Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy utilized by occupational therapists (OT), physical therapists (PT), and speech-language pathologists (SLP) who apply evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning to purposefully use the movement of the horse. The horse’s rhythmic and repetitive motion provides powerful sensory and neuromotor input that promotes core strength, postural control, balance, coordination, and sensory processing. Through guided activities on and around the horse, participants engage in meaningful, motivating experiences that support self-regulation, attention, confidence, and functional daily skills. Combined with the therapeutic environment of the equine setting and other targeted interventions, hippotherapy serves as an integrated component of a patient’s overall plan of care.
At SPIRIT, we offer Occupational Therapy incorporating hippotherapy as part of our program. Participation can support improvement in the following areas:
- Overall strength, coordination, and balance
- Endurance and activity tolerance
- Anxiety reduction and emotional regulation
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Vestibular processing and tolerance
- Sensory integration
- Self-regulation skills to maintain an optimal level of arousal for attention, learning, and social participation
- Executive functioning (planning, sequencing, and decision-making)
- Attention and focus
