Hippotherapy is one of the biggest assets in helping mentally and physically challenged individuals acieve mobility and independence. Learn what it's all about!
The benefits of therapeutic riding, long recognized by a select group of equine therapists, gained national attention after James Brady, press secretary to then-President Ronald Reagan, was shot during an assassination attempt on the President's life. Paralyzed, Brady turned to hippotherapy to help him in the rehabilitation process.
Twenty years later, equine facilitated therapy is recognized the world over as being instrumental in helping individuals with disabilities to conquer both physical and the mental challenges.
Hippotherapy, from the Greek word for "horse," is based on the idea that the rhythmic, repetitive movements of the horse work to improve cognitive skills, balance, posture, and strength in the disabled rider. Individuals benefiting from this kind of therapy can have a variety of diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, autism, and learning or language disabilities.
If you've decided to explore what small miracles equine facilitated therapy could produce in your life, then you're probably wondering where to start, and how to find a reputable program?
There are a variety of associations across the country that specialize in equine facilitated therapy, and the best known of these is the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Formed in 1969, NARHA has helped thousands of disabled clients through the United States and Canada meet the challenges brought on by their particular handicaps. There are now hundreds of NARHA-associated riding centers, and a stable with this affiliation guarantees a certain standard of professionalism, knowledge, and safety.
NARHA runs a rigorous certification program that can be likened to obtaining a pilot's license. Before certification, instructors must have a certain amount of teaching hours with an accredited therapeutic riding program. Upon completion of the time requirements, candidates must take a written test, as well as an on-site test demonstrating their knowledge around the horse and the client. They must be certified in CPR and First Aid, and have those skills updated yearly.
Finding a facility in your town is not, however, a guarantee that this is the right program for you, because not every instructor resonates with every client. Tanya Ballard, head of the Lazy H Therapeutic Riding Program in Half Moon Bay, California recommends that you first observe a lesson before making a commitment, to ensure the fit is right, and the instructors are up to par. Here are a few things that you want to look for.
There should be two side walkers (spotters who walk on either side of the horse while the client is in the saddle) as well as a person to lead the horse. This three-to-one ratio is a must, and if you observe a therapeutic riding center working with less, walk away. Note: Parents are perfectly acceptable as side walkers, and are sometimes an absolute necessity, if the child is at all nervous.
Horses should stand quietly at all times. Ask the ages of the animals and their experience. You are looking for animals that are, on the average, at least ten years old, and that have experience with children. In addition, you want to look for the "warmer blooded" breeds, such as the reliable Quarter Horse.
Equipment, such as saddles and bridles, should be clean and in good condition. Clean, well-attended equipment is a good indication that the stable cares about safety, as well as appearance.
Helmets should be available through the center, and, with a few exceptions, must be worn whenever near the horse.
The stable license, the instructor's NARHA certificate, and First Aid certificate should be up to date, and provided for you upon request.
Ballard stresses that if you decide to enroll your family member in a therapeutic program, you should keep realistic expectations.
Many families show up here with the idea that their child is just going to take right to it, she says. "Most of the time, this is exactly what happens. But it is also true that sometimes things move a little more slowly. You need to understand that that's okay.
Whatever the reason, whatever the disability, NARHA's logs are filled with testimonials from clients whose lives have changed from being in the saddle. So maybe Will Rogers was right when he said, There's nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outsides of a horse.
