Horse Dance Equine Therapy

Horse Dance Equine Therapy (HDET) is an outdoor equine recreation program with facilities located in Taos, NM. 

HDET has been serving the public since 2013 with a free once a week offering of equine therapy on how to deal and heal trauma and anxiety with natural horsemanship therapy and horseback riding.

HDET outdoor recreation activity is available to the public and is readily accessible for veterans, behavioral health, victims of domestic abuse, youth at risk, suicide prevention, children with special needs, and a place for family to create happy memories.

HDET Outdoor Recreation Public Program Components

Horse Safety HDET Trainers cover all the perimeters of equine safety and maintaining confidence on the ground with horses including approaching, handling, leading, tying, bridling, saddling and grooming. Breathing and Horse MassageHDET breathing techniques provide calming effects for both horse and rider. Dance & Drum GroundingPre-Ride Traditional Indigenous Pueblo “round dance” before working with the horses, allows for grounding and settlement of energies before mounting a horse. Our horse dance songs are native to New Mexico. Round Pen LessonsHDET Facilitators teach how to stop, walk, and turn a horse with natural horsemanship while inside a round pen. Horseback MeditationHDET staff lead riders on horses while providing visualization and breathing techniques for grounding and how to deal with anxiety.Arena RidingOnce riders have learned basic natural horsemanship technique, riders are allowed to ride around in the arena practicing their natural horsemanship techniques with horse walkers supervising their safety. Trail Riding HDET facilitators and horse walkers supervise trail rides once riders feel confident and comfortable after experiencing round pen andarena techniques.

More Information

Founding Facilitator of Horse Dance Equine Therapy (HDET):

Founding Facilitator of Horse Dance Equine Therapy (HDET):

Gemma Ra'Star has been around horses her whole life from growing up around the Pimlico racetrack as a little kid to working with wild mustangs in New Mexico and Colorado.

Her self taught training started in 2002 in the Wild West of Northern NM.

Since then Gemma's influencers and mentors have been:

Local NM Natural Horsemanship Cowgirls, Cowboys, and Indians.

Reiki teachers, Tellington Touch, Clicker Training, Trail Rides, Pony Rides, and Bareback Riding.

The founder's of Cirque Du Soleil Cavalia - Fredreic and Magali Pignon.

The Parelli's.

More recently in the last 10 years, Gemma started putting together Horse Dance Equine Therapy inspired by the horses she has worked with, her mentors therapeutic techniques and therapies which often aid training too:

Mindfulness with Animals.

Equine Assisted therapy.

Equine Assisted Meditation.

Off-grid trail rides.

Horse Dance Equine Therapy Certification School

At the Horse Dance Equine Therapeutic Coaches Certification School

the participant attends online training and certification training at our Facility,

acquiring a certification of completion, enabling the student to

begin their own business as a Certified Horse Dance Equine Theraputic Coach.

Horse Dance Equine Therapeutic Coaches

Our Certification is a valuable component in any equine athlete's training program.  

Our therapy helps promote wellness from the Sport horse to a horse in recovery.  

Wumaniti believes in giving the students a complete understanding of Cultural Equine therapy in both theory and hands on application, in an enjoyable and supportive learning environment.

The program emphasizes evaluation of the entire horse to identify, understand and treat the root cause of a muscular problem, not just the most obvious symptom.  

When evaluating a horse, the students are taught to consider the horse's feed, specific discipline, hoof balance, tack and rider.  

Each of these things has an effect on the horse's movement and well-being.  

Students who complete the program are thoroughly familiar with all of the corrective techniques of being

a Horse Dance Equine Therapeutic Coach and well prepared to work effectively with horses.

Students can bring two of their own horses to school with them for the week.

Host a equine school in your state or area, 4 student Minimum.

During your training program you will learn the following:Horse SafetyHow to flip-flop the people therapy over to the horsesAnatomy & PhysiologyHands on approach to safe indigenous horsemanshipHands-on-Healing-ExchangeDeep Tissue-including compression, direct pressure, percussion and palpationTrigger Point ReleaseCross Fiber Muscle TissueTendon WorkStretchesYogaChi - Gong and Tai ChiMeditationEssential OilsNatural Herbal Home RemediesAnatomy Adjustments

Some History of Horse and Animal Massage

Massage has been used for therapeutic purposes on both humans and animals since the very dawn of time.

It is known that in the very first books on human and veterinary medicine, entire chapters would be devoted to the use, benefits and implementation of massage therapy.

Later on, as so-called miracle drugs were developed, the medical establishment with the pharmaceutical industry decided that "old fashion" therapies and treatments like massage were no longer needed.

When prescription drugs (some with side effects worse than the condition's symptoms) became too expensive did people begin to reconsider some of those therapies discarded in the past. People began to realize that they were often getting as much relief and treatment from "alternatives" as from the Pharmacist's drugs and the Surgeon's scalpel.

People were beginning to understand that if these alternative therapies could help them,

they would probably work as well on their pets and the other animals in their care.  

In the late 1980's there began to be a significant move toward the use of these alternative therapies on both companion animals and horses involved in racing and show events. Among the many documented benefits of massage are:

Improves circulation and as a result, promotes more rapid healing of injuries.Enhances muscle tone and increases range of motion.Eases muscle spasms.Reduces inflammation and swelling in the joints so that pain is relieved.Relieves Tension and Stimulates circulation in the lymphatic system and hastens the elimination of waste products and other toxins.Lengthens connective tissue and so breaks down/prevents the formation of adhesions and reduces the danger of fibrosis.Generally improves the disposition of the animal.Increases the production of synovial fluid in the joints.Loosens scar tissue.Releases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.Balances and maintains the body in better physical condition.