Hippotherapy-Mounted Occupational therapy

Hippo- is greek for Horse.

Our Occupational Therapy program focuses on equine-assisted therapy that encompasses a range of treatments. Treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes.

 Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and motor planning. Equine movement offers well-modulated sensory input to vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile and visual channels. During gait transitions, the patient must perform subtle adjustments in the trunk to maintain a stable position. When a patient is sitting forward astride the horse, the horse’s walking gait imparts movement responses remarkably similar to normal human gait.

The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills and attention skills. Equine movement can be used to facilitate the neurophysiologic systems that support all of our functional daily living skills.

Enhance Your Skills with Horses: Unmounted Horsemanship with our 8 week Occupational Therapy group sessions.

Our unmounted horsemanship program integrates occupational therapy with horse care, grooming, and leading exercises. The program is designed to develop motor skills, coordination, and emotional well-being in a therapeutic setting.

**Therapeutic Benefits**

- Improves motor skills and coordination

- Enhances strength and balance

- Boosts self-esteem and emotional well-being

- Encourages social interaction and communication skills

**Who Can Join**

Open to individuals seeking occupational therapy, no prior horse experience needed. Participants will work with licensed occupational therapists and gentle horses.

The Silver buckle program is designed for the adult/senior communities. We offer groups up to 10 to come out to the barn and interact with our horses with unmounted activities.

We strive to provide a meaningful activity that offers participants the chance to connect with others and interact with horses in a safe environment. Our unmounted horsemanship program is a great way for participants to experience the many physical, emotional, and psychological benefits of interacting with horses without the need for riding. This program is designed to improve participants' skills in handling, caring for, and communicating with horses.

Research suggests that incorporating horses provides older adults with a greater ability to live fully in the here-and-now. Often mirroring emotions and the physical demeanor of people who engage with them, horses provide opportunities to boost awareness about certain behaviors and may even help lessen the effects of anxiety, loneliness, and pain. 

“WRINKLES SHOULD MERELY INDICATE WHERE SMILES HAVE BEEN.” – MARK TWAIN