Hippotherapy
 

Therapeutic Riding
 

• Completed by professional therapist (OT, PT, or Speech Therapist) in conjunction with a professional horse handler
• Direct hands on participation by therapist at all times
• The horse's movement is essential to assist in meeting therapy goals
• The goal of hippotherapy is professional treatment to improve neurological functioning in cognition, body movement, organization, and attention levels
• Hippotherapy is 1:1 treatment and generally occurs year-round until the client meets discharge criteria
• In hippotherapy the treating therapist continually assesses and modifies therapy based on the client's responses

• Completed by professional horseback riding instructor in conjunction with volunteers including a therapist who may be involved as a consultant
• Occasional hands on assistance by riding instructor and/or volunteer, with instructor primarily teaching from center of arena.
• The horse's temperament is essential to learn riding skills
• Therapeutic riding aims to provide social, educational, and sport opportunities in recreational horseback riding lessons adapted to individuals with disabilities
• In therapeutic riding, the individual is often taught riding lessons in a group format, which runs in "sessions". The instructor must respond to the group as a whole, in addition to fostering individual success
• In therapeutic riding, focus on the group lesson is encouraged, along with emphasizing proper riding position and rein skills