The Czech Equine Facilitated Therapy Association (CEFTA)
CEFTA was founded in 1991 as a voluntary, non-government and not-for-profit organisation with the vision to promote the best and safe practice of Equine Asisted Services (EAS) and to integrate individuals with disabilities or special needs.
Vision and Mission
- To bring together people interested in EAS.
- To promote the best expertise, effect, and safety in EAS in the Czech Republic.
- To organize and conduct conferences, workshops, internships and specialized courses.
- To be an information source.
- To provide expert consultations.
- To publish methodologies and industry standards for each EAS disciplines.
- To promote and ensure equine welfare standards.
- To assess the eligibility of therapy horses.
Membership
- CEFTA associates physical, occupational and speech therapists, physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, special educators and riding instructors.
- Membership is open to everyone working with horses in the health and social care fields, education and para-equestrian.
- EAS clients and their family members are most welcome as well.
- CEFTA registers 61 EAS centres and 70 individual members.
Centre accreditation program
The center accreditation program has been implemented since 2013. Center membership is divided into 4 categories:
- Accredited EAS training center
- Accredited EAS center
- Registered center
- Associated center
Therapy horse certification program
- The licensed program for horses participating in EAS has been implemented since 2011.
- The purpose of this specialized testing system is to verify equine´s characteristics and it's acquired skills that meet the needs of a therapy horse.
- The therapy horse certification program puts particular emphasis on the examination of the horse’s movement pattern and its character and reactions.
- Each horse successfully passing the exam will get the license and special label on its stabling
Education and conferences
- To promote the best expertise, effectiveness, and safety in EAS, CEFTA organizes several specialized courses for professionals in Hippotherapy, Equine Facilitated Learning and Psychotherapy.
- CEFTA organizes a National conference every two years.
- CEFTA organizes or co-operates to conduct workshops and para-equestrian competitions.
