WHAT IS AN EQUINE SPECIALIST?
This is a new term which has been recently developed by the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association. The Equine Specialist is the horse professional, who may or may not be also a NARHA certified therapeutic riding instructor. The role that this professional plays in the delivery of mental health services is to take care of the horse, insuring its emotional and physical safety. In addition, this person is to make sure that all the people who are involved in the EFP session are safe with the horses. The session is designed and led by the mental health professional in collaboration with the Equine Specialist who makes sure that everyone involved is safe. This person is specifically not allowed to have the clients/students be mounted.
