PEACE Ranch

Hippotherapy utilizes the three-dimensional movement of the horse along as part of an integrated intervention program. The horse’s movement is rhythmical, symmetrical, repetitive, and easily varied by handling techniques or changing the horse being used. The dynamic base of support helps to improve trunk strength and control, improve balance and posture, provide opportunities for weight-bearing and motor planning, and improve range of motion. When sitting astride a walking horse, the horse’s movement imparts a movement pattern in the person’s pelvis that mimics the movement of the pelvis while walking. The rhythmic movement of the horse also provides consistent sensory input, particularly proprioceptive, vestibular, and visual input as well as many opportunities for tactile input.

 

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes. Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and. motor planning. Equine movement offers well-modulated sensory input to vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile and visual channels. During gait transitions, the patient must perform subtle adjustments in the trunk to maintain a stable position. When a patient is sitting forward astride the horse, the horse’s walking gait imparts movement responses remarkably similar to normal human gait. The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills and attentional skills. Equine movement can be used to facilitate the neurophysiology systems that support all of our functional daily living skills.

 Conditions or impairments

that typically benefit from

hippotherapy include but are

not limited to:

 

• Abnormal muscle tone

• Impaired balance responses

• Impaired coordination

• Impaired sensory motor function

• Postural asymmetry or poor postural control

• Decreased mobility

• Limbic system dysfunction related to arousal and attentional skills

 

 

Specific Diagnosis that may

benefit from hippo-therapy

 

• Cerebral Palsy or other neurological impairments

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Sensory Integration Deficits

• Developmental Delay

• Traumatic Brain Injury / Stroke

• Spinal Cord Injury

• Genetic syndromes

 

Potential Contraindications or Precautions depending on severity:

• Orthopedic

  • Atlantoaxial instability

  • Ostegenisis imperfecta / osteoporosis

  • Coxa orthosis

  • Cranial deficits

  • Joint subluxation / dislocation (particularly the hip joint)

  • Pathologic fractures

  • Spinal instability / abnormalities

• Neurologic

  • Hydrocephalus / Shunt (may affect ability to wear a helmet)

  • Uncontrolled seizures

  • Spina bifida / Chiari II Malformation / Tethered Cord / Hydromyelia

• Medical / Psycological

  • Indwelling catheters, particularly on females

  • Photo-sensitivity (sessions typically occur outdoors)

  • Skin breakdown / abnormal sensation

  • Hemophelia

  • Severe Allergies (e.g. to animals or pollens)

  • Heart conditions that may be influenced by increased physical activity

  • Respiratory compromise

  • Persons who are violent / dangerous to self or others

• Other

  • Under two years of age

  • Obese individuals or people who exceed the weight limit (influenced by horse availability)