Hippotherapy Analysis

This paper will inform the parents, educators, and American society of the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for people who have cognitive challenges or loss of limbs and other functions. Therapy can happen on the horse as well as off, depending on the condition of the rider. Not all therapy has to be done on a horse. It can be done on the ground as well, by padding the horse, brushing the horse, leading the horse. Knowing you can conquer being around and taking care of a big horse gives those with challenges a sense of satisfaction and self confidence. Therapeutic horseback riding is wonderful for young people as well as older people with disabilities. Even if they cannot sit up straight, therapy can make it so that any individual can

Most exercise is designed for neurorehabilitation, not cardiovascular health, so there is a very different definition for stroke patient exercise, as well as a very different goal set. Because strokes affect each person differently, treatment is also specific to the individual. The literature included in this review focuses on three different methods of exercise, each with very specific goals in mind. Cabanas-Valdés and collegues study was on Core and Trunk stability, Minyoung describes use of Virtual Reality enhanced exercise for treatment, and Tutak introduces the concepts behind Rehabilitation

“The horse acts as the teacher and unlocks the client. The animal facilitates emotional breakthroughs, and the effect, therapists report, can be magical” (Hayley Sumner).

I was astonished to find out that disabled people can greatly benefit from their therapeutic riding, even when outside of the arena. The idea of someone being with an animal to improve his or her people skills is intriguing. My research suggests that disabled riders may possibly gain better people skills and sensations by being with a horse, rather than talking with a sophisticated human being. In my research, I found that www.sire-htec.org had a great description of how a disabled person would feel on top of a horse. It stated, the horses “rhythmic movements help stiff or spastic muscles to relax, much like rocking soothes a crying baby” (“Benefits”). This information was very helpful when discussing the

Before we jump into the main question, let's jump back to where it all started. Horse therapy dates back to around 600 b.c when the greeks rode horses for therapy. Later, in around 1946 equine therapy then was introduced in Scandinavia. Which then led to the North Americans beginning the handicapped riding which started around 1969. They soon recognized that riding horses or just being

In source 1, an article written by the ASDF (Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation), from the website www.myasdf.org , assessed in 2012, with the title ‘How your child can Benefit from Equine Therapy), it states that Autistic children/people benefit immensely from Equine Therapy (horse encounters).

Walking into the sunlit barn hallway, the musky scent of hay and horse fur overwhelms my senses. I see a chestnut-colored horse stick his head over the wooden stall door to greet me. As I look around, I notice other volunteers getting horses saddled up and ready for the next lesson. Turning around I smile at a young student entering with her mom, ecstatic at the prospect of being able to ride a horse despite being in a wheelchair. Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, located in Gretna, makes dreams possible. People of all ages have the opportunity to learn how to ride a horse despite their physical or mental disabilities. After volunteering at HETRA for five years, the organization has made significant impacts on my personality, interests, and maturity.

More than 20 years ago, an ordinary middle-aged man working in the insurance industry, getting ready to retire from his job, was shopping at his local grocery store. In the grocery store parking lot, an unlikely encounter with a girl named Stacy changed his life. Stacy had cerebral palsy, making her unable to talk or hear. That's when Swimmer got the idea, "what might happen if I put her on a horse?" Stacey soon later visited Swimmer at his farm in outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where Stacy was able to ride a pony for the first time. "She lit up like a candle," said Swimmer, and that's when I knew what I wanted to do. Today Swimmer has helped over 800 kids with disabilities through his equine-assisted therapy program from his organization

Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability and patients face multiple challenges, such as weakness/paralysis on one side of the body, social disability, inability to walk and self-care, the decline in community participation, and the decline in cognitive and emotional functioning. These challenges impede them from independently performing their daily activities related to work, school, parenting, or leisure. Evidence Based Practice shows that the best way to treat individuals with stroke is through the use of the mental practice. Mental practice is a training method during which a person cognitively rehearses a physical skill in the absence of overt, physical movements for the purpose of enhancing motor skill performance. It is a practice

There are numerous organizations supporting EAAT but very limited peer reviewed research was available for review. Majority of research performed for this paper was derived from personal interviews and information gathered from the various equine therapy associations. The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969. PATH provides certification for EAAT instructors as well as educational opportunities found within several prestigious universities. Originally PATH began utilizing horseback riding as a method of physical therapy but today the organization includes activities ranging from physical, cognitive, mental, and confidence building techniques treating a wide variety of mental and physical disabilities with something as simple as a horse. People from all walks of life have found the “power of the horse” to be an essential form of therapy for people suffering from brain injuries, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, depression, and birth defects/disorders.

On June 2013 SPC Montes’ unfailing dedication to his community volunteered 5,000 hours at the Therapeutic Horsemanship of El Paso (THEP). This nonprofit organization provides therapeutic riding sessions, serving children and adults with a wide range of special needs. These therapeutic riding sessions work toward building independence, self-confidence, strength, relaxation and social skills in children and adults. His involvement was prominent to the overall mission of the organization.

Twenty American Quarter Horse geldings, aged between four and eight years and weighing ideally 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, shall be used. All horses should ideally be non-athletes that were previously kept as pleasure riding horses. The horses will be completely evaluated clinically and ultrasonongraphically by veterinarians blinded to the study before the experiment to ensure that there are no preexisting health conditions to hinder healing, or any history or signs of previous injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon. All horses will be placed in individual stalls and paddocks and adapted to their new daily routines for thirty days before the start of the experiment to allow acclimation. Any horses that obtain injury or disease during the course of the study will be removed from the study group to reduce confounding and returned to their provider.

Riding horses can help build strength in the body, but it can also be used as therapy. A few years ago, Haleigh volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding business in Clinton, Iowa, called Bright Spot Inc. At Bright Spot, Haleigh and other volunteers, work with many children with different disabilities and help them overcome their problems. Their confidence is built when they ride the horses because they feel like they can do anything. Therapeutic horseback riding has been proven to really help out people with disabilities. Horseback riding can help disabled patients better than any other form of physical therapy. The physical benefits that can be improved form therapeutic horse riding is improved circulation, respiration, balance, body metabolism, and it can help the disabled rider gain agility and strength. Horse riding can also help with the movement of the riders legs and increase coordination in their muscle groups. In one study of therapeutic horseback riding, children with disabilities improve their posture, muscle tone, and weight-bearing abilities (Bliss). After trying therapeutic horseback riding, many patients become more outgoing. Beth Bliss once said that, “Studies show that autistic children often

Chang, Kwon, Lee, and Kim (2012) conducted a pilot study containing 33 children ages four and up, with cerebral palsy. Hippotherapy sessions were conducted twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks in an 18X27 m indoor riding arena. Each hippotherapy session lasted 30 minutes. After the intervention process, the study showed an outcome that hippotherapy can improve gross motor function and being balance in children with Cerebral Palsy (Chang, H. J., Kwon, J., Lee, J., & Kim, Y., 2012).

The first group (ages 26+) were patients who suffered from intellectual disabilities like motor disorder as a consequence of cerebral palsy, speech impairment, auditory function, and difficulties with motor skills. The second group (ages 26-50) had individuals who suffered from a genetic disease and severe psychomotor retardation. The third group was older adults (ages 70+) who suffered from severe stages of mobility issues, Alzheimer disease, behavioral symptoms, temporal and spatial disorientation. Some forms of therapy included circle dance group, listening groups that listened to only music, and ergometer groups. A study by Thaut, McIntosh, Prassas, and Rice (1992) investigated the effect of auditory rhythm on temporal parameters. Data from this study showed that using principals of rhythmic cuing improved stride, upper limb movements, and enhanced gait. (Krampe, (2013) p. 40) Within these group sessions, therapists used props to stimulate sensory integration, interaction, and self-expression. This made the dance therapy session fun, more enjoyable, and helped with the “grounding” concept at a physical, emotional, and social level amongst everyone. The props that were used were balls varying in different sizes and colors, small percussion instruments, and