Horse-riding- three dimensional movements stimulate the vestibular system and BALANCE
1. Postural and equilibrium responses
3. Protective extension – Children with poor body and gravity sensation make no effort to extend the hand and arms when falling.
4. Muscle tone If the vestibular system is not effective, a low muscle tone is present and the child tires easily. This can also be the reason that many children with learning problems have difficulty in sitting straight up and holding the head up while writing. Horse riding is the only sport having a positive effect on low as well as heightened muscle tone. The rhythmic movement of the pelvis will destroy spastic patterns and neck, back and body or trunk control will improve.
5. Eye and neck muscles Children with learning problems as a result of poor functioning of the vestibular system, often have problems with eye movements.
The vestibular system is also responsible for keeping a stable picture during movement. To make this possible the vestibular system must make continuous adjustments in the neck and eye muscles to compensate for the movement of the head. Without these adjustments is difficult for the child at school, to copy work form the black board into his notebook.
6. Eye movements / vision- Vision is influenced by the stimulation of the neck muscles. Smooth coordinated eye movements are essential to reading and other academic tasks.
7. Bilateral motor coordination This refers to the ability of the child to co-ordinate movements of one side of the body as well as both simultaneously. Just by holding the reins and controlling the horse the children needs a lot of bilateral integration.
8. Laterality An unique program is again develop to work on the horse, stimulating right-left discrimination, body image, concept and scheme. It is also important to work here on crossing of the midline and trunk-rotation.
9. Praxis This relate to the ability to plan and execute skilled or non-habitual motor tasks.
10. Eye-hand coordination We need fine muscle control and eye-hand coordination to write in the school. A definite program again is followed on the horse to work on this. It is however important that one first work on shoulder stability on the horse.
11. Hemispheric integration Good hemisphere integration is of the utmost importance in the learning process. In order to keep balance on the horse, muscles strength of both sides of the body is required, and both hemispheres are involved.
12. Speech, language, auditory perception One of the three vestibular canals is an auditory receptor. Speech development should therefore be one of the first aspects to be influenced positively in a horse-riding therapy program.
13. Spatial perception The rhythmic three-dimensional movement of the horse evokes balance reactions through the passive shifting of the rider’s gravity and this can influence the development of special perception. Children having problems with spatial perception sometimes reverse letters and number.
14. Overactive/ under-active vestibular system Because there is close cooperation with the vestibular system, active behavior is caused by an overactive vestibular system and passive behavior by an under-active vestibular system.
15. Academic performance There is a clear link between horse-riding and its influence on academic performance.
16. Self-image/emotions A child’s mental attitude will also improve with horse-riding therapy. Over and above developing the potential of the individual’s feelings of self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence are nurtured as seen in current practice. Horse-riding also teaches self-discipline, daring, control and techniques which are applicable in many other situations.
- Postural background - These adjustments are especially important when children works at a table or during therapeutic horse-riding
- The trunk is not usually moved when the head is moved. When the body is moved, the child sometimes falls from the horse, as he feels “heavy and stiff”. These children struggle with tasks such as “hopscotch” or horse-riding.
3. Protective extension – Children with poor body and gravity sensation make no effort to extend the hand and arms when falling.
4. Muscle tone If the vestibular system is not effective, a low muscle tone is present and the child tires easily. This can also be the reason that many children with learning problems have difficulty in sitting straight up and holding the head up while writing. Horse riding is the only sport having a positive effect on low as well as heightened muscle tone. The rhythmic movement of the pelvis will destroy spastic patterns and neck, back and body or trunk control will improve.
5. Eye and neck muscles Children with learning problems as a result of poor functioning of the vestibular system, often have problems with eye movements.
The vestibular system is also responsible for keeping a stable picture during movement. To make this possible the vestibular system must make continuous adjustments in the neck and eye muscles to compensate for the movement of the head. Without these adjustments is difficult for the child at school, to copy work form the black board into his notebook.
6. Eye movements / vision- Vision is influenced by the stimulation of the neck muscles. Smooth coordinated eye movements are essential to reading and other academic tasks.
7. Bilateral motor coordination This refers to the ability of the child to co-ordinate movements of one side of the body as well as both simultaneously. Just by holding the reins and controlling the horse the children needs a lot of bilateral integration.
8. Laterality An unique program is again develop to work on the horse, stimulating right-left discrimination, body image, concept and scheme. It is also important to work here on crossing of the midline and trunk-rotation.
9. Praxis This relate to the ability to plan and execute skilled or non-habitual motor tasks.
10. Eye-hand coordination We need fine muscle control and eye-hand coordination to write in the school. A definite program again is followed on the horse to work on this. It is however important that one first work on shoulder stability on the horse.
11. Hemispheric integration Good hemisphere integration is of the utmost importance in the learning process. In order to keep balance on the horse, muscles strength of both sides of the body is required, and both hemispheres are involved.
12. Speech, language, auditory perception One of the three vestibular canals is an auditory receptor. Speech development should therefore be one of the first aspects to be influenced positively in a horse-riding therapy program.
13. Spatial perception The rhythmic three-dimensional movement of the horse evokes balance reactions through the passive shifting of the rider’s gravity and this can influence the development of special perception. Children having problems with spatial perception sometimes reverse letters and number.
14. Overactive/ under-active vestibular system Because there is close cooperation with the vestibular system, active behavior is caused by an overactive vestibular system and passive behavior by an under-active vestibular system.
15. Academic performance There is a clear link between horse-riding and its influence on academic performance.
16. Self-image/emotions A child’s mental attitude will also improve with horse-riding therapy. Over and above developing the potential of the individual’s feelings of self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence are nurtured as seen in current practice. Horse-riding also teaches self-discipline, daring, control and techniques which are applicable in many other situations.
Therapy explained
Hippotherapy is the reaction/activity that takes place when a person rides a horse. It is so beneficial to the developing child and the challenged child. The horse is the therapist, engaging movements that assist and aid all developing children. Low motor skill function, low muscle one and all addressed through he motion of being on a horse. It massages the middle ear, encouraging focus, discipline, muscle control and balance.
Hippotherapy: the child is passive and the emphasis is on the movement of the horse and the influence of this on the child. Hippotherapy is used for children with physical difficulties.
Hippotherapy is the reaction/activity that takes place when a person rides a horse. It is so beneficial to the developing child and the challenged child. The horse is the therapist, engaging movements that assist and aid all developing children. Low motor skill function, low muscle one and all addressed through he motion of being on a horse. It massages the middle ear, encouraging focus, discipline, muscle control and balance.
Hippotherapy: the child is passive and the emphasis is on the movement of the horse and the influence of this on the child. Hippotherapy is used for children with physical difficulties.
- Developmental riding therapy: the child is more active, and a number of exercises are introduced beyond simply sitting on the horse and being moved. It benefits children with physical disabilities, as well as intellectual and psychiatric problems.
- Psycho-educational vaulting and riding: the emphasis is on utilisation of the whole horse and the space around it. This therapy is oriented towards children with remedial needs and psychiatric problems, as well as physically high functioning children with learning impairments and psychiatric difficulties.
- Riding as a sport and skill: riding is taught while being aware of the therapeutic benefits. This could eventually lead to a person taking part in the Paralympics or the Special Olympics.
- Equine-facilitated therapy: the emphasis is not on riding, but on using the horse as a tool to deal with psychological issues.
Why the horse?
The horse's unique walk transfers variable, repetitive and rhythmic movement to the client, which provides sensory input to the brain and nervous system. The resultant responses in the rider are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. An average horse takes 120 walking steps per minute, allowing 120 chances each minute for a client to experience this unique movement that cannot be replicated by other apparatus or equipment. During a session the therapist, working in conjunction with a specially trained horse handler, can grade or adapt this movement to provide a "just right challenge" for each rider. Most riders respond very enthusiastically to hippotherapy treatment and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to engage with the horse in an environment that is much different than the typical therapy clinic. Some conditions that may be contraindicated for hippotherapy include:
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Who benefits from hippotherapy
A wide variety of clients can experience benefits from hippotherapy. Some diagnoses commonly treated by our therapists include:
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