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
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.