Therapeutic Riding

Testimony to the therapeutic value of horseback riding spans the ages. But the origin of organized therapeutic riding is relatively recent.
Click here to learn the modern history of therapeutic riding.

Riding can improve strength, balance, and coordination. Oh yeah... and it's fun!

What is Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic riding is an individualized program of learning to ride a horse which takes into account a person's physical, mental, and emotional strengths and limitations. The horses, staff, and volunteers involved in therapeutic riding have all been carefully selected and trained to accommodate the physical, mental, or social disabilities of the rider. Goals of therapeutic riding vary as much as the individual participants. Improved physical strength, balance, mobility and coordination are accomplished through the physical act of riding a horse. Increased attention, concentration, learning, and verbal skills are inherent in learning the skills necessary to ride successfully. Bonding with the horse, making new friends, and respecting authority are some of the social improvements we see. Improvements in self esteem, self control, and confidence also arise from the experience of success in learning to ride. Therapeutic riding is fun and effective!

-- Courtesy Winslow Therapeutic Center

What are the Benefits of Therapeutic Riding?

Therapeutic horseback riding offers individuals with disabilities an opportunity to participate in an activity that even our participants often feel might be beyond their reach. There are many physical and psychological benefits that result from lessons on horseback. Some of these include:

improved self-concept, self-confidence, social awareness
improved strength and coordination
improved balance and spatial orientation

In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.

Helen Thomson

What is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy (from the Greek "hippo" meaning "horse") is physical therapy that utilizes the natural movement of the horse to help riders regain physical strength, mobility, and coordination. The similarity between a horse's pelvic movements at a walk, and the movement of a normal human pelvis enables the rider to physically learn or relearn skills and movements that may have been lost or compromised. Speech, physical, or occupational therapy patients can improve muscle tone, balance, posture, coordination, respiration, strength, and body awareness as they sit upon and ride a horse in an enjoyable and effective method of treatment. Hippotherapy patients tend to be the best motivated physical therapy patients, because the work is fun!

-- Courtesy Winslow Therapeutic Center

Choosing a Therapeutic Riding Center

With more than 600 therapeutic riding centers affiliated with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), it is important that parents of children with disabilities and adult riders with disabilities be aware of the environments which make up specific therapeutic riding centers. Selecting the right program is a matter of knowing the expected outcomes of participation, knowing the options and asking the correct questions.
Click here to learn more about choosing a therapeutic riding center.