Hippotherapy consists of influencing a person through physical contact with a horse. Initially, this method was used to improve the well-being, mobility, and coordination of patients. It was not called therapy, but simply the normalization of the condition after such sessions with animals was noted.
Then Dr. Perron - a scientist from France, got interested in this peculiarity and scientifically proved that horseback riding does indeed have a good effect on the respiratory system, improves blood circulation, and raises the mood. In other words, it became not only an observation and a theory but a confirmed fact.
Nowadays, there are centers where the method called therapeutic horseback riding, or LWE (the same as hippotherapy) is applied. It follows a special program, the elements of which depend on what needs to be rehabilitated, what the person's diagnosis is, and whether the person's intelligence is intact. This is not just horseback riding, but a special rehabilitation methodology based on adaptive interactions between a person and a horse.
Lessons with a horse are emotionally and psychologically energizing; it is not just exercises on a simulator but full-fledged communication with a warm and contact animal. A child with preserved intelligence actively responds to hippotherapy and gladly follows the instructions of the trainer. And if a child with cerebral palsy has intellectual disabilities, horseback riding is supervised by several specialists, unless prohibited by the doctor.
During the therapeutic horseback riding course, it is possible to achieve good results.
Improvement in coordination and balance. Hippotherapy is useful to compensate for limited movement; when a child walks alone, muscles do not work as they should. Sitting on a horse gives a child sufficient exercise because horse's movements are rhythmically similar to human walking. This strengthens the muscles of the abdomen, back, arms, and legs, which contract to the animal's beat.
Improved self-esteem. As children become better at sitting in the saddle and performing the tasks of the instructor, they become more emotionally and communicatively free, and success in training increase their importance as a person. With each lesson, they become more confident, and the realization that not everyone can sit in the saddle and communicate with the horse adds to them value.
Increased social adaptation. Riding a large and obedient horse is another important skill for children with cerebral palsy. In this way, they develop their reactions, learns to analyze the situation, feel their independence, and learn to trust the horse and people.
Acquisition of new experiences. A child acquires sensory experiences: especially when feeding the horse and when it is without harness; in this way, the animal is calmer and more relaxed. These experiences are very strong in their intensity and give a strong and correct load to the receptors and the brain.
Speech development. Hippotherapy can help correct speech disorders. In the lessons, it is possible to use algorithmic exercises where a child has to say something in time with the horse's movement: sing a song, read a poem, or simply repeat the same short syllables: ma-ma-ma-ma, ta-ta-ta-ta. The animal distracts children from their non-ideal pronunciation and helps to consolidate their success.
A positive approach to rehabilitation. It is more fun to repeat the same thing with a horse than on a simulator, so children are better able to consolidate the acquired skills and does not see it as something routine. This makes them more motivated and eager to do other rehabilitation activities.
It is possible to begin training at any age, from two to fifteen, if one has the permission of a doctor. An appropriate program will be designed by a specialist in therapeutic riding.
Hippotherapy centers have counselors who explain to parents how the lesson will go, if they need to bring anything, and why they have chosen this program. There is an introductory session to explain and show the child how to interact with the horse and the program:
At the first lesson, a child will be introduced to the horse from a distance: specialists will tell what the horse is like, its character, name and what the horse likes. Gradually they will be brought closer to the animal, allowed to stroke it and feed it. During these moments, children get a completely new psychological and tactile experience: they learn to gently stroke the horse - so that it will be pleasant for them. They try to control the movements of their hands and does it consciously. When children succeed, they become more confident and more positive about their abilities. This is an important step towards a healthy self-esteem.
Classes can be either individual or group-based, depending on preferences. Each session is attended not only by the trainer-therapist, but also by their assistants, and occasionally speech therapists, psychologists, and doctors. Everyone present closely monitors the child's well-being and safety, while the trainer ensures the rehabilitation program is fully implemented.
It is necessary to consult a medical specialist.
Then Dr. Perron - a scientist from France, got interested in this peculiarity and scientifically proved that horseback riding does indeed have a good effect on the respiratory system, improves blood circulation, and raises the mood. In other words, it became not only an observation and a theory but a confirmed fact.
Nowadays, there are centers where the method called therapeutic horseback riding, or LWE (the same as hippotherapy) is applied. It follows a special program, the elements of which depend on what needs to be rehabilitated, what the person's diagnosis is, and whether the person's intelligence is intact. This is not just horseback riding, but a special rehabilitation methodology based on adaptive interactions between a person and a horse.
Lessons with a horse are emotionally and psychologically energizing; it is not just exercises on a simulator but full-fledged communication with a warm and contact animal. A child with preserved intelligence actively responds to hippotherapy and gladly follows the instructions of the trainer. And if a child with cerebral palsy has intellectual disabilities, horseback riding is supervised by several specialists, unless prohibited by the doctor.
During the therapeutic horseback riding course, it is possible to achieve good results.
Improvement in coordination and balance. Hippotherapy is useful to compensate for limited movement; when a child walks alone, muscles do not work as they should. Sitting on a horse gives a child sufficient exercise because horse's movements are rhythmically similar to human walking. This strengthens the muscles of the abdomen, back, arms, and legs, which contract to the animal's beat.
Improved self-esteem. As children become better at sitting in the saddle and performing the tasks of the instructor, they become more emotionally and communicatively free, and success in training increase their importance as a person. With each lesson, they become more confident, and the realization that not everyone can sit in the saddle and communicate with the horse adds to them value.
Increased social adaptation. Riding a large and obedient horse is another important skill for children with cerebral palsy. In this way, they develop their reactions, learns to analyze the situation, feel their independence, and learn to trust the horse and people.
Acquisition of new experiences. A child acquires sensory experiences: especially when feeding the horse and when it is without harness; in this way, the animal is calmer and more relaxed. These experiences are very strong in their intensity and give a strong and correct load to the receptors and the brain.
Speech development. Hippotherapy can help correct speech disorders. In the lessons, it is possible to use algorithmic exercises where a child has to say something in time with the horse's movement: sing a song, read a poem, or simply repeat the same short syllables: ma-ma-ma-ma, ta-ta-ta-ta. The animal distracts children from their non-ideal pronunciation and helps to consolidate their success.
A positive approach to rehabilitation. It is more fun to repeat the same thing with a horse than on a simulator, so children are better able to consolidate the acquired skills and does not see it as something routine. This makes them more motivated and eager to do other rehabilitation activities.
It is possible to begin training at any age, from two to fifteen, if one has the permission of a doctor. An appropriate program will be designed by a specialist in therapeutic riding.
Hippotherapy centers have counselors who explain to parents how the lesson will go, if they need to bring anything, and why they have chosen this program. There is an introductory session to explain and show the child how to interact with the horse and the program:
- How to interact with and feed the horse;
- How to use the harness;
- How to get on the saddle, how to sit and dismount properly;
- What commands the horse knows and how to give them.
At the first lesson, a child will be introduced to the horse from a distance: specialists will tell what the horse is like, its character, name and what the horse likes. Gradually they will be brought closer to the animal, allowed to stroke it and feed it. During these moments, children get a completely new psychological and tactile experience: they learn to gently stroke the horse - so that it will be pleasant for them. They try to control the movements of their hands and does it consciously. When children succeed, they become more confident and more positive about their abilities. This is an important step towards a healthy self-esteem.
Classes can be either individual or group-based, depending on preferences. Each session is attended not only by the trainer-therapist, but also by their assistants, and occasionally speech therapists, psychologists, and doctors. Everyone present closely monitors the child's well-being and safety, while the trainer ensures the rehabilitation program is fully implemented.
It is necessary to consult a medical specialist.
