Occupational Therapy

Hippotherapy is an evidence-based practice conducted at our barn by specially trained occupational and physical therapists for children and adults with neuromotor, cognitive and/or sensory difficulties.

Instructors use the horse’s movement as a therapy tool to achieve individualized goals aiming to facilitate overall function in a person’s everyday life. The three-dimensional movement of the equine can improve the flexibility, posture, balance, core strength and mobility of the rider.

The focus of each weekly 30-minute riding session is on mounted activities that build a variety of skills such as gross and fine motor, social interaction and emotion regulation. Specific riding skills are not focused on. Instead, activities create a foundation for improving cognitive and sensory processing abilities.

Often, our Hippotherapy riders “graduate” to the therapeutic riding program when they are ready to face new challenges.