photo credit: pniak adam

Horses are some of the most majestic animals on the planet. They are highly intelligent, intuitive, kind and strong and they have relationships with humans that extend back for thousands of years. Riding a horse is an amazing experience and is a wonderful form of exercise. For people with both cognitive and physical disabilities, hippotherapy (physical therapy conducted on horseback) not only helps strengthen, move and condition muscles but brings a sense of joy and accomplishment that other activities might not have been able to touch.

What is Hippotherapy?

According to the American Hippotherapy Association, hippotherapy is a treatment that uses the multidimensional movement of the horse. The term is from the Greek word “hippo,” which means horse. The activities on horseback always take place in a controlled environment so that the client can absorb sensory impacts. Hippotherapy isn’t riding lessons, as no specific riding skills are really taught. The purpose is to help improve a client’s sensory and motor skills, which is meant to help build a foundation for everyday skills and activities outside of the therapeutic riding.

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