A new program at Isothermal Community College will introduce students to the benefits horses have on humans with a focus on therapeutic activities that can aid individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities.
Equine-Assisted Therapy
An Introduction to Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies is the first class in this area. It has been offered as a continuing education class through a partnership with TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tryon). This new course introduces a variety of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) used to benefit persons with disabilities. The class provides an overview of activities and therapies such as therapeutic horseback riding, hippotherapy, therapeutic driving, and equine facilitated therapies. The history of equine-assisted therapy, an overview of common physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities, careers with equine assisted activities and information on therapeutic riding instructor certification will also be presented. The class will combine lecture with hands-on experience at a barn facility. Students will receive volunteer training by assisting in a therapeutic horsemanship class.
The course will serve as a great introduction to a degree program in the field that will begin in Fall 2019 (pending SACS approval).
Career opportunities
“Curriculum and Continuing education are aligning their programs so individuals who are pursuing careers in equine can transfer courses that they have successfully completed in continuing education and receive curriculum credit for the new Associate of Science Degree in Equine Science, targeted to begin in the fall of 2019 (pending SACS approval),” said Kim Wawzysko, the Isothermal administrator who is heading up this project. “There is a track of 12 credits that students can choose in therapeutic horsemanship. The new curriculum will include courses in equine anatomy and physiology, equine behavior, training the therapeutic horse, and entrepreneurship funding.”
The local therapeutic horsemanship community is glad to see this program move forward.
“All of us at FENCE and Therapeutic Riding of Tryon are very excited that Isothermal is offering this course to people who may be interested in careers in therapeutic horsemanship,” said Alison Rhyne, the instructor for the course who serves as program director at TROT. “We are proud to partner with ICC in the effort to promote employment in the equine industry and most specifically, in the horse/human relationship to human health.”
Human Services Technologies
This course is closely aligned with another new program, Human Services Technologies (pending SACS approval). This curriculum prepares students for entry-level positions in institutions and agencies that provide education and social and community services. Emphasis is placed on the development of relevant knowledge, best practice skills, and human services attitudes.
For more information on Equine-Assisted Therapy, contact Kim Wawzysko at [email protected] or 828-395-1759.
For more information on Human Services Technologies, contact Ava Yamouti at [email protected] or 828-395-1435.
