HER Royal Highness, Princess Anne, was guest of honour at the Horses in Education and Therapy International Congress 2018 (HETI) in the RDS last week.
With just under 400 delegates from 44 countries in attendance, this was the event’s Irish debut. It was hosted by the Co Wicklow-based charity, Festina Lente Enterprises, to present international research papers examining the benefits of Equine Assisted Interventions.
These range from Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. A key focus this year was on the need to ensure best practice for the ethical welfare and management of equines involved in this field.
Earlier this week, Minister of State, Jim Daly, acknowledged the valuable role of horses for children with disabilities in the context of therapeutic riding.
Following an address to delegates, Her Royal Highness, who is the Royal Patron of HETI, heard presentations from 9-year-old Rachel Doak and 12-year-old Adam Farrelly who have been benefitting from Therapeutic Riding and Equine Assisted Interventions at Festina Lente from a very young age.
This was directly followed by presentations by a number of speakers on the various therapeutic activities associated with horses.
The Princess Royal later met with representatives from Canada, Australia and New Zealand and the upcoming hosts of the 2021 Congress, Korea.
The week-long programme of events for attending delegates included workshops in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), psycho-educational vaulting and managing welfare considerations for equines involved in EAL.
An official opening ceremony showcased indigenous equines including Connemara ponies, Kerry Bog ponies, Irish Cobs, Irish draught horses and donkeys along with rescued and rehabilitated horses now working within the area of Equine Assisted Intervention.
A strong social programme also accompanies core Congress objectives to provide an opportunity for like-minded people to meet, network and share ideas from across the globe.
And in a showcasing of both Irish hospitality and entertainment, Festina Lente added an entertaining Irish ceili and a unique production of Snow White to the proceedings – the latter featuring a predominantly equine and canine cast.
