Brentwood Borough Council Riding Establishment Licence Number: 24/00086/LIANI
We provide high quality assessment and rehabilitation programmes using the horse to provide a treatment strategy for adults and children with physical, mental, social and learning disabilities. REACH is a unique and specialist centre that offers equine facilitated rehabilitation with our clinical lead who is a chartered physiotherapist. This is an umbrella term that refers to all activities that use the horse as a means of providing therapeutic benefit to an individual. These sessions are generally groundwork based, rather than on horseback. REACH can provide the following activities:
Hippotherapy (Hippos is horse in Greek):
This is a specialist physiotherapy intervention that uses the 3 dimensional movement of the horse in walk to correct and improve movement, balance, and the core strength off the person on the horse. It has been shown to benefit children with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, brain and spinal cord injuries and many other people with movement disorders. Research has shown that the functional ability of these people improves following a course of Hippotherapy and can be maintained over a follow up period. Children with autism and other learning disabilities have also benefitted from this form of therapy. Equine Assisted Learning:
This uses the interaction with the horse to promote mental well being. This usually does not involve sitting on the horse, just being around the horse. A relationship with a horse can offer challenges to overcome fears, build up trust, respect, compassion, develop communication skills, problem solving and coping techniques, self confidence and self esteem. These skills are transferable to many other areas of ordinary life. Pony Petting:
This activity utilises the pony experience, being around our two miniature Shetlands who are quiet and friendly and loved being fussed, through patting, stroking, cuddling, brushing. This is a highly sensory and emotional experience. Making a new friend can help with confidence, relationship building , communication, social interaction and promote relaxation and wellbeing. Being small, our ponies can also travel and are available for visits to schools, care homes, day centres, special needs centres and rehabilitation settings. We aim to provide a comprehensive service to children and adults with a range of movement disorders, mental health issues and learning disabilities. Outdoor Learning:
We have a new Outdoor learning area where children and adults can learn all about different plants and Gardening tasks, composting and we have a mud kitchen and water play. Alternative Education Programme:
Reach are an approved Essex County Council provider for Alternative Education for children who do not attend school full time. Please get in touch to discuss your children's needs. There is no facility in the South East of England that offers this variety of services. Whilst the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has many centres in the South East, these only provide recreational riding for people with physical and learning disabilities, they do not offer the most important element - rehabilitation. Louise’s unique skills as a physiotherapist /pilates instructor, her equestrian knowledge and training, and being a mum of 3 give her the extensive expertise needed in this field. Louise is herself a physiotherapist for the RDA and offers her professional knowledge to all centres in the area as a visiting expert. No centre has a physiotherapist attached to it. Hippotherapy is a relatively new therapy in the United Kingdom and there are only around 20 physiotherapists who are qualified to practise . There is a particular shortage of these specially trained physiotherapists in the South East. There is currently no specialist centre for Hippotherapy in Essex . For more information contact REACH on 07519 169913 or email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to chat with you about your needs.
