The term "therapeutic riding" encompasses a variety of equine activities in which people with special needs participate. This term, however, has caused some confusion. When a therapist uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool to improve neuromuscular function, it is referred to as hippotherapy. When a therapeutic riding instructor uses the horse as a therapeutic tool to improve the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of a rider, it is referred to as therapeutic riding. At NTRC, all therapeutic riding instructors are certified through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.
In therapeutic riding, the participant is learning riding skills. The instructor develops lesson plans that incorporate specific riding skills to meet the unique needs of each rider.
As quoted from the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association web site, www.narha.org, "Hippotherapy is a term that refers to the use of the movement of the horse as a treatment tool by Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists to address impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities in patients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. Hippotherapy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes.In hippotherapy, the patient engages in activities on the horse that are enjoyable and challenging. In the controlled hippotherapy environment, the therapist modifies the horse's movement and carefully grades sensory input. Specific riding skills are not taught (as in therapeutic horseback riding); but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing. This foundation can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities."
The horse’s walk is rhythmic and repetitive, encouraging movement responses in riders that are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The bond that comes from interaction with the horse motivates riders. For some participants, riding a horse gives them a chance to have mastery over something significant, when they often have little opportunity for control in their lives. |
