ON-SITE AND HANDS-ON COURSE, FOCUSED ON EARLY PEDIATRIC CARE IN EAT

Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for Toddlers and Infants – Finland

Specialist training in Equine Assisted Early Intervention

Our Equine Assisted Early Intervention course in Oulu, Finland, has now concluded, but this specialist professional training continues internationally.

The course is available on demand for professional groups, organisations and Equine Assisted Services centres wishing to develop advanced clinical skills in Equine Assisted Physiotherapy with infants and toddlers.

The programme combines specialist theory with intensive hands-on practice, including assessment, clinical decision-making, selection of equine movement, positioning, treatment planning and supervised practical work with young children.

Would you like to attend or host this course?
The current Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for Toddlers and Infants programme can be organised in different countries according to demand.

If you are interested in attending a future course, bringing the programme to Finland, or hosting it in your own country or organisation, explore the current programme and contact us for requirements and possibilities.

→ Explore the current Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for Toddlers and Infants programme

Previous Equine Assisted Early Intervention Course – Oulu, Finland 2025

The information, photographs and participant feedback below relate to our previous specialist course held in Oulu, Finland, in May 2025. We are keeping this material available to provide insight into the programme's clinical focus, practical learning, and professional experience.

What did therapists learnt?

  • Assessment Skills: Learn how to assess psycho-motor development and identify pathophysiological conditions in young children.

  • Client Evaluation: Develop proficiency in evaluating children for Equine Assisted Physiotherapy, ensuring a personalised and effective therapeutic approach.

  • Progress Monitoring: Gain the skills to effectively monitor child's progress throughout the therapy process.

  • Therapy Planning and Execution: Master the ability to plan and conduct professional, safe, and engaging therapy sessions. This includes:

    • Thoughtfully matching the child with the most suitable equine movement to optimise therapeutic outcomes.

    • Applying various positions for the child on the equine, incorporating necessary adjustments and using specialised aids to ensure safety and effectiveness.

    • Strategically determining the duration and intensity of each session to meet the specific needs of each child.

    • Selecting appropriate terrain to support therapeutic goals and enhance the overall experience.

  • 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).

Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for toddlers and infants – Svitani Academy EAPT early intervention training physiotherapy with horse movement for infants EAS specialist training for toddlers
Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for toddlers and infants – Svitani Academy EAPT early intervention training physiotherapy with horse movement for infants EAS specialist training for toddlers

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.
IrmaPhysical Therapist, UK
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!
VeselinaPsychologist, Bulgaria
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.
LauraPhysical Therapist, Belgium
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.
JessiePhysical Therapist, Australia
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!
MelissaPhysical Therapist, UK
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.
NonaPhysical Therapist, UK
Thank you everyone for such a wonderful week! It was fantastic. Vera and Tereza, you have given us a lot to think about!
TinaSpeech Language Pathologist, USA
You have given us so much new information to integrate.
CarolPhysical Therapist, USA
The most inspiring thing was seeing the progress of the little ones in a few therapy sessions and the enthusiasm of the parents about the effectiveness of the therapy. The course days were quite long and hard (thanks to the language) after the day my brain was either dead or in a coma. I came to the course to find inspiration and deepen my therapy skills, in an area that was not so familiar (small children/babies) purely out of curiosity, I didn't know about this until my college Elina told me. I have been doing physiotherapy for over 15 years, mostly with adults/young neurological (6-16 years) and also seniors, riding therapy for over 10 years and lymphatic therapy for 13 years. So my own field of activity is wide, partly due to my location.
Kicka Physiotherapist, Finnland
It’s so nice to see that babies go forward with three days and 6 therapy sessions💖. Nothing is so effective than horse movement in therapy. So much sensory input, symmetrive rhytmical movement that those babies really need to go forward.
Participant of the EAT Application for Infants and Toddlers
I applied for the course as I always want to deepen my understanding and skills in hippotherapy and enhance my practice and better serve my patients. I expected to gain practical insights, learn new techniques, and be together with other experienced therapists as it finally happened so What inspired me the most was the innovative approaches presented and the passion of the presenters The course broadened my perspective, introduced me to new methodologies, and encouraged me to incorporate new ideas into my therapeutic sessions.
Maria LigaNDT paediatric physiotherapist, 42 years of experience, Greece
Great course, even if I don't work primarily with babies I can also take a lot away for older children. Thank you very much!
JudithPhysiotherapist, Austria
Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for toddlers and infants – Svitani Academy EAPT early intervention training physiotherapy with horse movement for infants EAS specialist training for toddlers
Equine Assisted Physiotherapy for toddlers and infants – Svitani Academy EAPT early intervention training physiotherapy with horse movement for infants EAS specialist training for toddlers

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.

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 intensive on-site, hands-on training programme delivered over five consecutive days (40 educational hours, each lasting 45 minutes). The course blends comprehensive theoretical instruction with extensive practical experience under expert supervision.

In addition, participants are required to complete 10 hours of e-learning prior to the on-site training, followed by 10 hours dedicated to independent practice and case study preparation.

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: Earn your certification by completing the practical part, submitting a case study, and passing an online multicoice exam following the practical component.

ENHANCE YOUR CREDENTIALS AND EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES IN PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION