with the collaboration of

 

FACULTY OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORENCE

DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSCIENCE

 

 

consistent with the National Guidelines on Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI)

accredited at National level

 

Certificate of Specialization in EAI/TR: Therapist/Instructor

Eligibility Certificate in AAI specific for the individual professionals

mandatory to work in EAI/TR in Italy.

 

 

From 1996 to 2012 the Course is organised every year by the Lapo Association with the collaboration of the Department of Child Neuropsychiatry and from 2017 up until today with the collaboration of the Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Florence. A special agreement with the University was signed on the basis of which is also allowed to attend for free to Physicians specializing in Neuroscience (Neurology, Child Neuropsychiatry, Psychiatry).

 

Organisation:

A)Lectures and Theoretical-Practical activity: 170 hours at the University and at Lapo TR Centres

B) Internship in Therapeutic Riding: 80 hours at accredited Lapo TR Centres.

 

The Course programme, 250 hours, duration one year (see in detail Information, Programmme Bibliography, Teachers) provides a wide and in-depth theoretical-practical training required to the TR treatment and basilar subjects are specifically dealt with:

• main clinical features of the disability in neuromotor disorders  (specifically spasticity, dystonia, ataxia), in mental disorders and intellectual disability (particularly ID, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder);

• TR methodology from a general point of view and specifically in the different disorders providing a large space for the different application techniques (theoretical-practical training) and for the assessment of the results;

• Analysis of the morphological, behavioural, biodynamical characteristics of the horse and choosing criteria according to the different disorders of the subject.

In addition to the above programme, , according to the National Guidelines for AAI (2015), the Course is also inclusive of their whole training path (Preparatory Course, Basic Course, Advanced Course) for the specific professionals: Project Manager, Person in Charge of intervention, Horse Handler, Veterinarian expert in AAI.

Horse Riding ability: a fairly good riding ability even not on a competitive level is required.

For those who want to achieve the Eligibility Certificate in Horse Handler the horsemanship requirements are: good riding ability (comparable to a F.I.S.E. Horse Riding License B) and good knowledge of horses and their management.

Final examination: consists of a written elaboration and oral discussion provided of an assembly of serial video recordings relative          to the follow up of a subject personally followed during the TR training and in an oral examination concerning the theoretical          subjects of the Course.

Language: Italian.

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AIM OF THE COURSE:

• CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION IN EAI/TR: THERAPIST/INSTRUCTOR

• ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE in AAI, accredited at National level, specific for the individual professionals (health professionals, social education workers, veterinarians, riding instructors, horsemen) according to the National Guidelines for AAI: Project Manager, Person in Charge of Intervention, Veterinarian expert in AAI, Horse Handler.