The History of Equine Therapy

Historically, the therapeutic benefits of the horse were recognized as early as 460 BC.
References to the physical and emotional benefits of horseback riding date back to
writings in the 1600s. However, when Liz Hartel of Denmark, who suffered some
paralysis from polio, won the silver medal for dressage at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic
Games, the medical and equine profession took active notice. Within only a few years,
therapeutic riding was used for rehabilitation, first in Germany and England and then in
North America.
The first centers in North America for therapeutic riding began operation in the 1960s.
In 1969, the professional organization, North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association (NARHA) was formed. NARHA, now known as Professional Association of
Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), began with 4 member centers and 60 individual
members. Currently, the number of PATH affiliated centers and members have increased
to more than 800 member centers around the globe and 6,500 individual members.
There are more than 42,000 riders who have taken part in PATH programs with the help
of 3,500 instructors, 30,000 volunteers, and 6,300 therapy horses.
In Texas, there are only approximately 15 equine therapy centers spread across the
state. However, in the region of San Antonio and Kerrville, there is not currently a full
therapy ranch which is why The Abilities Ranch has the opportunity to reach so many
more people who are not currently being served.
These are the locations in Texas that are currently offering equine therapy: Victoria,
Dallas, Cresson, Waxahachie, Pearland, Fresno, Manor, Selma, Uvalde, Alvin,
Montgomery, Pipe Creek, Midlothian, Houston, and La Vernia.
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Why The Horse?
The horse’s natural gaits provide a variety of rhythmic and repetitive movement similar
to human movement patterns. The horse’s gait enhances sensory input as the client
experiences patterns similar to a pelvis while walking.
Natural Gaits:
Walk– A four-beat gait that averages 4 mph. When walking, a horse’s legs follow this
sequence: left hind leg, left front leg, right hind leg, right front leg, in a regular 1-2-3-4
beat. The horse will move its head and neck in a slight up and down motion to help
maintain balance.
Trot – A two-beat gait that has a wide variation in possible speeds, but averages 8 mph.
the horse moves its legs in unison in diagonal pairs. From the standpoint of the horse,
this is a very stable gait, and the horse need not make balancing motions with its head
and neck.
Canter – A controlled three-beat gait that averages 16-27 mph depending on the length
of the horse’s stride. Listening to a canter, one can usually hear the three beats as ifplayed on a drum with a pause immediately followed by the three-beat canter once
again.
Gallop – A controlled three-beat Canter that changes to a four-beat gait as the horse
reaches 25-30 mph and begins to cover more ground. This is the fastest gait of the
horse.
Pace – A lateral two-beat gait where two legs on the same side of the horse move
together, unlike the trot, where the two legs diagonally opposite from each other move
forward together. A slow pace is relatively comfortable, as the rider is lightly rocked
from side to side.
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The horse is both a solid and dynamic support base for the client. Strength and agility
found in the horse provides the participant an ability to experience both confidence in
stability and exhilaration in change. During gait transitions, the client makes postural
adjustments to maintain a stable position in a dynamic environment. These subtle
adjustments allows for strengthening and increasing the client’s postural control,
increasing balance, addressing motor skills, while building strength and endurance.
While combining Hippotherapy with other treatment strategies, therapists vary the
degree of movement and gait transitions for each client. In addition to the direct
physical benefits, a participant’s response to the horse’s movement facilitates
coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration
and attention skills. For the client, bonding with his/her horse, in conjunction with
cultivating confidence while astride the horse, makes this an extremely enjoyable and
therapeutic experience.
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What do Therapists and Pathologists focus on?
Physical Therapist: The physical therapist can overlay a variety of motor tasks on a
horses movement to address the motor needs of each client and to promote functional
outcomes in skill areas related to gross motor ability such as sitting, standing, and
walking.
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Occupational Therapist: The occupational therapist is able to combine the effects of the
equine movement with other standard intervention strategies for working on fine motor
control, sensory integration, feeding skills, attentional skills, and functional daily living
skills in a progressively challenging manner.
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Speech-language Pathologist: The speech-language pathologist is able to use the equine
movement to facilitate the physiologic systems that support speech and language. When combined with other standard speech-language intervention and strategies, the speech-
language pathologist is able to generate effective remediation of communication disorders and promote functional communication outcomes.The following represents a partial list of the types of physical and mental handicaps in which equine-assisted therapy has already demonstrated its ability to help clients overcome their disabilities and achieve their highest potential:
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Amputations
Autism
Brain Injuries
Cerebral Palsy
Developmental Delays
Down Syndrome
Emotional Disorders
Language Impaired
Learning Disabilities
Mentally Handicapped
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Post Polio Syndrome
Speech Impaired
Spina Bifida
Spinal Cord Injuries
Stroke
Visual Impaired

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