EQUOTERAPIA PARA DESENVOLVIMENTO SOCIAL:RELATO DE EXPERIENCIA

Abstract

Equine therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses the horse as an instrument for stimulating and developing the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development of people with specific needs, contributing to social inclusion and improving the quality of life of participants. This work aimed to report the experience lived in the project "Equine Therapy for Social Development" carried out at the Farm School of the Federal Institute of Goiano, Campos Belos Campus. The study was characterized as an experience report, with a qualitative approach to the services provided between November 2024 and July 2025, including cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder and cerebral palsy. The evaluation of the results considered the observations made during the services. During the execution of the project, improvements related to balance, motor coordination, social interaction, communication, attention, and participation in the proposed activities were observed. In addition to the benefits observed in the participants, the project highlighted the importance of Animal Science in equine therapy, especially in activities related to the handling, well-being, and monitoring of the horses used in therapeutic sessions. The students' participation contributed to the safety of the treatments and the adequate conditions of the animals, as well as providing practical experiences related to teamwork, social inclusion, and professional training. Thus, it is concluded that equine therapy presented positive contributions to the development and well-being of the participants, in addition to strengthening the