Benefits
- Physical: balance, mobility and muscle tone
- Psychological: attention, concentration, motivation and self-esteem
- Social: communication and rules of interaction with the horse
- Emotional: overcoming fear, easing tension and inhibitions
Riding · Therapy
Equine therapy
The horse as a therapeutic partner: individual or small-group sessions led by a specialist physiotherapist.
- Format
- Individual or small group
- Assessment
- Always, beforehand
- Led by
- Ricard Barnés, physiotherapist
- Languages
- Catalan, Spanish and English
What it is
More than riding a horse.
Equine therapy uses the relationship with the horse as a therapeutic mediator. Riding breaks isolation, creates a bond with the animal, and the horse's movement at walk, similar to human walking, acts as a pattern of stimulation. The effect is not only muscular: it is sensory and emotional too.
Who it's for
Children and adults with cerebral palsy, autism, behavioural disorders, hemiplegia and other needs. Always with a prior assessment to study the benefits and the type of therapy that suits each person best.
How we work
- Adapted riding: small groups with similar needs, working on socialisation and progress towards riding that is as mainstream as possible
- Equine therapy: individual sessions fully adapted to each person; in pairs where appropriate
- We work with ponies or horses suited to each pupil
Who leads it
Ricard Barnés Torras, physiotherapist (reg. no. 1619) and osteopath, with postgraduate training in traumatology, paediatric and rheumatological physiotherapy, training in the TEACCH method for autism, 6 years' experience in equine therapy and 15 as a physiotherapist for pupils with disabilities.
A session
Step by step, never alone.
Every session starts with contact with the pony and work at walk, with Ricard alongside. As they progress, pupils gain security, balance and confidence, at their own pace.
First step
Talk directly to Ricard
Tell him about the case directly by email and arrange a prior assessment to see which therapy fits best.
Riding
