Hippotherapy

According to the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc., "Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational and speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement."

In the controlled hippotherapy environment, a therapist uses the horse's movement to provide carefully graded sensory input. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike in therapeutic horseback riding, specific riding skills are a means to a treatment goal, rather than the goal itself.

How does the horse help?

The horse's movement provides sensory input, which is variable, but also rhythmic and repetitive. The variability of the horse's gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the patient, and then utilize this movement in combination with other treatment strategies to achieve desired results. In addition, the three-dimensional movement of the horse's pelvis leads to a movement response in the patient's pelvis which is similar to the movement patterns of walking, which improves overall functioning.

What does hippotherapy help with?

Gross motor skills

Speech and language abilities

Fine motor skills

Behavioral and cognitive abilities

Hippotherapy as a speech and language therapy

Although many people associate hippotherapy with physical therapy, hippotherapy as a speech and language therapy strategy is growing more common. Hippotherapy uses a horse to accomplish traditional speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing goals. Carefully modulated, well cadenced equine movement offers an effective means of addressing speech and language deficits through facilitation of the physiological systems that support speech and language function. Utilizing hippotherapy, appropriate sensory integration strategies have been integrated into the treatment to facilitate successful communication. Sensory integration via hippotherapy simultaneously addresses the vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, visual, olfactory, and auditory systems.

Medical conditions for which hippotherapy is indicated

Some medical conditions for which hippotherapy may be commonly indicated are listed below. However, hippotherapy is not for every patient; specially trained health professionals must evaluate each potential patient on an individual basis.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)

Developmental Delay

Down Syndrome

Functional Spinal Curvature

Learning or language disabilities

Multiple Sclerosis

Sensory Integrative Dysfunction

Traumatic Brain Injury

HPCS certification

HPCS is a designation indicating board certification of therapists who have advanced knowledge and experience in hippotherapy. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists who have been practicing their profession for at least three years (6,000 hours) and have 100 hours of hippotherapy practice within the three years prior are permitted to take the Hippotherapy Clinical Specialty Certification Examination. Those who pass become board certified in hippotherapy and are entitled to use the HPCS designation after their name. HPCS certification lasts for five years.