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New equine-assisted therapy program links horses & well-being

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Isothermal Community College, in partnership with Therapeutic Riding of Tryon, will start a new class on Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies at the Isothermal Polk Center in early November. Some of those involved include (left to right) Juddy Ogg, Ka

A new class at isothermal Community College will introduce students to the benefits horses have on humans with a focus on therapeutic activities that can aid individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.

The class is called Introduction to Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies. It will start in November 1, 2018 and will be offered as a continuing education class by a partnership that Isothermal is forming with TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tryon). This new course introduces a variety of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) used to benefit persons with disabilities. The class will provide an overview of activities and therapies such as therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, therapeutic driving, and equine facilitated therapies. The history of equine-assisted therapy, an overview of common physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, careers with equine assisted activities and information on therapeutic riding instructor certification will also be presented. The class will combine lecture with hands-on experience at a barn facility. Students will receive volunteer training by assisting in a therapeutic horsemanship class.

The course will serve as a great introduction to a degree program in the field that will be offered in the near future.

"Curriculum and Continuing education are aligning their programs so individuals who are pursuing careers in equine can transfer courses that they have successfully completed in continuing education and receive curriculum credit for the new Associate of Science Degree in Equine Science, targeted to begin in the fall of 2019," said Kim Wawzysko, the Isothermal administrator who is heading up this project. "There is a track of 12 credits that students can choose in therapeutic horsemanship. The new curriculum will include courses in equine anatomy and physiology, equine behavior, training the therapeutic horse, and entrepreneurship funding."

The local therapeutic horsemanship community is glad to see this program move forward.

"All of us at FENCE and Therapeutic Riding of Tryon are very excited that Isothermal is offering this course to people who may be interested in careers in therapeutic horsemanship," said Alison Rhyne, the instructor for the course who serves as program director at TROT. "We are proud to partner with ICC in the effort to promote employment in the equine industry and most specifically, in the horse/human relationship to human health."

The dates and times for the classes are: Thursdays, Nov. 1 through Dec. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. A lab and barn session will be held Saturday, Dec. 1, from noon to 3 p.m.

The registration fee is $70. Financial aid opportunities are available for qualifying students.

Please contact 898-894-3092 about financial aid or to sign up for the class.

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