Click Here for Caleb's Story.  It's been another amazing summer at Handi-Riders! Click Here for "Eye on Keloland"  feature story on Handi-Riders! Head Instructor, Katie Swift with Dexter

Mission Statement:  The use of equine-assisted activities to promote functional independence and overall personal well-being for individuals that have physical, emotional, and/or cognitive limitations.

What is Hippotherapy?
      Hippotherapy is an exciting area of equine-assisted therapy being offered by Handi-Riders Inc.  Hippotherapy, (from the word "hippos", the Greek word for horse) means "treatment with the help of the horse".  Used as a treatment tool by a licensed Occupational or Physical therapist whom is also trained in hippotherapy, the horse and the horse's natural 3-dimensional movement pattern are used to achieve various rehabilitation goals.  Exercises are developed based on the idea that an individual can "feel" the correct movement, walking patterns and postural positioning through the horse that they may not otherwise be able to feel.  At the same time, individuals can experience therapeutic stretching, strengthening, postural alignment and trunk rotation through various activities while riding.  

     Activities on the horse may include forward riding, side sitting, backward sitting, kneeling, lying prone (or forward on stomach),  lying supine (or backward on back) and propped forward or backward on elbows.  Different therapeutic activities such as throwing, catching and reaching are then used in combination with positioning to achieve outcomes that may otherwise have been difficult.  The experience is not just limited to activities while riding the horse.  Benefits also include an increase in self-confidence, increased sensory and tactile input, a greater participation in the therapy process, as well as a bonding experience with a gentle and attentive new friend.  As hippotherapy progresses, the outcomes achieved on and in conjunction with the horse are then carried over into daily life.
 
     Hippotherapy has been around for over 20 years in the United States and even longer in Europe .   With the increase of hippotherapy's popularity and the benefits individuals can experience from it, this is an exciting opportunity for Sioux Falls and surrounding areas. 

Who can benefit from Hippotherapy?
     Many individuals may benefit from hippotherapy.  Examples include (but are not limited to) individuals who experience:

     Impairments such as: Abnormal tone, impaired balance responses, decreased muscle strength,  impaired coordination, impaired communication, impaired sensorimotor function, postural asymmetry, decreased joint range of motion,  abnormal movement patterns,  decreased sensory integration, poor postural control, decreased mobility, limbic system function related to arousal, motivation, and attention.

     Functional limitations such as:  Gross motor skills like (sitting, standing, and walking), speech and language abilities, behavioral and cognitive abilities. 

    Medical conditions such as:  Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke), Developmental Delay, Down Syndrome, Functional Spinal Curvature, Learning or language disabilities, Multiple Sclerosis, Sensory Integrative Dysfunction, Traumatic Brain Injury.

There are some precautions and limitations that must be followed to ensure the safety of the rider, our volunteers, and the horse.  Handi-Riders will supply you with a detailed list upon request or at the time of the application process. 

How can I get involved with Hippotherapy?
     Filling out a referral is the first step.  One can be downloaded off of this site.  You will receive a phone call where our Head Instructor will conduct a phone interview to gain more information.  If appropriate, the instructor will forward the referral to one of the therapists, who will then call and conduct a more in depth phone interview.  If it appears as though the applicant is appropriate for Hippotherapy, one of our therapists will meet with the applicant and conduct an assessment.   Additional paperwork will then need to be completed.   Once enrolled in the program, progress will be monitored by the therapist assigned to the patient.