The History of Therapeutic Riding

The concept of horses helping humans is not a modern discovery.  History records therapeutic riding beginning as early as 450 A.D. when an ancient Greek medical writer and physician name Oribasius of Sardis used the horse in the treatment of disease and as a physical therapy for injured warriors.
  Eventually, therapeutic riding began to emerge through Europe in 1875 when a French physician named Chassaign began conducting the first systematic study involving therapeutic riding and patients. He concluded that horseback riding was a valuable therapy in the treatment of certain types of neurological paralysis.  He noted improvement in posture, balance, joint movement, and a striking increase in morale. By the 1960’s its popularity reached the United States and Canada. Therapeutic riding for the disabled is recognized as one of the more progressive forms of therapy.  Apart from being a form of therapy for treating many forms of physical, mental and communication disabilities, it also becomes an enjoyable experience for the rider.

Hippo Therapy

Another form of therapeutic riding is called “hippo therapy”, which comes from the Greek word “hippo”, meaning horse. It is a physical therapy that utilizes the natural movement of the horse, and helps riders to regain physical strength, balance, coordination and mobility. Patients being treated through traditional physical, occupational and speech therapy can be treated through hippo therapy.

 Such conditions which can benefit from hippo therapy include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, paralysis, down syndrome, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, dysphasia, muscular dystrophy, seizure disorders, and more.
The similarity between a horse’s pelvic movements at a walk and the natural pelvic movement of a human being enables the rider to physically learn or relearn skills and movements that may have been lost or compromised.  The movement of the horse also requires good muscle tone and flexibility.  The most obvious muscle regions which benefit from such exercise are the back, buttocks and legs, as well as the ankles, knees and hips.  The different gaits of the horse can be used to make an individual aware of different muscle groups.
Muscle tone and flexibility are increasingly improved as a student learns different riding skills.  The flexibility of equine-assisted activities enables riders with very different needs to benefit from the same motion while learning the same skills.  During sessions students are accompanied by two side walkers and a horse leader.  The horse leader is someone who is properly trained and qualified to lead and control the horse.  Side walkers can either be trained volunteers, riding instructors, or therapists, and accompany the rider to give instructions and maintain safety during a session
  Autism & Communication Disorders

     People with various cognitive and sensory disabilities can be helped with riding activities.  Using therapeutic riding for conditions such as autism, speech impairments, behavior problems, learning disabilities, sensory issues, attention deficit disorders, dyslexia, and down syndrome, riders can improve their learning, processing, and socialization skills through specific interventions.  Because riding builds knowledge as time progresses, simple tasks grow into complex skills which provide the rider with
intellectual stimulation.   During a session, a student is asked to interpret sensory information they are receiving from the instructor, horse, and environment.  The student must then use this information in a manner that is appropriate for learning riding skills.  For example, the instructor will ask questions to the student using icons and pictures.  The student must then use that information to give riding commands to the horse.  The feel, smell, sound, sight and motion of a horse is a lot to absorb as well. However, lessons can be simplified to focus only on this sensory information, giving the student time to process this information.   Individuals with emotional, social and psychological disabilities all benefit in similar ways.  Therapeutic riding participants experience increased confidence and improved self-concept. These activities aid social stimulation and lead to the acquisition of transferable skills.  Riding helps the student interact with others and to form meaningful relationships with horses and people.   Building a relationship with an animal is very rewarding in many aspects.  For a person with emotional, social or psychological disabilities, the trust and loyalty an animal shows for people demonstrates to the student how important these attributes are in personal relationships.   Our therapeutic riding sessions are carefully outlined for each individual’s needs.  We pride ourselves in providing a team of licensed therapists and qualified riding instructors who make it possible for all of our students to participate in horseback riding activities.
 
 
Lend A Hand Horse Farm
151 Laten Knight Road, Cranston, RI 02921 - (401) 826-9278