History of the Horse

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Horses have always been a valued part of society.  Whether they were working in the fields or getting their family from point A to point B, they were viewed as essential. In 1960, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria began to use a horse in conjunction with physical therapy sessions. As therapists started to see the benefits that the horse offered during the therapy sessions, the treatment technique became more well known. In 1987, a group of American and Canadian therapists traveled to Germany to study classic 'hippotherapy' and later developed a standardized hippotherapy curriculum. In 1992, the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) was formed and in 1993, AHA established registration for therapists and set Standards of Practice for Hippotherapy. 

Benefits of Hippotherapy

 

• Arousal and attention

• Balance strategies

• Belief in one's functional capabilities

• Bilateral integration

• Body awareness

• Circulation

• Dynamic postural stability

• Endurance

• Expressive and receptive speech and language

• Midline Orientation

• Mobility of pelvis, spine, and hip joints

• Modification of muscle tonus

• Motivation

• Muscle strength

• Musculoskeletal alignment

• Neurogenic Bladder

• Neuromotor function

• Oral-motor function

• Posture

• Problem-solving and movement strategies

• Respiratory function

• Self-confidence

• Sensorimotor integration

• Symmetry and alignment

• Timing and coordination of motor strategies

*This is only a small list of benefits that may come from receiving therapy while utilizing equine movement. (AHA Inc., © 2016).

Why "hippo" therapy?

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Hippotherapy (HPOT) is derived from the Greek word “hippo,” which means horse. Hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. Hippotherapy can be a part of a patient’s integrated plan of care if deemed necessary. 

Who Can Benefit?

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Individuals 4 years of age and older. Some diagnoses include but are not limited to:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Brain Injury

• Cerebral Palsy

• Chromosomal Disorders

• Cerebrovascular accident (Stroke)

• Developmental delay

• Developmental Coordination Disorder

• Dyspraxia

• Functional curvature of the spine

• Genetic syndromes

• Neuromuscular dysfunction 

• Rhett Sydrome

• Sensory Processing Disorders

• Speech and Language Delays

• Spinal Cord Injury

*These are only a  few diagnoses and impairments that may benefit and are not all-inclusive. American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Inc., © 2016.​

Why a horse?

The movement of the horse is multi-dimensional and provides similar input of what a normal walking pattern should feel like. Horses that are used in therapy have gone through specialized training that focuses on optimizing the movement quality of the horse. The horse’s movement must be rhythmic, consistent, and predictable, in order to be beneficial for the patient.  The quality movement that the horse produces is transmitted to the patient for their brain and motor neurons to interpret. The repetitive, predictable, and symmetrical dynamic movement of the horse, allows the patient many opportunities to practice functional postural control and refine balance responses, leading to improvements in core stabilization.

 

During just one 30 minute mounted therapy session, a horse will provide 2500-3000 steps which translates into repetitions for the patient to benefit from. Research has shown that no other piece of therapeutic equipment can replicate what a horse can do. The dynamic movement of the horse, combined with the alternative environment and nature-based approach will lead to functional change in the human patient.