Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a therapeutic intervention in which a licensed physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist uses the movement of a horse as part of a treatment session for a patient with a neuromuscular disorder or other physical or sensory limitation. The horse's motion affects the rider's posture, balance, coordination, strength and sensorimotor processing, and the treating therapist directs both the rider's positioning and a horse handler who controls the horse in order to produce specific, individually tailored motor and sensory input. Hippotherapy is distinguished from therapeutic horseback riding, a recreational activity, because it is led by a licensed clinician following a customized treatment plan rather than general riding instruction.