For centuries, humans and horses have enjoyed a close relationship. Of course, today, horses don’t serve the role they once did when they provided transportation and aided in farm work. However, just because the dynamic between horse and man has changed, doesn’t mean it isn’t just as significant. In fact, today, horses serve a very real role of being a therapeutic aid through hippotherapy and other methods.
What is Hippotherapy?
No, hippothearapy isn’t some sort of odd therapy for hippos. It is most literally put, therapy with the help of a horse. It is often utilized by speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapist as a way to treat their patients. The odd name comes from the fact that Greek for horse is hippos. …show more content…
With each hoof hitting the ground, the rider’s muscles and joints feel inputs of sensations. Since most horses walk around 60 steps every minute, one session of therapy could yield as many as 2,500 inputs. The riders’ sense of touch is engaged by their skin touching the horse’s fur or mane and by coming into contact with the saddle. Their auditory input, or sound, is also improved thanks to the sound of the clippty-clop of the horse’s hooves. Therefore, as you can see, children who are dealing with sensory challenges of any kind can greatly benefit from horse therapy.
Provides Strengthening:
Riding a horse takes balance and core strength. Some children and adults who have trouble with traditional strength building exercises are able to benefit from training with a horse. The horse’s movement when walking includes forward motion , and swaying. Consequently, the rider has to adjust their body, which engages the muscles in the legs and upper body. The rider also experiences increased strength in their stomach and back by trying to maintain good posture while riding.
There are many more ways that horse therapy can be used to improve lives, from improving social skills to perfecting both gross and fine motor skills and much more. Suffice it to say that even though horses are no longer used by us as a way to plow a field or get to town, they are still just as valuable today thanks to their therapeutic
What is Hippotherapy?
No, hippothearapy isn’t some sort of odd therapy for hippos. It is most literally put, therapy with the help of a horse. It is often utilized by speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapist as a way to treat their patients. The odd name comes from the fact that Greek for horse is hippos. …show more content…
With each hoof hitting the ground, the rider’s muscles and joints feel inputs of sensations. Since most horses walk around 60 steps every minute, one session of therapy could yield as many as 2,500 inputs. The riders’ sense of touch is engaged by their skin touching the horse’s fur or mane and by coming into contact with the saddle. Their auditory input, or sound, is also improved thanks to the sound of the clippty-clop of the horse’s hooves. Therefore, as you can see, children who are dealing with sensory challenges of any kind can greatly benefit from horse therapy.
Provides Strengthening:
Riding a horse takes balance and core strength. Some children and adults who have trouble with traditional strength building exercises are able to benefit from training with a horse. The horse’s movement when walking includes forward motion , and swaying. Consequently, the rider has to adjust their body, which engages the muscles in the legs and upper body. The rider also experiences increased strength in their stomach and back by trying to maintain good posture while riding.
There are many more ways that horse therapy can be used to improve lives, from improving social skills to perfecting both gross and fine motor skills and much more. Suffice it to say that even though horses are no longer used by us as a way to plow a field or get to town, they are still just as valuable today thanks to their therapeutic