What is Hippotherapy?
- It is a therapeutic treatment technique used to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems
- Benefits:
- Motor learning skills
- Strength
- Muscle coordination and joint mobility
- Body awareness
- Core strength/postural symmetry
- Sensory processing skills
- Reduced abnormal muscle tone
- Fine motor skills
- Social emotional benefits are also noted
- The bond an individual has to an animal is very special and people trust animals with their pain and happiness
- Hippotherapy can be added into any treatment schedule and the treating therapist must be certified
Why a Horse?
- A horse’s pelvis shares the same three dimensional planes as a human pelvis
- The rhythm of a horse is calming to individuals
- Offers neuromotor input into the child
- The horse offer immediate feedback to the rider and are thought to have a calming and relating personality
Who Can Benefit
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delay
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis
Relating to ADLs and Occupations
- Dynamic balance: improve their ability to complete a morning and nighttime dressing and bathing routine or playing on a play ground
- Muscle coordination: improve ability to walk, run, write, eat, dress, etc
- Fine motor skills: hold an eating or writing utensil, zippering a jacket, buttoning a shirt, etc
- Strength: increase postural stability when sitting at a classroom desk which will increase a child’s attention and ability to write
- Must be a current licensed OT, OTA, PT, PTA, or SLP
- Have at least one full year (2,00o hours) experience
- Take two skill and treatment principle courses and have a minimum of 25 hours of direct hippotherapy observation
- Candidate must be experienced with horses and be able to independently walk and trot on a horse
- Finally, a certification examination must be passed
For More Information:
- Visit the American Hippotherapy Association website
- Check out this local farm in Ridgebury, CT for Equine Assisted Therapy opportunities.
