Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy does not actually use hippos! ‘Hippos’ is the Greek term for the horse. Hippotherapy is a specialization in OT, PT, or Speech Therapy that uses the movement of the horse to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes. In other words, the therapist selects equine movements and activities to help clients meet their life goals. The horse has rhythmic, consistent, gradable three-dimensional movement. Each horse provides a slightly different natural movement. This allows the trained therapist to select an appropriate fitting horse for each client, and change the input to meet each client’s needs.

How does this work?? The horse takes an average of 100 steps per minute, which provides multiple opportunities for an adaptive response. No other piece of therapy equipment can do this and no other equipment can mimic the consistency of the input of a well-trained horse. With each step, the child receives sensory and movement input and responds with postural control, core strength, and weight shifting. The three-dimensional movement of the horse moves the client’s hips in a way that mimics pelvic movement in walking. This can help with gait patterns and postural control. Alternate positions may also be used to facilitate the development of upper body strength, and scapular stability, or to enhance vestibular input. Additional therapeutic activities can also be layered in to work on coordination and fine motor skills.

In addition to the inherent benefits of well-graded equine movement, the relationship the child can develop with the horse is unmatchable. The horse is a sentient animal that can provide feedback and contribute to emotional regulation for humans. The environment lends itself to more holistic treatment approaches and opportunities in nature.

In other words, the horse can help impact strength, balance, coordination, sensory systems, and emotional regulation without feeling like work to the child!!

For more in-depth information about the use of equine movement in occupational, physical, or speech therapy, please visit The American Hippotherapy Association website.