EQUINE ASSISTED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Strengthen Your EAS Practice with OT Insights

Switch on the automatic subtitles in your preferred language.

What This Course Offers:

Flexible Learning: Engage in 10 lessons at your own pace, including e-learning with life-time access.
Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from Audrey with alomost two decades of experience in Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy, ensuring you receive high-quality education and insights.
Cost Savings: By taking this course online, you save on travel and accommodation expenses, making it a more affordable option.
Enhanced Learning: The online format allows you to focus on the details more effectively.
Language Accessibility: Take advantage of automatic subtitles in your preferred language to enhance your video learning experience. The text is also easy to understand, with automatic page translation available in your language.
Certification and Resources: Earn a certificate of attendance upon finishing the course, and enjoy continuous access to all course materials and future updates.
Continuous Support: Benefit from ongoing email support and an FB community group to connect with EAS practitioners and share experiences.

Meet Your Lecturer

Audrey Darby, BSc

Occupational Therapist, Equine Assisted Therapy Clinical Specialist, Lecturer

Ireland

Audrey, an Occupational Therapist since 1994, specialises in Paediatric Rehabilitation, working with children who have complex physical, sensory, and multiple needs. In 2010, she was instrumental in founding the Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy unit at ChildVision, has completed the Therapeutic Riding Coach Course in Ireland, and completed AHA Hippotherapy Part 1 in 2022.

As a member of EEATN, and in collaboration with HETI, Audrey helped establish the HEIR register of EAS Practitioners in Ireland. She is also part of a group who provide support and an educational platform for Equine Assisted Services practitioners in Ireland.

She co-funded EquiSence - Integrated Equine Assisted Services in Dublin.

Her expertise includes Visual Impairment and its developmental effects, and she regularly presents on these topics and the therapeutic role of equines in OT.

Audrey mentors therapists and coaches in Ireland, supporting them to enhance services and tackle complex cases.

Three Steps to Enhancing Your EAS with OT Insights

Understand Core Occupational Therapy Principles in EAS
Integrate Practical OT Techniques in Your Sessions
Expand Your Professional Skills and Referral Network

About This Course

Originally part of our comprehensive online course, Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) Applications in Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy, this module was developed specifically to integrate Occupational Therapy (OT) insights within Equine-Assisted Services (EAS). Recognising the potential benefits for practitioners across all EAS fields, we made this module available to help enhance practitioners' abilities to support clients with additional health or cognitive challenges.

This course provides foundational OT knowledge, allowing EAS professionals to identify and understand underlying physical, sensory, or cognitive issues their clients may face. Practitioners will gain tools to address specific challenges directly within their EAS sessions or to recognise when referral to an OT specialist is appropriate. By expanding their skillset, EAS providers can offer their clients more comprehensive, responsive support, promoting well-being and functional outcomes.

Are you seeking to advance your treatment skills?

Equine Assisted Occupational Therapy Online Course - Svitani

LEARN HOW TO DO IT

EAOT was such an inspiring and creative course. It was a big opportunity to improve my own practice and learn new skills. Audrey's voice was so calming, clear, and peaceful. Enjoyed listening. She is so helpful and available for all questions. This course was more than I expected. Help me to understand how sensory processing is fundamental and the importance of client-centered practice. Also how to use groundwork, engage, and empower children to overcome fear of being on the horse.
Zijada KurtodzaSpeech Language Pathologist, Bosna&Herzegovina

Join this unique online course, offering a targeted curriculum that delivers essential OT-based knowledge and practical skills for enhancing your EAS practice. Designed to support professionals in applying OT principles to EAS, this course is accessible from anywhere in the world.

What Will You Learn?

Core Therapeutic Values and Principles
The course begins with core Occupational Therapy (OT) values adapted to EAT, emphasizing client-centered, holistic care. Participants will explore how these principles support skill development, adaptability, and meaningful therapeutic connections with clients.
Skill Development Across Life Stages
Delve into the developmental milestones for children and practical strategies for adults. EAT is shown to be highly effective in advancing motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and social skills. By engaging with the horse in both groundwork and mounted activities, participants learn methods to foster core stability, coordination, and functional skills in clients of all ages.
Sensory Processing in EAT
Sensory processing forms the foundation of effective therapy in EAT. This module explores the role of the equine environment in sensory integration, emphasizing how the horse’s movement and sensory feedback can help regulate arousal and support sensory-sensitive clients.
Case Studies and Real-World Applications
Real-life case studies—including clients with Cri du Chat syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder—illustrate practical therapeutic applications. These case examples offer insights into tailoring EAT interventions for various needs and goals, demonstrating the transformative impact EAT can have.
EAOT Session Structure
Participants learn how to structure sessions effectively to address multiple therapeutic goals simultaneously. Through mounted activities and groundwork, the course offers strategies to design flexible, client-centered sessions that promote growth in physical, emotional, and social domains.
Groundwork and Equine Environment Benefits
Discover the profound therapeutic value of groundwork—activities such as grooming, leading, and stable management—that strengthens motor and social skills. Participants gain insight into creating safe, empowering sessions that leverage the unique environment and dynamics of EAT.

Your gained competency

Created by an experienced Occupational Therapist, this course equips anyone working in Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) with practical OT-based skills to enhance their practice and improve client outcomes. Participants will gain the following competencies:

Client-Centered Intervention Skills - Learn to design and implement client-focused interventions, incorporating equine movement to support physical, sensory, and emotional needs.
Support for Daily Functional Skills - Develop techniques to promote motor, sensory, and social skills essential for daily living, benefiting clients of all ages.
Sensory Processing Integration - Apply OT-informed sensory processing methods, utilizing the equine environment to foster self-regulation and body awareness.
Flexible Session Structure and Adaptability - Gain skills to structure and adapt sessions based on individual client needs, using both mounted and groundwork activities.
Client Assessment and Goal Setting - Acquire OT-based assessment and goal-setting skills, enabling meaningful tracking of client progress.
Safe and Ethical Practice in EAS - Understand best practices for safety and ethics in EAS, ensuring client and equine well-being in a therapeutic setting.

How does the course work?

No requirements and prerequisities needed.
E-learning: 10 lessons. You'll receive a username and password to access our online study platform, allowing you to study at your own pace.
Support: Continuous support is available via email.
Certificates of Attendance: Issued upon finishing the course.

Your course includes

10 lessons – learn at your own pace, whenever it fits your schedule - lessons open up gradually to make the information understandable. You can study the lesson content as often as you need.
Integration of videos, audios and written texts allows you to learn in a manner that best suits your preferences.
Choose your preferred language. The course language is English, but videos come with automatic subtitles in your chosen language. Text is easily understandable with an automatic page translation in your language.
The Quick Reference Workbook in English (digital copy).
Certificate of Attendance.
Support with all our courses; this is a well-supported program – to ensure you keep progressing and don't get stuck. Your lecturer is ready to answer your inquiries via email.
Lifetime Access to the Course - there is no expiration date, and your access to the videos will never go away. You will receive all the future additions for Free.
Access to a FB community group to connect the EAS practitioners to share your experience.
Full 7-Day Money Back Guarantee - if you are not satisfied with this Course for any reason, return it for a full refund within 7 days of joining the course.

FAQ

Who is this course designed for?

This course is intended for anyone working in Equine-Assisted Services (EAS), including therapists, instructors, and other practitioners, who want to integrate Occupational Therapy (OT) principles into their sessions. It provides essential knowledge and practical skills to support clients with additional physical, sensory, or cognitive needs.

Do I need to be an Occupational Therapist to take this course?

No, you don’t need to be an OT. This course provides foundational OT-based knowledge that is accessible to all EAS practitioners. It’s designed to help you identify and address specific client needs and refer clients to an OT professional when necessary.

What will I learn in this course?

You’ll learn OT-based strategies for integrating sensory processing, motor skills development, and client-centered care into your EAS sessions. The course covers practical techniques to enhance the therapeutic potential of your sessions and support client well-being.

How will this course benefit my EAS practice?

The course equips you with tools to recognize and respond to a range of physical, sensory, and emotional needs in your clients. By understanding OT principles, you can adapt activities to address these needs, potentially improving outcomes for clients with health or cognitive challenges.

Is this course accessible online and self-paced?

Yes, this course is fully online and self-paced, allowing you to access the materials from anywhere and complete them on your own schedule.

STRENGTHEN YOUR EAS PRACTICE WITH OT INSIGHTS