The American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) uses being around horses, and being involved in movement with horses to move forward therapeutic goals in the treatment of both children and adults. Using horses to assist in therapy is relatively new, but is a growing therapeutical tool.

This therapy joins other exciting and promising therapies and supports involving animals. For example, recently there has been a surge in service animals beyond the traditional canine (for example, miniature horses and monkeys) as well as a rethinking of how traditional support animals such as dogs can be trained to assist other populations.

People such as those with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, sensory integration dysfunction, learning disorders, those who have experienced strokes and a variety of physical impairments have been shown to benefit from their work with horses during these sessions.

It is easy for people to confuse this therapy with therapeutic riding. The primary difference is that this therapy deals with how the body and mind interact with the horse’s movement, while therapeutic riding teaches more specific riding and handling skills to the patient.

This therapy works in subtle but real ways to improve balance, posture, control of muscles, brain function, communication and other goals of therapy. Therapists using this therapy theorize that this progress is due to the person becoming involved in the rhythmic movements of the horse.

Therapists usually use this therapy as one component in a treatment plan for the patient, and while using this therapy, may invoke the discipline of occupational therapist, physical therapist, and even a speech language pathologist to further the therapy goals through these sessions. There’s really no such thing as a true animal therapist, as all these skills are used.

The horses that participate in these treatments have all been screened in regards to their temperament and reliability. They have also been highly trained. It is essential for the horses to be very solid and they are trained towards this goal. Many of the horses involved in this therapy have been saved from abusive or otherwise unfortunate circumstances or have been retrained after being used for other purposes.

Increasingly, people are becoming aware of the large range of great benefits that this treatment has to offer. Even now, there are long waiting lists to get in to these clinics. Hopefully this movement will continue to flourish and grow even bigger, as it has already been greatly beneficial to a number of patients.

Tags: Horses