Equestrian Assisted Services
With time and research many therapeutic riding programs have evolved as they've recognized the benefit of offering Equine Assisted Services (EAS) which include both mounted Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) as well as unmounted Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) to their participants. We here at CANTER agree. While we have always offered some of our participants unmounted or ground lessons, referring to ourselves as a Therapeutic Riding Center conveyed the opposite idea that we focus mainly on therapeutic riding. We still believe in the freedom and magic of our mounted lessons, and that they influence equilibrium, balance, reflexes, coordination, posture and confidence as we stretch, relax and strengthen. However, we can also attest to the fact that ground or unmounted lessons are just as effective at helping our students develop self-awareness and sensory regulation. They can equally improve speech/language skills, self-discipline and concentration. All of our Equine Assisted Services are offered under the supervision and development of our PATH certified instructors. Our goal is to design lessons that strongly motivate participant achievement using bonding interactions between horses and humans which helps them to learn, grow, ride and thrive to the best of their ability.
During the school year, CANTER partners with several Cochise County Public School Districts to provide Equestrian Assisted Activities for their students with special needs. The schools provide transportation to and from CANTER. Each school's therapists and ESS teachers are invited to help the instructors design lesson plans appropriate for the students. CANTER provides specially trained horses, PATH certified instructors and volunteer horse handlers and side walkers. Thirty-minute small-group lessons (3-4 participants) are offered, at a very nominal fee, four days per week. Private pay individuals, with their own transportation, can be integrated into the class schedules on a case-by-case basis.
Private Pay Classes
On Saturday, CANTER offers Equestrian Assisted Activities in a group setting for private individuals that provide their own transportation to and from CANTER. Several of the Saturday participants come during the week with the public schools or they had come with the schools before their graduation from high school. Each participant pays for their thirty-minute session. Through the generosity of individuals and local businesses, scholarships may be available for participants coping with financial hardship.
Silver Saddles
Silver Saddles offers mounted (EAA) and unmounted (EAL) classes for a fee, to seniors 60 years or older. These lessons are a wonderful opportunity to ride or interact with a horse through ground lessons such as leading, grooming etc. These classes are scheduled around the availability of our other participants and tend to change throughout the year. For the current schedule or more information email canterazpresident@gmail.com.
Helping America's National Defenders
The (HAND) program has been offered to active and retired veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder, twice in the past, at no cost to the soldier. We are hoping that the addition of our new indoor arena will allow us to offer additional classes under this program, including not only veterans, but any first responder with any type of disability...both physical or emotional.
Horse Conditioning by CANTER Volunteers
In order to keep our horses in top shape and moving forward in their abilities, CANTER volunteers are used to conditioning our horses. These sessions that often include riding, are conducted in groups by a PATH certified instructor. The horses represent with a wide variety of skill sets. Conditioners must be able to follow and respond to multi-step instructions and be able to safely control their horse in an enclosed arena with other riders. While not all conditioners will be asked to ride, those that are must be able to do so completely independently since the lesson for the day may not require or provide horse handlers and/or side walkers.
