Of Hooves and Hearts

In looking around for ways to be of more use to my therapeutic riding barn, I decided that qualifying for another certification would be a worthy endeavor. Also, I just like learning new things. I have set myself the goal of becoming an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL), which is a whoop-dee-doo way of saying I will be trained to help counselors, teachers, life coaches, and other professionals incorporate horses into their program offerings. Unbeknownst to me, there is a curriculum that partners with horses to help kids learn to read. Another is aimed at teaching life skills to children in foster care by way of interaction with horses. Many others pair psychotherapy with horses, particularly for the clients for whom all other modalities have been unsuccessful. Injured veterans, seniors in residential care, and people in the throes of grief can all find some sort of equine-assisted service to address their needs, as can people needing physical or occupational…