How Does Hippotherapy
Help Autism?

Now, you may be asking why horse therapy is called hippotherapy!

Actually, ‘hippo’ is derived from the Greek word for horse.

Horse therapy does not involve horseback riding lessons like therapeutic horseback riding.

Rather, the certified therapist uses the horse with special needs individuals in the same manner as a swing or trampoline or any other occupational therapy device. But a horse also provides the advantageous of a living creature.

The therapist will also work on creating and deepening the bond between the horse and your child primarily by caring for and learning about the horse. Your child will brush, feed, and praise the horse.

In addition, your child will learn to communicate with the horse through body language. And social skills will improve by contact with other children.

Balance and posture can also be significantly improved with a horse. In the beginning, your child may just sit on the horse, and then gradually progress to walking or trotting. Then, more unusual exercises can be added such as catching balls, sitting backwards, stretching arms out or over head, and closing eyes. These activities develop the vestibular and proprioception senses and normalize muscle tone.

Actually, the entire horse therapy experience improves sensory integration dysfunction . Petting and brushing the horse provides considerable tactile inputs. Watching the horse and other riders is visually stimulating. You can hear the hoofs and smell the barn. Hopefully, there are not any tasting activities though!

Auditory processing can also be further developed since the child needs to understand and follow directions.

The following books are especially helpful for further tips and techniques about horseback riding and about a horse unit study for your little horse enthusiast.

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