Hippotherapy

Hippo therapy? Ever heard of it? "Hippo" meaning Horse in Latin?

When I was interning in college I had the priveledge of participating in a program in Andover, MA considered a riding therapy program (hippotherapy) for credit. It was the best experience of my life. I got to teach blind children tactile tasks, (stroking horse, grooming horse etc), behavioral therapy, (ritual feeding and grooming and stall upkeep) to actually having children with severe cognitive and physical disabilities actually riding the horse for physical benefits, RE: the rocking motion of the horse to strengthen muscles, and much, much more. Has anyone ever participated in this? I have heard that you need to be a physical therapist to even work in this feild and that there are only two colleges in the country that teach this art? Any feedback, comments, experience, advice, etc? If I could do it all over again.... These answers are great. I am going to have a hard time picking one, you are all very knowledgeble. Thank you!

Public Comments

1. Well, you can become a physical therapist by going to any one of the 200+ schools in the US. Hippotherapy would be something you learn AFTER becoming a PT...although I am not sure if formal training in this aspect is actually required. Hippotherapy is used alot for children who have neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy. Once you understand how the child is affected neurologically, you can understand how hippotherapy can: increase trunk control, decrease tone, etc.
2. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists all may provide hippotherapy as part of their treatment. Terminology in this field can be confusing, there is no riding therapy in the US, there is hippotherapy-medical treatment by a licensed medical professional and therapeutic riding- recreational and sport riding lessons for people with disabilities. If you are interested in pursuing a career that combines horses and helping people, check out NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association), AHA (American Hippotherapy Association) and EGALA (Equine Growth and Learning Association). You can then select the path that will work best for you. Do you want to be a teacher, a horseback riding instructor or a therapist? Figuring out the answer will help narrow your focus for your own education. After completing your education, you can specialize and gain the required experience and continuing education in the area of equine assisted activities or therapy you are interested in.