Hippotherapy
Whats "Therapeutic" Horse riding?
I heard its horse back riding for the disabled, then i hear its for therapy?? idk..
Public Comments
- Its never therapeutic for men. Think about it.
- its riding for the disabled so they can play games and get stronger.
- It's used for both, it often straightens the leg muscles, plus help the person connect.
- It is therapy for the disabled.
- It is when someone with a handicap (either mental or physical), ride horses, for a therapy.
- theraputic horse back riding is for disabled people to relax them and yes it is therpy!
- Great question! Check out this site: http://www.narha.org/
- It's for people, mostly children, who've got mental and physical disorders. It can be anything from ADD, retardation, autism, muscle problems etc etc. Basically it's the idea that being around horses, and the people who work with them, will help the children with their mental problem. Help them concentrate, help them be social etc. And the movement of the horses helps people with physical disabilities. The swing in your hips when you ride a horse mimics the same movements when you're walking. It helps loosen up/build muscles.
- therapeutic riding is a way for the disabled (mentally, or physically) to recieve therapy in a fun but safe manner. The disabled are helped onto trained horses and are sometimes led by a leader depending on the level of their disability. Children can play simple games while on the horse which makes the experience even more enjoyable. therapeutic riding has been proven extremely effective, especially in children. Some of the people dont really get to participate in alot of activities so this helps them to strengthing their muscles, develop a better balance, and helps them to come out of their "shell". Some people would start therapeutic riding not even being able to walk...... and in years time are able to run!!!! Some start riding having autism or another illness and have never talked........ and they end up talking (and usually the first word is HORSE) Therapeutic riding gives a chance to those who never get a chance and offers hope to those who have lost theirs. Its a WONDERFUL thing.
- As a Therapeutic riding volunteer of 8 years, I have to say that hippotherapy is such an amazing thing. Therapeutic riding helps adults and children with disabilities, to improve their muscle tone, balance, speech, ect. Horse's are non-judging creatures, which is why people are drawn to them. For these kids & adults, we give them the chance to have fun & learn, without worrying about what other people think. They just have fun! Quite a few of our riders admit that these horse's are their reason to live another day. Some of our autistic riders come to us at 7,8,9 years old, and not knowing how to speak. And in just months some of their first words are "walk on" "whoa" "back up". The parents are just amazed. Thats what makes it all worth it. Seeing a child who came to his first lesson not even being able to sit up straight, and by the next year he is sitting up straight & riding the horse unaided. That right there is what therapeutic riding is ALL about. People say that therapeutic riding does wonders for the body, but just think of the wonders it does for the mind. it really is lifechanging.
- its for disabled children and adults who want to ride, and it also makes their muscles stronger. they play games and also do other things that normal people do on horses, like posting and two pointing, etc. my mom is a therapeutic riding instructor and sometimes ill help with her program. she does group lessons and privates. for her group lessons she has volunteers who lead the kids or adults around on their horses while they listen to my mom giving them directions like 'close your eyes and reach up to the sky!' then for her privates she leads the kids or adults around on their horses while setting up little courses for them to do, like 'go around the purple cone then over the pole' and she'll walk next to them while they learn how to stear through the courses. its really great, it really is! its really rewarding to see the kids smile while they're bouncing up and down while trotting! you get a great feeling :D
