Sometimes whether your clients ride depends on your certification choice. For example, EAGALA does not allow any of their practitioners to include a riding component while a CanTRA or PATH program is likely to include quite a bit of ridden work.

The decision whether or not to have clients ride may also depend on your client population. For example, children are often very keen to ride your horses, while this aspect of the work may be less important for adult clients.

The ‘to ride or not to ride’ decision will also depend on your equine credentials, education and experience, particularly regarding your ability to keep novice and nervous riders safe. EFW Canada require a certified Equine Professional to be present whenever clients ride. At Healing Hooves we add an extra training component covering riding considerations for those participants who are pursuing EP certification and plan to invite some of their clients to ride. EFW Canada currently have a committee looking into further defining the training requirements in this area.

At Healing Hooves less than half of our clients get on horses and nobody goes out of a walk. But some clients do ride. When a client would like to ride and we agree that it would be both safe and in the client’s interests to do this, we follow a process which includes the following steps:

• The main focus remains upon the relationship between the client and horse rather than on teaching riding skills beyond the basic required for safety and comfort (for client and horse). Before a client ever gets on a horse we focus on developing this relationship, meaning a client may not ride until the fourth or fifth session. This can provide some great metaphors for human relationships.
• We discuss, explore and practice relaxation, breathing and balance before getting on a horse. Before the client sits on a horse they practice mounting, dismounting and finding a balanced position on a specially designed barrel. We practice the ‘emergency dismount’ so that we know a client could safely and quickly get off a horse and move to safety if this was needed. Again this process can provide for transfers to discussions about human relationships and situations with many clients.
• Clients ride in an enclosed riding arena and unless they have significant prior riding experience we will not use a bit. We usually use Lindels (side pulls) as we find these give more control than a halter but do not require a bit. In early sessions we will lead the horse.
• Clients wear approved riding helmets and ride in saddles with safety (peacock) stirrups.
• Clients only ride horses who have lots of training and experience with novice and nervous riders. We also make sure that these horses also get lots of riding time time with experienced riders.
• Once the client is on a horse the focus is still upon the relationship. But riding can open up new possibilities for body awareness, relaxation and learning new skills. It is also a lot of fun!
• If a client wants to learn more advanced riding skills we will refer them to a suitable riding program.

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