The Healing & Teaching Power of the Royal Lusitano

Here's what we did in 2012. Stay tuned for 2013.

Friday, June 29: 3:30 – 4:15 pm
Saturday, June 30: 12:00 – 12:45 pm
Sunday, July 1: 2:30 – 3:15 pm

Using horses from Brazil’s finest quality Lusitano stock, the Equestrian Physical and Mental Health Healing Center at The Royal Lusitano—a unique training and breeding facility for this ancient breed—has developed innovative methods of helping people with disabilities.

As Expo-goers in Chicago will learn, the “Equine Assisted Learning and Healing” approach capitalizes not on any kind of therapeutic riding, but rather on other interactive activities with these noble beasts.

Specially trained and certified Equine Assisted Learning and Healing professionals take each client through a process with the horses which helps to facilitate the individual lessons each person needs to learn. Essentially, you play a variety of games and interact with the horses. They give you immediate feedback about yourself by mirroring your emotions and behavior. This shows you how you instinctively react to situations and teaches you how to react differently.

Horses have become instrumental in the healing process for a variety of reasons. Though big and intimidating, horses are playful, curious, non-judgmental and real. Their ability to sense when you are lying challenges their companions to be just as authentic as they are. The Lusitano breed in particular is ideal for this enterprise as they are gentle, kind and intuitive.

And after you see the horses in action at the Expo, you’ll get to meet them up close and personal (and take advantage of a few photo ops)!