Rediscovering Movement: How Hippotherapy Enhances Rehabilitation
Hippotherapy uses the movement of a horse as part of the treatment process.
When you picture occupational or physical therapy, you might imagine exercises in a clinic or gym. But what if therapy took place on horseback? That’s the unique premise behind hippotherapy—a specialized OT and PT intervention that uses the movement of a horse as part of the treatment process.
What Is Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy (from the Greek word hippos, meaning “horse”) is a clinical treatment strategy, not the same as recreational horseback riding. It’s used by trained occupational and physical therapists to help clients reach their functional goals — whether that means improving balance, core strength, coordination, or mobility.
During hippotherapy sessions, the therapist guides the patient through purposeful activities on horseback, integrating traditional therapy goals with the rhythmic, three-dimensional movement of the horse.
Why Use a Horse for Therapy?
In traditional OT or PT sessions, therapists often use a “dynamic surface” like a therapy ball or balance board to challenge stability and build core control. Hippotherapy takes that same principle to another level.
A horse’s gait closely mimics the natural movement pattern of human walking. As the horse moves, the rider’s body automatically responds to those shifts, engaging the muscles that support posture, balance, and coordinated movement. This rhythmic motion can be especially powerful for individuals who experience rigidity, spasticity, or gait impairment due to conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke.
It’s a seamless way to work on balance, strength, and coordination—while also addressing individual therapy goals such as upper extremity strength, fine motor skills, or visual tracking.
What If You’ve Never Been on a Horse?
No horse experience? No problem.
Each session is led by a licensed therapist and patients are fully supported with:
A saddle or adapted seat for posterior support
Two side spotters who provide stability at the hips
A leader guiding the horse, so the patient can focus on therapy rather than controlling the horse
The result is a safe, supportive environment that allows patients to focus on movement, coordination, and therapy participation without worrying about balance or steering.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Hippotherapy?
Ideal candidates for hippotherapy are individuals who have enough core strength and trunk control to sit upright with minimal support.
This can include people who use walkers or rollators but still have some ability to engage their trunk muscles during activity.
Those with high-level spinal cord injuries or very limited trunk strength may not be appropriate candidates for mounted hippotherapy, though other equine-assisted activities might still be explored in the future.
How Often Are Sessions Offered?
At Neuro Rehab Collaborative, we will begin offering small-group hippotherapy sessions for our occupational therapy patients. Each session integrates the same personalized, goal-directed approach used in our in-clinic therapy — but with the added benefit of movement that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
Interested in learning more?
Contact us at info@neurorehabcollaborative or 540-200-8996 or talk with your therapist to see if hippotherapy may be right for you.
