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NCEFT

NCEFT Brings Out the Happiness in Their Patients



NCEFT (National Equine Facilitated Therapy), is a center dedicated to one goal: using horses as a medical treatment platform for both kids and adults through speech therapy, physical, and occupational therapy. Founded in 1971, NCEFT is one of the first equine-assisted therapy programs. They focus mostly on hippotherapy, a strategy where horses are used in order to achieve physical, emotional, and cognitive goals. The workers believe the purpose of such treatment is to use the horse as something that the patients' can use in order to create a better sense of balance, increase posture, better their weight bearing and motor skills, and most importantly, create an overall better endurance and confidence. 

As a horse lover and equestrian from a very young age, I started volunteering at NCEFT over the summer of 2013 in order to create busy work for myself while being around horses. I spent most of my time tidying up the grounds of the barn and overall area, but I was pleased with the amount of attention that each patient received from their helpers. After a few weeks I found myself wanting to return week after week, being drawn to the internal connection that the horse and rider had. After seeing patient after patient come for their weekly lessons, I discovered that coming to ride was the only thing that these kids looked foward to. Not only did they feel on top of the world when riding, but they also knew they could trust their horse to be there waiting for them every single week. 

NCEFT is dedicated to this goal: 

NCEFT is dedicated to helping people with special needs reach beyond their boundaries through equine-assisted therapies, education and research.

NCEFT is completely dedicated to following this rule, as they only want to make their patients happy when they come, and leave with a smile on their face. As a non-profit organization, they rely on the goods of others to keep their system up and running. As mentioned before, I am an equestrian, and although I am completely dedicated to riding, I never take the time to appreciate how much these kids look forward to each lesson. I take advantage of my riding lessons and capabilities, and I need to slow down and help those who see riding as their only way to get through the week. NCEFT has taken my mind off of the stressful life of training and competing, and has opened my eyes to a whole other world dedicated to helping those with disabilities through the use of animals. Because of this new discovery, thank you NCEFT, for showing me this calmer side of the equestrian world.



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