BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center : Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program. Horses provide multidimensional movement, making them an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength, control, and balance.  

Equine movement can also be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills, and attention skills. Patients respond enthusiastically to this enjoyable experience in a natural setting.

Physical Therapists use the movement of the horse to increase range of motion, strength, balance, postural control, and endurance, which promote functional outcomes in areas related to gross motor ability such as sitting, standing, and walking.

Occupational Therapists are able to combine the effects of equine movement with other standard intervention strategies to work on fine motor control, sensory integration, attention skills, and functional daily living skills in a progressively challenging manner.

Speech-Language Pathologists use equine movement to facilitate the physiologic systems that support speech and language. When combined with other standard speech-language intervention strategies, hippotherapy can help improve communication disorders.
 
 

Our Partners

Alexian Brothers Medical Center    •     American Hippotherapy Association    •     Becca’s Legacy    •     Belvidere Park District    •     Canine Companions    •     Division of Specialized Care for Children    •     Easter Seals       Experience Works    •    Hines VA Hospital    •   Jesse Brown VA Hospital    •    Lake-McHenry County Veterans' Initiative    •     Linden Oaks at Edward Hospital Madison VA Outpatient Clinic    •     McHenry County Adult Program        Milwaukee VA Hospital   •   National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification    •    Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging    •     North Boone School District    •     North Chicago VA Hospital    •    Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association    •     Oak Park Vet Center    •   Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International & Horses for Heroes  •   Rockford Passages Hospice    •     Regional Access and Mobilization Project    •     Regional Alternative School, Winnebago County    •     Road Ranger, USA    •     Rockford VA Outpatient Clinic    •     Salute, Inc.    •    Seguin Services, Inc.    •     Senior Community Services Employment program       Special Education District of McHenry County    •     Special Olympics of Illinois    •    The Heart of a Marine Foundation    •    William Shatner's Hollywood Charity Horse Show    •    Zablocki VA Hospital

© BraveHearts 2006 - 2011. All Rights Reserved. Website Designed and Hosted by Excalibur Technology Corp.