What is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is the use of a horse to facilitate therapy, just as a therapy ball facilitates therapy, to work on core strength and trunk control.  “Hippo” comes from the Greek word “hippos,” meaning horse.  The three dimensional movement of the horse’s hips and pelvis as the hind legs move forward while walking simulate the human gait pattern and provide challenges to the rider’s core strength and balance.  The horse creates a dynamic base on which the rider is challenged to maintain upright posture.

The rider may be positioned astride the horse facing forward, backward, sideways, or even lying prone or supine.  The horse’s tempo and direction may be altered to vary the influence of movement that the horse is giving to the rider.  A rider who needs a greater challenge may be positioned on hands and knees or in a kneeling position while completing an upper extremity activity, such as throwing and catching a ball. 

Therapy sessions focus on posture, proprioceptive input, neuromuscular education, strengthening, motor planning and development.  Hippotherapy is not the same as therapeutic riding, which teaches riding skills.  To be called hippotherapy, a licensed therapist must be directing the treatment session. 

What are the benefits of Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy provides increased sensory input through the vestibular system, proprioceptive system, and tactile sensations that the horse facilitates.  With increased sensory input to the body there is an increased body awareness that helps to facilitate improved posture.  With improvements in posture and the added challenge that the horse provides in maintaining that posture, core strengthening results.  With increased core strength an increase in trunk control is typically noted.  These strength gains provide improved posture that can facilitate improvements in gross and fine motor skills, respiratory function, speech, and self-esteem.  Further strength gains in the arms and legs can be achieved through the use of position transitions and maintaining challenging positions on the horse, such as on hands and knees.

Hippotherapy at Beyond Therapy

Beyond Therapy provides hippotherapy at Sue B. D. Stables, located in Parkville, Missouri.  Therapy sessions take place in an enclosed arena.  Each participant in hippotherapy is assigned a horse based on his or her individual needs—for example: a smooth ride or more challenging ride, a narrow horse or broader horse.  Typically, participants ride bareback on the horse, to allow for better sensation of the horse’s movements.  In addition to the physical therapist, there is a person assigned to lead the horse and a “side-walker” opposite the therapist.  Sessions are one hour in length.