With our program, yes there is quite a bit more. Before starting therapeutic riding, every client is seen by a study team consisting of a doc, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist and a certified therapeutic riding instructor and an IEP is developed. Then there are various physical and mental exercises to achieve the goals set in the IEP. We do things like weaving around cones and Rin tossing, playing catch, matching colors, stretching and balance work, and memory stuff by stringing tasks together. Takes a special horse not to freak out as balls and foam rings, or when an autistic child becomes agitated.