Children, Horses, and Adults in
PartnerShip
CHAPS
For Equine Assisted Therapy

PMB 201 1842 Sugarland Dr., Suite 108
Sheridan, WY 82801
Phone No: (307)673-6161
Fax No: (307)-673-6868
Email Address: chaps@fiberpipe.net

History of Equine Assisted Therapy

The use of horses for therapy has been recognized as a viable supplement to traditional therapy for several years. Beginning in Europe in the 1950's, the efforts of Liz Hartel of Denmark are widely recognized as the birth of therapeutic riding as we recognize it today.

Ms. Hartel rehabilitated herself from wheelchair to the back of a horse and gained the notice of medical and dressage professionals by winning the silver medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in Grand Prix Dressage. Soon, centers employing horses for therapy opened and flourished throughout Europe, and not long afterwards became popular in North America.

Starting in Canada, the Community Association of Riding for the Disabled (CARD) opened in Toronto, followed by the Cheff Center for the Handicapped in Augusta, MI. It was soon apparent that an "umbrella" organization that could serve as a nerve center for information and accreditation was needed, and in 1969, the origins of NARHA were born in Middleburg, VA.

For more information about the history of therapeutic riding and NARHA, please refer to: http://narha.org/whoisnarha/history.asp.