How is hippotherapy held?

Hippotherapy* usually is held at a stable with scheduled sessions for each client. The individual client's needs are evaluated and the treatment plan and goals are determined by licensed therapists. The sessions will be scheduled according to those assessed needs and goals, as well as client abilities and tolerance. The scheduling process will take into account these needs and a plan of the session frequency, duration of each session, and how each session is to be conducted to best meet those needs is created.

The sessions will be designed to enable the treatment plan and achieve the stated therapy goals. Therapists will determine if the session will be a 1:1 traditional session with one client and one therapist, or if group therapy would be more beneficial. Treatment sessions typically last one hour or less, and the individual therapy needs of the participants are worked into the program of activities and are also considered in great detail when the selection of the horse, tack, and session plans are made.

The client is paired by very knowledgeable therapists and equine experts with the right horse to match their abilities and the best one that can provide the motions and challenges that are required. Superior knowledge of the movement of horses, the effects of the different types of tack (e.g., English vs. Western or Vaulting tack), special adaptive equipment, and client's physical, medical, and emotional needs are employed. Side walking staff may or may not be utilized as a safety factor, again, at the discretion of the therapists. Additionally, the tack is custom chosen and fitted for the client with adaptations as needed.

For those who have any ability to groom, tack the horse, and clean tack, those activities may also become opportunities for motivation and treatment on an individualized treatment plan, often for occupational therapy. These activities, when made a part of the plan, will usually extend the amount of time the client's session will last. These activities are also often used in other types of therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy as well as in Equine Assisted Therapy.

Volunteers, and staff of the facility providing the therapy, are given roles in the therapy sessions by the therapists and instructors. There can be different names for the roles in different locations. Some are called Sidewalkers, who walk beside the horse to assist with safety as well as to encourage the client and facilitate the activities of the care plan; others are called Lead Walkers/Horse Leaders; still others may be called Horse Handlers, etc. The assigned roles help assure that all safety precautions are taken and through proper protocol and procedure, the risks are minimized. Stable hands, grounds keepers, administrative staff and others will be assisting in various roles during a session.

The rewards of volunteering with this type of program are great. Watching these amazing animals, who know exactly what their job is and have an intuitive ability to provide for the specific client's needs is entrancing. The sight of a child, who comes in a wheel chair, has never walked or had any independence of movement, nor control of anything in their lives due to the restrictions of their disorder, and who is sitting for the first time on this gentle giant that they can control and relate to emotionally, as well as physically, will bring tears to the eyes of the toughest cowboy.

*Hippotherapy is a term used in the United States to describe a healthcare treatment session provided by licensed therapists that utilizes the movement of the horse to help clients achieve physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy goals. Impairments that can be improved with hippotherapy include: impaired balance responses, coordination, communication, or sensorimotor function difficulties; poor postural control; and decreased mobility. The term is derived from the Greek hippos meaning horse.

The practice came into use (somewhat oddly) in World War II Germany, and was said to be effective in rehabilitating Battle-fatigued Luftwaffe vets. It was not known if the Horse activity or merely being taken off Duty for R and R (rest and recreation) turned the stable key, so to speak. Since then, the process and programs have been continually perfected and the effects are found to be directly related to the therapy.

See the other questions on Hippotherapy in the related questions section below.