Occupational or Physical Therapy Utilizing Equines (Hippotherapy) refers to how physical therapists or speech language pathologists use the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage the sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems, and promote functional outcomes.  It is just one of the tools or treatment strategies that a therapist may use to help a client reach their goals.

Equine movement addresses functional therapy goals as part of a patients integrated rehabilitation plan of care. A horse’s movement provides symmetric, graded, rhythmic, consistent input that can help facilitate postural control, balance reactions, trunk strength, tone management, motor planning and endurance.  A participant sitting astride a horse experiences a weight shift similar to a normal human gait, but may also have the opportunity to experience novel input as the therapist carefully manipulates the horse’s movement, changes the orientation of the participant or integrates another activity. Equine movement is continually modified during a treatment session based on the client’s response, individual needs, and rehabilitation progress.

Participants two years old and above may be eligible to utilize this tool in a treatment session. Appropriate individuals may have the following diagnoses and/or impairments:

• Cerebral Palsy

• Down Syndrome

• Developmental Delay

• Genetic Syndromes

• Traumatic Brain Injury/Stroke

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Muscular Dystrophy

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Cognitive disabilities

• Impaired mobility

• Impaired balance

• Impaired coordination

• Impaired postural control

• Abnormal muscle tone

Hippotherapy may help to integrate all the systems of the body and potentially generate improvements in:

• functional mobility and gait

• sitting, standing, and dynamic balance

• postural alignment/symmetry and core strength

• functional and cardiovascular endurance

• coordination and muscle tone

• gross motor skills

• respiratory control

• balance confidence and self-esteem

Please note that BINA Farm Center does not work directly with insurance providers for our programs, however, some participants in the Hippotherapy Program have had success with reimbursement for their Occupational or Physical Therapy if their insurance covers the therapy. We recommend calling your insurance provider to determine if this is an option for you.