ON-SITE AND HANDS-ON COURSE, FOCUSED ON EARLY PEDIATRIC CARE IN EAT
Join on-site, hands-on course, uniquely tailored for early intervention, specialising in Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for infants and toddlers during these crucial developmental years. The course is organised by the The Association of Equine facilitated therapies in Finland (SRT)
EQUINE ASSISTED EARLY INTERVENTION: PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR TODDLERS AND INFANTS
This comprehensive training is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to become a Clinical Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) Specialist for Infants and Toddlers.
When: 14 to 18 May 2025
Where: Oulu, northern Finland
For detailed information, including pricing, please contact the Finnish organiser, Silja Ikonen, at silja.ikonen@sananlaukka.fi.
A brief demonstration of how therapy with babies is conducted.
What will you learn?
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Assessment Skills: Learn how to assess psycho-motor development and identify pathophysiological conditions in young children.
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Client Evaluation: Develop proficiency in evaluating children for Equine Assisted Physiotherapy, ensuring a personalised and effective therapeutic approach.
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Progress Monitoring: Gain the skills to effectively monitor child's progress throughout the therapy process.
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Therapy Planning and Execution: Master the ability to plan and conduct professional, safe, and engaging therapy sessions. This includes:
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Thoughtfully matching the child with the most suitable equine movement to optimise therapeutic outcomes.
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Applying various positions for the child on the equine, incorporating necessary adjustments and using specialised aids to ensure safety and effectiveness.
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Strategically determining the duration and intensity of each session to meet the specific needs of each child.
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Selecting appropriate terrain to support therapeutic goals and enhance the overall experience.
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Impactful Therapy Delivery: Learn to provide tailored Equine Assisted Physiotherapy that positively influences the psychomotor development of infants and toddlers, laying a strong foundation for their future growth.
Course lecturers
Věra Lantelme-Faisan, MSc
Physiotherapist, Equine Assisted Therapy Clinical Specialist
Věra has extensive experience in paediatric rehabilitation (since 1999) and has completed several specialized courses – Hippotherapy (under the Czech Equine Facilitated Therapy Association - CEFTA and American Hippotherapy Association), Vojta method, CranioSacral Therapy, etc.
She focuses on Equine Assisted Physiotherapy (EAT)/Hippotherapy services for children from 3 months of age with a wide range of diagnoses.
Vera, serving as the Chair of Svitani and President of HETI, brings unparalleled expertise and leadership to this course. Her extensive experience in Equine Assisted Therapy, combined with her influential roles, ensures that participants receive top-tier training grounded in global standards and best practices.
Tereza Honců, MSc
Physiotherapist, Equine Assisted Therapy Clinical Specialist
Tereza has over 20 years of experience in hippotherapy, focusing on early intervention for children with various health conditions. She studied physiotherapy at the Charles University in Prague, where her thesis highlighted the benefits of intensive hippotherapy for children with central nervous system disorders.
Since 2008, she has been the Chair and the head physiotherapist at the EAAT centre Caballinus.
Tereza has completed specialised courses in Hippotherapy, Vojta method, and Visceral Therapy, and has extensive experience in paediatrics.
She also lectures and trains future specialists at several universities, including the Czech Equine Facilitated Therapy Association (CEFTA).
Enhance your credentials and expand your professional capabilities in pediatric rehabilitation with specialised training that empowers you to maximise each child's potential, improving their health and overall quality of life.
Vera and Tereza have been teaching this unique course since 2016, drawing on over 20 years of hands-on experience in Equine Assisted Early Intervention in the Czech Republic. Their deep knowledge and practical expertise in this specialised therapy approach have contributed to outstanding outcomes for children with various health conditions.
What sets this course apart is its foundation in decades of successful practice, combined with a commitment to early intervention and tailored therapeutic strategies. Vera and Tereza’s approach is rooted in real-world applications, ensuring that participants gain not only theoretical insights but also practical skills that are immediately applicable.
This course is a rare opportunity to learn directly from seasoned professionals who have dedicated their careers to advancing the field of Equine Assisted Physiotherapy, making it a truly invaluable experience for anyone looking to specialise in this area.
Testimonials
A fantastic course with lots of interesting theory and useful practise. The tutors were clearly very experienced and able to teach in an understandable and simple way, patiently answering all our questions. And the children....it was lovely to see them improve so much over the 4 days! The 5 month old girl impressed me the most. The effect hippotherapy has on such small babies! I highly recommend this course. It is already changing my practice.
It was great experience for me! I learnt a lot! I am absolutely impressed by your work! I have never seen so much structure, methodology, understanding and clear goals in a Hippotherapy treatment. Admiration for being so professional! The course definitely changed my work and understanding of the hippotherapy processes and I came home with those changes and a lot of motivation to keep going trough the miracles that the horses are for the children with special needs. Thank you once again Vera, Tereza and Anna, you are really great practitioners and educators!
First of all I want to thank you for this most interesting course. It has been a real eye opener concerning hippotherapy in toddlers. I really liked the approach you use towards children as well as horses. From what I've seen so far, it is the method that fits most into my own way of thinking. Therefore I am really excited to learn more about your approach.
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and it has given me food for thought. It will definitely add and change what I do. It was so nice to meet the both of you. You make a great team.
Thank you for this list and for delivering the course this week. It was really interesting and well structured to maximise learning. I have lots of things to consider in my practice moving forward!
It was a really good 4 days and I learnt a lot. I have already been putting some of the techniques in practice with good results.
Thank you everyone for such a wonderful week! It was fantastic. Vera and Tereza, you have given us a lot to think about!
You have given us so much new information to integrate.
This course is meticulously designed to provide participants with both the theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills essential for performing Equine Assisted Physiotherapy with children aged 3 months to 3 years.
Your gained competency
- Assessment Skills: Ability to evaluate psycho-motor development and identify pathophysiological conditions in infants and toddlers.
- Client Evaluation: Proficiency in assessing infants and toddlers for suitability in Equine Assisted Physiotherapy.
- Therapy Planning: Competence in designing tailored Equine Assisted Physiotherapy sessions, including selecting the appropriate equine partner, positioning techniques, and session structure.
- Safety and Adjustment Techniques: Expertise in ensuring the child's safety and therapy efficiency by making necessary adjustments, utilising various aids, and maintaining proper positioning on the equine.
- Session Management: Skill in determining the appropriate duration, intensity, and terrain for each therapy session to meet individual therapeutic goals.
- Equine Selection: Knowledge in selecting and matching the most suitable equine for each child based on therapeutic needs.
- Ethical Practice: Understanding of ethical considerations and best practices in providing Equine Assisted Physiotherapy to young children.
- Communication: Ability to effectively communicate with children, caregivers, and the therapy team to enhance the therapeutic process.
How does the course work?
Our Equine Assisted Physiotherapy course for toddlers and infants is an on-site, hands-on training programme spanning 5 consecutive days (40 educational hours, with each hour lasting 45 minutes.). This course combines in-depth theoretical learning with extensive practical experience under expert supervision.
Course Structure:
- Entry Requirements: Participants must be qualified physical or occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists, with a recognised hippotherapy/EAT course and a minimum of 200 hours of EAT practice. Experience in pediatric rehabilitation or training in Baby Bobath, Vojta method, or NDT is beneficial.
- Theoretical Learning: Engage in comprehensive sessions covering psycho-motor development, pathophysiology, and the specific therapeutic needs of infants and toddlers.
- Practical Training: Apply your knowledge through hands-on practice with equines and children, guided by experienced professionals.
- Certification: Complete the course by submitting a case study and passing an online review test to earn your certification.
In case you interested in joining this course, please contact finnish organisator Silja Ikonen at silja.ikonen@sananlaukka.fi
FAQ
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ENHANCE YOUR CREDENTIALS AND EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES IN PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION