harrison Ford once said, "We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance." NCEFT has seen big changes with our four-hooved therapy team this spring. We said a loving goodbye to Java and Janie, and wished happy retirement to Ben. But with changes come hellos and second chances.

Aladdin in one of his first AR sessions.

If you have been around lately, you might have noticed two new faces, Aladdin and BeBe. For these horses, coming to NCEFT is a second (or maybe even third) chance.

It takes a special horse to be a therapy horse. The therapy horse job description includes being relatively small (max 15.3 hands) so the therapists can move clients on and off the horse safely, as well as being naturally calm and steady so the horse is not easily startled by unusual noises, flying toys, wiggly riders, or the occasional braying outburst from Willy or Wonka. Therapy horses have to be sound and healthy and fit enough to do the regular work of hippotherapy or adaptive riding.

BeBe our pretty new buckskin therapist.

Another key factor is the potential therapy

horses' movement. Just as every human's movement is unique, every horse's movement is unique. Our therapists carefully evaluate and document each horses' movement, gaits, and speed. Some horses have a smooth walk, others choppier; one has more side-to-side motion, another more forward and back. Each horses' unique signature movement translates into unique sensory input to the therapy clients riding on their backs. Our therapy team carefully matches the appropriate horse for the needs and requirements of each client, making sure the horse is giving the appropriate sensory input to the specific client. Therefore, making sure we have a broad array of horse movements available ensures that we can have the best fit possible for our clients. As you can see, when NCEFT is evaluating a potential therapy horse, much care is taken to make sure we aren't duplicating similar movements, and any new horse is bringing a unique and complementary movement style to our roster of equine therapists.

Rosi, Bonnie and our Intern Amy evaluating Bella, who subsequently ended up not joining uur team

Once a potential therapy horse is selected for a trial (i.e. they pass the soundness, steadiness, and unique movement tests), our staff works with the horse without clients for a period of time. We work with the new recruit in our arena and surrounding grounds under saddle, with the long reins, on the lunge line, and, if being evaluated as a carriage horse, hitched to various carriages. Once we are confident the new horse knows his or her job and is ready for clients, we will carefully begin to work the new recruit into our therapy schedule. If all goes well, soon our rookie becomes a permanent member of our stable as a full-fledged therapy horse. So far, Aladdin and BeBe are coming along well in their transition onto the NCEFT therapy horse team. We wish them well in their training!