Who invented hippotherapy?

Horses have been used in medical treatments in the BC era. Hippocrates mentions riding in his writings "Natural Exercise". In 1780, Tissot wrote about the beneficial qualities of the horses' walk. Tissot was the first to describe the ill effects of too much riding and possible contraindications. In 1875, a French physician named Chassaign began conducting the first systematic study involving therapeutic riding and patients. He concluded that horseback riding was a valuable therapy in the treatment of certain types of neurological paralysis.

In more recent history, the use of the horse in medical treatment was pioneered in Europe. Germany and Switzerland have strong traditions of using equine movement under supervision of a physiotherapist for orthopedic issues and scoliOSis. Hippotherapy began to gain in popularity in Europe during the 1960's and 1970's. In 1969, the organization for therapeutic riding (NARHA) began in the United States. The first international conference for the therapeutic use of horses was held in 1976. In the 1970's American physical therapists began to use the horse in medical treatments. In 1987 a group of American therapists went to Germany to study the European methods and brought back a formal course of study for therapists in the United States. In 1992, the American Hippotherapy Association was formed and by 1999 the first Hippotherapy Clinical Specialists were begin certified in the United States.

Hippotherapy continues to grow and develop with new professionals in the field and ongoing research. Requirements to practice hippotherapy vary by country.