05/11/2026
It’s Occupational Therapy Week, and this year it’s all about participation.
At its heart, occupational therapy is about helping people take part in the things that matter to them. That might be getting dressed in the morning, going to school, joining in with friends, or feeling confident enough to try something new.
In my work with horses, I see participation happen in ways that are hard to recreate in a clinic room. A horse doesn’t care about a diagnosis. It responds to the person in front of it. Grooming, leading or simply standing beside a horse asks for attention, regulation, coordination and trust. Those are the same building blocks people need to take part in everyday life.
I’ve watched someone who struggles to tolerate touch reach out to brush a mane. I’ve seen a child who finds it hard to follow instructions guide a horse through a gate. They’re small moments, but they carry over into home, school and the community.
Participation doesn’t always look like a big leap. Sometimes it’s simply turning up, staying present and being willing to try. Horses have a quiet way of making that feel possible.
Happy OT Week to all my colleagues doing this work, wherever it takes place. 🐴