Programs
Therapy & Adaptive Programs
The Academy is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center providing safe and therapeutically beneficial programs in the areas of Hippotherapy, Adaptive Riding and Carriage Driving, and Interactive Vaulting. With the help of trained therapy horses and nationally certified instructing staff, including a full-time Occupational Therapist and part-time physical therapist, Carlisle Academy’s Therapy & Adaptive programs serve more than 160 students annually.
Lives are enhanced by our therapy horses’ stimulating movement and healing nature, and the net result is a program that is transformative – for the individual, the family, and the community. Individuals diagnosed with a physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities are impacted by equine-assisted therapies in myriad ways.
The top six outcome areas that the program has measured throughout the years include:
- Balance
- Self-confidence
- Range of motion
- Coordination
- Listening and following directions
- Emotional well-being
Comment from Medical Professional: Judith G. Kimball, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
“I think that horseback riding is probably the most perfect form of occupational therapy, as it demonstrates the integration of body, mind and spirit. A person on a horse is in the best possible body position to encourage development of normal muscle tone, balance and coordination. The horse’s movement reinforces this, as well as improves the rider’s attention span. The rider forms an emotional attachment with the horse and becomes empowered when she learns she can communicate nonverbally with the horse and it will respond to her directions. It’s a maximal set up for success, and all of it carries over to improve other aspects of a person’s life.”
Equine-Assisted Activities & Therapies provide benefits to individuals challenged with:
ADD/ADHD
Age-related Disease
Autism
Behavioral & Emotional Disabilities
Brain Injury
Cerebral Palsy
Developmental & Learning Disabilities
Down Syndrome Prader Willi Syndrome
Mental Retardation
Multiple Sclerosis
Seizure Disorder
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke
Visual Impairment
Benefits & Testimonials
Please click here to read personal testimonials on the multiple benefits of equine-assisted therapy.
Services offered through our Therapy & Adaptive Programs:
Hippotherapy
Carlisle Academy’s Hippotherapy Program is the most clinical component of all program offerings and is always conducted by licensed, credentialed health professionals uniquely qualified to use the back of a horse as a “treatment surface”.
The American Hippotherapy Association has defined Hippotherapy as “a term that refers to the use of the movement of the horse as a tool by Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologist to address impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities in patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. The movement of the horse provides a foundation of improved neuromotor function and sensory processing that can be generalized to a wide variety of activities outside the treatment setting.” APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association), and ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association) all accept and endorse Hippotherapy as a treatment tool and strategy.
Hippotherapy represents over 45% of all programming. Due to the program’s dedicated staff resources and expertise in the area of Hippotherapy, we have developed the largest and most reputable Hippotherapy program in Northern New England, serving over 100 children on an annual basis.
At Carlisle Academy, Hippotherapy is conducted by AHA nationally trained and licensed occupational and physical therapists. 1 hour sessions are divided between 30 minutes in the therapy room, and 30 minutes of treatment on the horse.*
Options include:
- Private sessions
- Early Intervention Groups, ages 2-5. Serving 2-4 children at a time, including CDS clients. (Always formatted as a semi-private mounted session)
- General Hippotherapy Groups, ages 6+. Serving 2-4 clients at a time. (Always formatted as a semi-private mounted session)
Adaptive Riding is conducted by PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding instructors, teaching adaptive riding skills for educational and therapeutic purposes. Activities are geared to meet the physical, social/emotional and cognitive needs of each student. Private sessions are split between 30 minutes of grooming and 30 minutes of riding. Semi-private lessons are 1.25 minutes, also including grooming and tacking time.
Adaptive Carriage Driving is conducted by PATH Intl. certified therapeutic driving instructors. One hour private lessons provide a student with training on grooming, harnessing and putting horses to the carriage and carriage driving techniques. For individuals unable to ride a horse, therapeutic carriage driving is a fun and engaging alternative.
Interactive Vaulting is conducted by a PATH Intl. certified vaulting instructor designed as a small group therapeutic activity for 1.5 hours. 4-6 students work together to learn a series of gymnastic exercises, first on the vaulting barrel, and progress to a moving horse. Vaulting promotes strength, balance, teamwork, and confidence.
Integrative Horsemanship is conducted by trained horse handling and instructing staff to offer unmounted horsemanship activities combined with experiential learning centers. As a small group activity of 4 students for 1.5 hours, participants will learn basic grooming and ground techniques and enjoy a wonderful human to animal bonding experience in a safe and therapeutic environment.
Example Includes:
- Girl Power is an integrative horsemanship program for pre-teen and early adolescent girls. Students meet once a week as a group for an hour and a half participating in unmounted equine activities, learning the skills necessary to work cooperatively and confidently around horses and each other. Social, behavioral and character-building attributes are incorporated in each lesson.
Specialty Curriculum Programs are designed for a group activity of 6 children or adults, lasting 1.5 hours and implemented by PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding and driving instructors. Students participate in three 30-minute stations, allowing them to rotate through unmounted equine learning centers combined with adaptive riding and driving activities. Mounted time is always formatted as a semi-private session. These specialty programs are focused on intervention groups for specific disability needs or groups gathered for a common purpose such as a school group or an inclusive competitive team.
Examples include:
- Integrative Equine Education Group. This is the best option for School Groups. This curriculum provides therapeutic activities geared to meet the physical, social/emotional and cognitive needs of school-age students. Implemented by our PATH Intl. certified therapeutic riding and driving instructors, this experiential curriculum is designed to support neuro-developmental, social and academic skills.
- Horses for Heroes Veterans Program is designed for disabled veterans and their immediate family members. The goal is to give those who have served our country an opportunity to learn or rediscover equestrian sports and successfully master a new skill. The program provides a foundation for a positive experience, improved physical well-being, and a brighter outlook in light of sudden traumatic changes that have impacted their lives.
- Silver Spurs is an adaptive horseback riding and carriage driving program designed for older adults who face age-related challenges. The activities help with balance, range of motion, and arthritis, and offer a valuable social outlet for body and mind engagement.
Click here to read Eligibility Requirements and Admittance Process for Therapy & Adaptive programs.
For more information and tuition pricing, please contact Susan Grant, OTR/L, Director of Therapy & Adaptive Programs at 207-985-0374, or email sgrant@carlisleacademymaine.com.
