PRESENTATION TO THE JOINT OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
Presentation by Kevin G.A. Smith – President HEALS
DATE: Thursday, July 3rd 2008
WHAT IS HEALS?
HEALS (‘Horse Energy Alleviates Living Scars’) is a voluntary, non-profit-making body set up in
May 2005 to promote the value of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) and Learning (EAL) and is an
Associate Member of the Federation of Riding for the Disabled International. HEALS organises
seminars, workshops and courses to develop informed interest in Equine Therapy, to promote the
need for qualification programmes and to encourage the establishment of fully equipped EAT and
EAL Centres throughout Ireland. It is dependent on membership subscriptions for its operating costs
and on subsidies for seminars and courses - kindly provided by Paddy Power Bookmakers.
WHY THE HORSE?
In 2006 Kfm (the local Kildare radio station) carried an item on an Irishman who went to the USA
and saw the therapeutic power of dolphins with children. He exclaimed “this is marvellous, we must
get dolphins over to Ireland to help youngsters with disabilities”. The manager of the US Centre
replied “why dolphins when you have got your horses?”.
Why, indeed? There are, at least, two powerful answers:
Firstly, the horse is a very sensitive and emotionally intelligent animal – capable of being an effective
partner, rather than a slave, in providing therapy, rehabilitation and aid to people who are disabled
and/or deprived and/or otherwise afflicted in our society. Much of that therapy can be accomplished
without riding the horse – which is frequently described as a “divine mirror”.
Secondly, the horse’s walking movement is virtually the same as that of a person – so the movement of
the walking horse facilitates almost identical movement of the human pelvis and trunk when the rider
is on board – thus the back of the walking horse is often described as a “living apparatus” which helps
riders to improve their co-ordination and balance.
Equine Assisted Therapy has been applied successfully to many physical and/or mental disabilities –
from amputations to addictions and from strokes to psychotic disorders.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION IN IRELAND?
Riding for the Disabled Ireland (RDAI), founded in January 1969, has circa 80 volunteer groups
working across the country providing weekly therapeutic riding lessons for over 1,000 disabled
people. It is totally reliant for its great work on volunteers and commercial training centres – which
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are available on week days only. Ironically, it is believed that more volunteers could be attracted at
week-ends. Each participant is required to supply a doctor’s note.
In Ireland, there are three other known organisations (and they have permanent centres) offering
therapeutic riding viz., FESTINA LENTE (Bray, Co. Wicklow), KARE (Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow)
and PEGASUS (Grange, Co. Sligo).
Festina Lente has, this year, launched an Equine Assisted Learning Service with a learning
programme for children and young adults.
Ireland really needs more fully equipped centres, across the county, specialising in Equine Assisted
Therapy and Learning.
However, at present, Ireland has very few, if any, qualified Equine Therapists.
The EU Pegasus Project (2002-2006) constructed a Post-Graduate Masters/Diploma Programme
which is currently on offer in Belgium (with similar programmes on offer in other mainland Europe
countries) and (arising from a HEALS Seminar) is being considered by Waterford Institute of
Technology in partnership with Kildalton Agricultural College.
However, the University of Limerick has an equine science faculty as does the College of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Enterprise (Co. Antrim/Co. Fermanagh) – but no equine assisted therapy modules.
Collaiste Stiophain Naofa (Co. Cork), St. Patrick’s Community College (Co. Kildare), RACE – Racing
Academy and Centre of Excellence (Co. Kildare), Grennan College (Co. Kilkenny), Kildalton College
(Co. Kilkenny), and Gurteen College (Co. Tipperary) all have equine/equestrian qualification
programmes – but no equine assisted therapy modules. Stop Press: The Chief Executive of Festina
Lente, Jill Carey told me that she has been accepted to do her doctorate at Dublin City University
(DCE) in Equine Assisted Learning.
Arguably, apart from a general lack of awareness in Ireland of the value of equine assisted therapy,
the greatest single impediment to expanding its use is a shortage of relevantly qualified therapists. On
the other hand, there is no shortage of horses. For example, this year over 500 horses who fall below
the required minimum standard will be barred from Irish racing. Many of them would be suitable to
retrain for the provision of therapy.
HOW IS HEALS HELPING?
The contribution of HEALS, since its foundation in 2005, has been to promote the value of Equine
Assisted Therapy and Learning through seminars, brochures, feature articles (in 2 National
newspapers), and, now, courses.
HEALS has sought to promote the work of the 3 existing Centres and Riding for the Disabled Ireland
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and to encourage Universities and Colleges to set up modules for EAT.
A mutually productive relationship has been built with the Irish Horse Welfare Trust (IHWT).
HEALS has expressed deep concern about the situation in Ireland given that, last year, the School of
Psychology at University College Dublin produced a disturbing report of a study on
“Emotional Intelligence, Mental Health and Juvenile Delinquency” which found that “4 out of 5
youngsters in detention schools have psychiatric problems” and concluded: “The vast majority fail to
receive any treatment for psychiatric problems whatsoever. The report highlights the importance of
addressing these difficulties. In addition to reducing the debilitating effects that mental health
problems have on a child’s functioning and development, treatment will lead to a significant reduction
in offending behaviour and criminality and therefore, has significant cost benefits for society, the legal
system and the Irish State”.
HEALS is very honoured to have received the support and practical assistance of two of the top
experts in the field viz., Professor Allan and Dr. Jane Hamilton (from Tucson, pop: 1m, Arizona
pop: 4m, USA) last year and again this year – who are now here to conduct the first certification
courses in Ireland on equine assisted therapy and learning. Incidentally, Tucson was founded by an
Irishman Hugo O’Connor – one of the Wild Geese – who hailed from Roscommon. To-day, Tucson is
twinned with Roscommon.
Allan Hamilton has pioneered the use of equine-assisted learning as part of the medical curriculum, in
the University of Arizona, for the instruction of medical students in improving non-verbal
communication and bedside manners. This curriculum has now been duplicated at six other medical
schools.
In the USA, the Drs. Hamilton introduced a programme of equine-assisted learning and therapy for
VisionQuest, which is a national organisation for troubled adolescents coming out of various juvenile
justice systems. Currently, this is the single largest programme in the United States having processed
over 4,000 children through their equine-assisted training programme.
Also, in unique retreats, they use horses to help children with cancer and their families to develop
coping skills and aid healing.
Professor Hamilton states: “I know that in hundreds of classes and seminars, I have never seen equine
related techniques fail to work in either the therapeutic or educational settings”.
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ANY DIRECT POINTS ON EDUCATION?
The Irish Times revealed (9/10/2007): “A third of children in disadvantaged areas have serious
literacy and numeracy problems”. A definite need for Equine Assisted Learning!
On education, Professor Hamilton writes: “Equine Assisted Learning has been found to be
significantly more efficient than classroom work. Here in Tucson, Arizona (population circa 1
million), the school systems sign up with various equine operations for services for students during the
school year”.
In 2008, a request to the Department of Education for the granting a day’s leave of absence to those
primary school (particularly special needs) teachers who wished to attend the Equine Assisted
Learning Seminars/Courses got the following response “The course involved has no bearing on the
curriculum or the work of primary schools. On this basis the Department can not sanction leave of
absence in this case”.
WHAT IS NOW REQUIRED?
In summary, the value of the horse in human therapy is immense and inescapable.
There is need for accelerated promotional programmes to raise levels of awareness generally – and
specifically in the Irish medical, educational and political professions – in that respect.
Ireland has a big horse population but not enough relevantly qualified therapists.
So, qualification programmes are required through universities and equestrian colleges –this is vitally
important.
It also very important to identify more individuals and centres who have the potential to develop
equine therapy and learning services.
Finally, these key requirements will need financial support.
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