At Riding for Rehab, we believe in the powerful benefits of using horses for rehabilitation and therapy. We provide specialist physiotherapy and speech and language therapy for children and adults with a range of disabilities, using evidence-based Hippotherapy and Equine Facilitated Therapy techniques. We support clients to develop close relationships with horses and see lives improve as the work
they do aids strength, communication and wellbeing. This work can help people to fulfil their aspirations and dreams. One of the main benefits of using the horse as part of a therapy programme is that it is a therapy in disguise. Many clients who struggle to engage with therapy in typical clinical environments make great progress on the horse. Important work is completed but in a fun, engaging and challenging way. Clients develop close relationships with the specially-selected horses and moving forward, they often go on to ride with their peers as a leisure activity or take up riding as a sport. Hippotherapy: From the Greek ‘hippos’= horse + ‘therapia’ = healing
In hippotherapy, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists use equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes. At Riding for Rehab, our therapists have undertaken specialist training in delivering hippotherapy treatment. The main goals of hippotherapy for clients with physiotherapy programmes are to improve strength, posture, balance and co-ordinated movement. The repetitive 3 dimensional movement of the horse helps to stimulate postural responses, core strengthening, balance and relaxation of tight muscles. Riding skills are not taught in hippotherapy, instead changes of position on the horse and functional activities are incorporated to achieve therapy goals. Our Speech and Language Therapist is one of the first in the UK to use equine movement to directly address speech, language and communication skills and to achieve functional communication outcomes. The horse's movement is used to facilitate the neuromotor systems that support speech, language and communication skills including motor control, postural control, respiration and sensory processing. Simply, the equine movement organises the client's body for the complex cognitive task of communication. Additionally, the riding environment provides natural opportunities for social interaction and language learning and often proves an excellent motivator.
