In this final episode of Equine Assisted Insights, host Sophia (Barn Manager) and guest Parker (Property Maintenance Manager) pull back the curtain on the essential behind-the-scenes work required to operate a therapeutic riding center. From assessing horse wellness and daily care routines to maintaining fences, arenas, equipment, and preparing for natural disasters, they reveal the constant, interconnected responsibilities that make equine therapy possible. Their insight underscores one core truth: the horses, property, and staff all work in tandem to create a safe, healing environment.
 

Share this episode with practitioners or families interested in equine therapy and visit Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center's website to learn more.

Key Quotes

• “Equine therapy doesn't exist without the horse… If they aren’t properly cared for physically and emotionally, how can we expect them to cooperate in sessions?”
• “It’s a puzzle… It’s a chain reaction. That’s how I can best describe it.”
• “The care for the horses does not stop… The way they take care of participants, you return that favor.”

Keywords

• Equine Therapy
• Therapeutic Ranch Operations
• Barn Management
• Property Maintenance
• Horse Care 

Equine Assisted Insights Website - https://equineassistedinsights.my.canva.site/ 

Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center Website – Learn more about their programs, training, and equine-assisted services. https://emeraldmtherapeuticridingcenter.org/ 

This episode of Equine Assisted Insights explores the powerful connection between equine therapy and mental health. Host Sophia and guest Lisa Michelangelo discuss how horses support individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma, and emotional challenges. As highly sensitive prey animals, horses naturally mirror human emotions—often revealing what clients struggle to express. Lisa explains how this awareness opens meaningful dialogue in sessions and emphasizes the need for skilled equine specialists to ensure emotional and physical safety. Make sure to follow Equine Assisted Insights so you never miss an episode.

Quotes:

• "It is very, very hard to hide the truth from a horse because they instinctually know what is going on inside you."
• "So then we can look at that situation and ask the client why do you believe the horse is moving out of your circle? What is it? What's happening to him right now?"
• "The difference being is that a horse is a prey animal. A dog is a predator. So horses are very, very good at living in the present moment."
• "They say that they (horses)  can hear a human heartbeat from 4 feet away."

Keywords:

• Equine Assisted Therapy
• Mental Health
• Trauma and PTSD
• Horse Behavior
• Self-Awareness

Resources

https://emeraldmtherapeuticridingcenter.org/  

In this episode of Equine Assisted Insights, we shift perspectives from practitioners to families as a mother shares her personal experience raising a child who participates in equine therapy. Listeners will hear how the horse-human connection supported her child’s physical, emotional, and social growth, and how the therapeutic environment provided breakthroughs that traditional settings could not. This conversation offers valuable insights for practitioners, educators, and families curious about the real-world impact of equine therapy. Follow Equine Assisted Insights for the next episode exploring the mental health benefits of equine therapy.

1.  "I wanted her to have an opportunity to heal in a place that was not a clinical setting, where it felt more natural and more at play for her or something that she would enjoy as opposed to it being just sterile and regimented."

2. "Physically, she is extremely strong now. Her core is really strong. She is very coordinated. Her hand eye coordination is exceptional. Emotionally, she has really grown a lot in the sense that she's been able to identify when she is feeling overwhelmed."

3. "I would say in a practical way, why wouldn't you want to try this type of therapy? Simply because it does encompass all different therapeutic modalities".

4. "From my own experience, our daughter was in very extensive ABA therapy and we had started equine therapy while she was still doing her ABA therapy and those therapies just beautifully complemented each other."

Keywords/Tags:

1. Equine Therapy

2. Autism

3. ADHD

4. Emotional Regulation

5. Therapeutic Riding

7. Non-Traditional Therapy

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• Emerald M Therapeutic Writing Center

https://emeraldmtherapeuticridingcenter.org/ 

This episode of Equine Assisted Insights explores Horse-powered Reading (HPR), an equine-assisted service created in 2012 by Michelle Pickel, which strengthens children's literacy, focus, and emotional awareness. HPR utilizes the horse, which represents the book, in a multi-sensory, non-judgmental setting to help struggling readers—including those with dyslexia or ADHD—overcome obstacles such as comprehension and decoding barriers. Sessions involve grooming, leading the horse through courses ("Road to Reading"), and reading passages. 

1. "This approach allows learners to experience reading through their mind, their body, and their emotions".

2. "In a horse-powered reading session, the horse represents the book and the child has to learn how to make a connection with the text. So they're creating a connection with their horse".

3. "Working with the horse who can't talk back to them or judge them on how they're reading unlike the pressures of a traditional classroom, the horse-powered reading offers a more appealing approach to learning how to read".

4. "He never realized how smart he was. And that was just such a perfect example of how horsepowered reading can improve confidence and allow children to know they're safe to make mistakes and that they can become a successful reader".

5. "I would highly encourage schools to consider these programs as a complement to classroom instruction. They're not replacing literacy support. but enhancing it, helping students regulate, build confidence, and rediscover the joy in learning".

The episode strongly encourages schools and practitioners to:

• Identify reading challenges as early as possible so that early intervention can take place.

• Consider equine in assisted education programs, such as Horse-powered Reading, for students. These programs enhance literacy support rather than replacing it.

• Consider sharing this episode with an educator, school counselor, or fellow practitioner who might benefit from learning more about equine-assisted education.

For more information on Horse Powered: 

https://emeraldmtherapeuticridingcenter.org/horse-powered-reading-and-gallop-programs/ 

This episode of Equine Assisted Insights explores the physical and sensory benefits of equine therapy through the practice of hippotherapy. Occupational therapist Erin Darren explains how horse movement enhances balance, coordination, and core strength—challenging muscles up to 3,000 times more than a clinic session. Listeners are encouraged to follow Equine Assisted Insights for the next episode on equine-assisted learning and share this one with practitioners interested in alternative rehabilitation methods. 

Key Quotes:

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 – 0:46 | Introduction and Topic Setup
Host Sophia Michelangelo welcomes listeners to Equine Assisted Insights and introduces the focus: how hippotherapy supports balance, coordination, strength, and overall physical wellness.

1:30 - 1:48 | Defining Hippotherapy
Guest occupational therapist Erin Darren explains the difference between hippotherapy and therapeutic riding, emphasizing the role of licensed professionals in structuring sessions for therapeutic goals.

2:10 - 2:37 | Benefiting Clients and Diagnoses
Erin discusses which clients benefit most, highlighting children with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and genetic conditions who often show marked improvement in posture, motor control, and confidence.

3:00 - 4:24 | Inside a Typical Session
Erin walks listeners through a session that includes grooming for sensory bonding, arena exercises using bean bags and cones, and activities designed to improve balance and strength.

 4:45 - 5:44 | Why Choose Equine Therapy for Rehabilitation
Erin explains how a horse’s movement challenges a child’s muscles 3,000 times more than a clinic session, offering superior sensory and motor benefits in a motivating outdoor environment.

6:04 - 6:43 | A Success Story
Erin shares a touching story about a young client who gained enough confidence and coordination through hippotherapy to ride her bike at home.

6:53 - 7:38 | Closing and Call to Action
Sophia summarizes the episode, reminding listeners that healing often happens outside four walls, and invites them to follow Equine Assisted Insights for the next episode on equine-assisted learning.

Keywords/Tags:

1. Hippotherapy
2. Equine Therapy
3. Pediatric Occupational Therapy
4. Sensory Therapy
5. Balance and Coordination
6. Core Strength Benefits

Call to Action:

Follow Equine Assisted Insights to hear the next episode on equine-assisted learning and share this one with a fellow practitioner interested in the physical benefits of equine therapy.

The Healing Power of Horses: An Introduction to Equine Therapy

Summary:

This episode of Equine Assisted Insights introduces equine therapy as a broad field encompassing physical (hippotherapy and therapeutic riding), emotional, and educational support. Unlike traditional clinical settings, the farm environment offers a non-threatening space where horses aid rehabilitation by mirroring human emotions and mimicking the human walking pattern. Follow Equine Assisted Insights for the next episode on physical wellness—focusing on balance, coordination, and strength building.

Key Quotes:

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 – 1:00 | Introduction and Guest Welcome
Host Sophia Michelangelo welcomes listeners to Equine Assisted Insights and introduces the episode’s focus on defining equine therapy and exploring why horses are used in treatment.

1:00 – 2:00 | Guest Background and Inspiration
Guest Lisa Michelangelo shares how her background as a physical therapist and lifelong rider inspired her to found a center combining horses with therapy.

2:00 – 4:00 | Defining Equine Therapy
Lisa defines equine therapy as an umbrella term for physical, emotional, and educational interventions, contrasting its engaging farm-based approach with traditional clinical settings.

4:00 – 6:30 | The Connection: Why Horses?
Lisa explains that horses are uniquely effective in therapy because they mirror human emotions and their gait mimics human walking patterns, supporting both emotional and physical healing.

6:30 – 7:30 | Clientele Served at the Center
Lisa describes serving children ages 2–18 with disabilities, trauma, cancer, and other challenges in a supportive and inclusive environment.

7:30 – 9:00 | Referrals and Assessment Process
Lisa outlines the referral process, emphasizing the required free assessment tour to evaluate client goals and fit, with restrictions only for animal aggression.

9:00 – 10:00 | Closing and Future Episode Preview
Sophia closes by summarizing the episode and previewing the next discussion on equine therapy for physical wellness, including balance, coordination, and strength building.

Keywords/Tags:

1. Equine Therapy
2. Hippotherapy
3. Therapeutic Riding
4. Physical Rehabilitation
5. Alternative Therapy

Resources/Links:

Emerald M Therapeutic Riding Center: https://emeraldmtherapeuticridingcenter.org/

Call to Action:

Follow Equine Assisted Insights so you don’t miss the next episode, focusing on how equine therapy supports physical wellness through balance, coordination, and strength building.

Welcome to Equine Assisted Insights, where we explore the healing power of horses and the role equine therapy can play in healing and wellness. Each week, we’ll dive into stories and expert insights to educate and inspire all you practitioners or soon-to-be practitioners to consider equine therapy as a treatment option. Whether you’re a professional looking to expand your toolbox or simply curious about alternative therapies, this podcast will give you knowledge, real-world examples, and a new appreciation for the connection between horses and healing.