Hippotherapy
Helping children grow stronger through evidence-based therapy using controlled equine movement
What is Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy is a treatment tool that uses specially controlled movement of the horse to engage and improve the sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems. It is provided by a licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapist in collaboration with a specialized equine professional, as part of a comprehensive, individualized plan of care.
During a session, the horse's movement is carefully directed by a trained horse handler under the supervision of a licensed therapist. The patient does not control the horse; instead, the horse's rhythmic, multidimensional gait provides dynamic input to the patient's body systems, closely mimicking the movement of the human pelvis during walking.
This movement stimulates the vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, and visual systems, helping regulate sensory processing and support motor learning. A horse typically takes about 100 steps per minute, offering thousands of opportunities for the patient to practice movement patterns in a single session.
Benefits of Hippotherapy
Who Can Benefit from Hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy may be appropriate for children and adults with:
Abnormal muscle tone
Impaired balance or coordination
Postural asymmetry or poor postural control
Sensory processing challenges
Communication delays
Neuromotor dysfunction
Developmental delays
Our Approach
At Leaps & Bounds, we offer medically necessary physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Hippotherapy is a treatment tool that is used by a licensed therapist who has received specialized training through the American Hippotherapy Association. It is just one of the many tools a therapist may use.
During the therapy evaluation, the therapist will discuss whether this tool is appropriate for the treatment plan. Our teams work collaboratively with horse professionals to ensure safe, effective, and individualized treatment sessions.
Hippotherapy may be integrated into:
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Each session is tailored to the patient's goals and takes place in a natural, engaging outdoor setting that makes therapy both effective and enjoyable.