What is hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is roughly translated into horses therapy, because hippo means horses in Greek. Hippotherapy, however, is not a therapy for horses, but therapy for people who use horses instead of a normal facility for physical therapy. Although hippotherapy is often confused with a therapeutic horse ride, it is not really the same as simply a horseback riding. As with any other kind of physical therapy, hippotherapy is led by an authorized physiotherapist. As in traditional physical therapy, the therapist will adapt the treatment plan to the specific needs of the client. The only difference is that this treatment includes a horse rather than a room full of equipment. This may include a sensory system, a circulatory system, muscles or joints. The therapist can lead the client to any position on a horse, not only to the normal driving position that dresses the horse's back. As in traditional physical therapy, the client's therapist leads through movements and exercises that are designed to stimuloWall of specific parts of his body.

Although the therapeutic horse ride is different from hippotherapy, it is still a valuable part of the therapy of horses. Some clients will benefit from therapeutic driving mixed with hippotherapy and others will move to driving because their physical abilities and skills will be advanced enough. Unlike hippotherapy, therapeutic ride teaches clients how to ride in a recreational environment. There are also advantages for clients by teaching them emotional, social and other mental skills. Therefore, a therapeutic horse ride could be considered a simple multiple type of horse therapy.

Hippotherapy is just one type of therapy assisted by animals. Animals have often proved to be therapeutic in individuals with disabilities. One of the important types of therapy assisted by animals is a visit where an animal - often a dog - and its handler visit people who are notable to leave the hospital or their home. Visits of these specially trained animals are very therapeutic for people who may sometimes feel trapped by their disabilities.

Assisted animals shows the importance of emotional bond between humans and animals. This binding is also a key part of hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding. Although the therapy with horses has many physical and cognitive advantages for clients, it is often a relationship between a horse and a rider that makes an experience rewarding for clients.