THE 16th International Congress of Equine Facilitated Programmes (HETI) Congress took place this week in the Royal Dublin Society. The congress ran from Tuesday to Friday. The triennial conference enables anyone connected to equine assisted leaning and intervention to gather, share knowledge and learn.
‘Striking the Balance’ was the overall theme of the congress, this was addressed and interpreted in a variety of different ways. There were four keynote addresses along with a number of research papers presented over the course of the conference. Topics covered included horse welfare, managing supply and demand and producing robust studies.
The congress opened on Tuesday afternoon with an equine display organised by Festina Lente. There was also a very stirring traditional Irish Bodhram performance from current and past pupils from St. Augustine’s School, led by Sylvia Cunningham.
PRINCESS ROYAL
The patron for the Riding for Disabled UK, Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, made a surprise appearance at the congress on Thursday morning.
In her address she outlined the importance of sharing knowledge and experience and working to help and allow more people with difficulties connect to horses.
She spoke of striking the balance between the horse and rider and learning what horses can do for us and what we in turn can do for them.
She also encouraged continued research in the field of equine assisted interventions. However, she noted that there is a balance to be struck between research and reality, saying: “balance from what you get back from the research and how you apply it to the animals you work with.”
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
William Micklem was one of two keynote speakers on Wednesday. He also gave a welcoming address at the opening ceremony on Tuesday. In his address Micklem touched on the journey of Festina Lente from the beginning to playing a major role in hosting the first ever HETI Congress to be held in Ireland.
Wednesday’s second keynote speaker, Patricia Pendry, addressed some of the harsh realities but also how best to fulfil the extraordinary potential within the field of equine facilitated learning.
Martine Hausberger was another keynote speaker. Hausberger heads a team of six scientists at the University of Rennes in France, working on the human-horse relationship and welfare.
The final keynote speaker of the congress was Ed Bracher, CEO of the UK Riding for Disabled Association. Bracher has held this position since 2004 and has helped transform the organisation and increase membership. Speaking to The Irish Field Bracher highlighted the importance of volunteers within the RDA UK – they have over 17,000 volunteers helping.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
Many in the audience of 350 had a tear in their eye after Rachel Doak and Adam Farrelly gave their personal experience of equine assisted intervention and therapeutic riding.
Rachel is nine years old and captivated everyone in the concert hall at the RDS. It was impossible not to feel uplifted by her bubbly, light-hearted personality, combined with her determination to live life to the full. She started therapeutic riding when she was two years-old to help her Cerebral Palsy, she said: “It’s much more fun than physio!”
Adam was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and was recommended to Festina Lente. He has completed the assisted helpers programme at the centre and now helps every Saturday. Adam did not like riding to begin with, however, since 2012 he has developed a flare for it and now rides every week, if not more.
Listening to such powerful presentations from people as young as Adam and Rachel really brought to life everything that equine assisted learning and therapeutic riding is about and why the HETI Congress takes place.
Chairman of Festina Lente, John Green, spoke to The Irish Field about what a tremendous achievement hosting the HETI Congress is for all of their staff and students alike, saying: “Today (Thursday) is a big day with Princess Royal being here, there’s a huge sense of achievement with them that they’re getting that sense of recognition.”