1. How Does the Horses Movement Influence the Patient?
2. How is Traditional Therapy Involved?
3. What are some of The Major Benefits?
4. Who Can Benefit From This Type of Therapy?

How Does the Horses Movement Influence the Patient ?

The "therapy rider" experiences a rhythmic up and down, side to side, forward and backward motion which will facilitate normal leg, hip, back, shoulders and arm movement. Because the horse moves the riders' body and pelvis in a manner that mirrors the human gait, coupled with traditional therapy, riders with physical disabilities show improvement in flexibility, balance, and muscle strength
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How is Traditional Therapy Involved ?

Exercises are an integral part of the program while on the horse. With custom-designed equipment referred to as "Tack", conventional therapeutic exercises and specialized physical therapy techniques are implemented.
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What are Some of The Major Benefits ?

Some of the major benefits include: Stimulation of muscles and nerves, improved head/ neck/truck with midline control, strengthening postural muscles, influencing muscle tone, relaxation of muscles from the warmth of the horses back, enhancement of equilibrium and vestibular reactions, increased breathing and cardiovascular exercise, sensorimotor integration and overall improvement of body symmetry.
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Who Can Benefit From This Type of Therapy ?

The types of disabilities that can benefit from this program include person with Autism, ADD, Sight and Hearing Impaired, Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, Developmental Delay, CVA, Spina bifida, Parkinson's and other rare syndromes . Hippotherapy is beneficial to all ages.
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