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Hippotherapy – What does equine therapy involve?

Published: 18/11/2024
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Date of the last update: 18.11.2024

Hippotherapy is a therapy that complements basic therapeutic and rehabilitation activities and aims to improve human functioning in various spheres of life: emotional, cognitive and social. The use of the horse and its movement as a therapist offers new possibilities for the treatment of conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Down’s syndrome, anxiety disorders, depression and various forms of spinal cord injury.

Table of contents:

  1. Forms of hippotherapy
  2. Benefits of hippotherapy
  3. Who can conduct hippotherapy classes?
  4. Costs of hippotherapy?
  5. Summary

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Forms of hippotherapy

Hippotherapy includes various forms that are adapted to the specific needs of patients:  

  • Physiotherapy on horseback – consists of therapeutic gymnastics performed on a horse moving at a tarsus, aimed at improving the patient’s mobility. It is carried out by or under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The three-dimensional movement of the horse’s back in tarsus mimics the movements of the pelvis during normal human gait. At the same time, the shoulders and freely hanging lower limbs of the rider behave like those of a walking person. This provides the opportunity to learn to walk “without walking”.  It therefore helps to achieve milestones in learning to walk for people who have difficulties.  
  • Psycho-pedagogical horsemanship and volitional riding – is a set of equestrian, pedagogical and psychological activities that aim to support the patient intellectually, cognitively, emotionally and physically. This form of therapy is carried out by a psychologist, an educationalist, an occupational therapist or persons acting under their direction.  
  • Equine contact therapy – focuses on establishing the patient’s contact with the animal, the surrounding environment and other people, and its key element is interaction with the horse, rather than just riding. It is conducted by or under the guidance of a psychologist, educationalist or psychiatrist.  

Horse riding for people with disabilities (recreational and sport riding) – is not a formal part of hippotherapy, but is closely related to it and can have therapeutic aspects.  

Benefits of hippotherapy

  • Hippotherapy offers a wide range of physical, mental and social benefits. It helps improve overall physical fitness, increases self-confidence, reduces stress and anxiety, and develops social skills. In addition, patients often experience an improved quality of life through regular therapy sessions.  
  • Improved balance and coordination – the movement of the horse forces the patient to constantly adjust their position, which develops balance and coordination skills.  
  • Muscle strengthening – exercising on a horse engages different muscle groups, leading to muscle strengthening, especially in people with weakened muscle strength.  
  • Motor Improvement – hippotherapy helps to improve both large and small motor skills, which has a significant impact on patients’ motor skills.  
  • Spasticity reduction – for patients with neurological problems, hippotherapy can help reduce muscle spasticity, which increases freedom of movement.  
  • Increased Independence – improved mobility and coordination allows patients to be more independent in their daily lives.  
  • Improved posture and stability – exercises while riding a horse help to correct posture and increase stability, which is key for people with orthopaedic problems.  
  • Development of social skills – interaction with the horse and therapist promotes the development of social skills, relationship building and communication.  
  • Improved self-esteem and self-esteem – success in hippotherapy increases self-esteem and confidence, and close contact with the animal has a relaxing effect.  
  • Reduction of stress and anxiety – close contact with the horse and the calm environment of the stables reduce stress and anxiety levels.  
  • Improvement of sensory functions – hippotherapy stimulates a variety of senses, which improves sensory function, especially in people with sensory disorders.  
  • Stimulation of neuroplasticity – regular exercise and sensory stimulation can promote neuroplasticity of the brain, crucial in neurological rehabilitation.  
  • Supporting rehabilitation processes – hippotherapy supports rehabilitation processes, speeding up recovery from injury or surgery. 

Who can conduct hippotherapy classes?

Hippotherapy can only be carried out by qualified hypnotherapists. Furthermore, it can only be carried out with a doctor’s approval. Currently, instructors of physical recreation with a specialisation in hippotherapy, who have a licence issued by the Ministry of Sport, as well as graduates of courses carried out by the Polish Hippotherapy Association who have the professional title of a hippotherapy instructor documented by a licence and a certificate issued by the PTHip, are qualified.  The PTHip hippotherapy instructor’s licence is 5 years.    

Not every horse is suitable for hippotherapy. Only calm, well-behaved animals that exhibit gentle and predictable behaviour are selected. It is essential that the horses are physically and mentally sound, and have a stable body structure to ensure patient safety. They are carefully selected and trained to effectively support the therapeutic needs of patients and therapists. 

Costs of hippotherapy?

The costs of hippotherapy sessions depend on their length and the individual needs of the patient. The length of the treatment depends on the patient’s state of health and the progress achieved during the therapy, lasting from several months to several years. The final decision on the duration of therapy depends on the therapist, who assesses the patient’s progress and reactions. 

Summary

Hippotherapy is an advanced form of therapy that uses the movement of the horse as a therapeutic adjunct to the treatment of a variety of conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Due to the three-dimensional movement of the horse’s back, hippotherapy mimics the movements of the pelvis during normal human gait supporting people with walking difficulties. Forms of hippotherapy, such as physiotherapy on horseback, psycho-pedagogical riding and contact therapy, are tailored to the specific needs of patients supporting them both physically and emotionally. The horses used for hippotherapy must meet high standards of health and temperament ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the therapy. The cost of hippotherapy varies according to the location and the length of the therapy, which is individually tailored to the needs of the patient and the progress achieved during the therapy sessions. 

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The Naturally Balanced team includes experts in their field who create the best content for you, collaborating on their knowledge and experience.