Horse therapy: how hippotherapy helps children and adults

The horse walks, and the rider’s body moves with it: the pelvis, the spine, the shoulders. This is not just a walk. Behind every step of the animal there is a physiotherapeutic effect, which doctors have been using for several decades. Hippotherapy is one of the few rehabilitation methods that children perceive not as treatment, but as pleasure. And one of the few where the benefits have been proven not only for those who have a diagnosis.

We'll figure out how it works, who it's suitable for, what to expect from the first lesson - and why even a healthy adult should ride into the field on horseback at least once.

What is hippotherapy - and how does it differ from horse riding?

Hippotherapy (from the Greek hippos - horse) is a form of physical therapy in which the horse acts as a therapeutic tool. An important clarification: hippotherapy is not the same as just horseback riding.

Hippotherapy is an activity under the guidance of a specialist (hippotherapist or rehabilitation therapist), with specific goals and medical indications. The patient most often sits bareback, and the movement of the horse does most of the work.

Therapeutic horse riding (THE) is a more active form: the rider controls the horse himself, performs exercises, and develops skills. Suitable for patients with mild to moderate impairments.

Recreational horse riding is regular horse riding for pleasure and general health. Without medical indications, available to everyone. It is this format that most of us try for the first time - and it is the one that has a noticeable therapeutic effect even without a diagnosis.

By the way: 30 minutes of horseback riding at a pace is comparable in effect on muscles to 4-5 sessions of classical massage - this is the assessment given by rehabilitation specialists.

Why does a horse heal: the mechanics of the effect

When a horse walks at a walk, its body makes complex three-dimensional oscillations - back and forth, up and down, left and right. These movements are transmitted to the rider through the spine and pelvis. The body is forced to constantly adapt, maintaining balance, and in this “adaptation” almost all muscle groups are involved at the same time.

This is especially valuable for people with movement disorders: muscles that hardly work in normal life are activated. For a healthy person, the effect is different - the deep muscles of the core, neck and back receive a load that is difficult to reproduce in the gym.

In addition to biomechanics, another channel works - emotional. A horse is a large living creature with a high body temperature (1–1.5°C higher than human temperature). The heat emanating from the animal acts as a gentle warming up of the muscles. Contact with a horse increases the level of serotonin and dopamine, reduces cortisol - the stress hormone. This is not a metaphor: the corresponding changes are recorded in biochemical analyses.

Hippotherapy for children: when and why

Children are the main group for which hippotherapy is prescribed as a method of rehabilitation. There are several reasons: the child’s nervous system is plastic, it is more amenable to stimulation; In addition, the child perceives the activity as a game and does not resist the “treatment.”

Hippotherapy is used for the following conditions:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the main indicators. The rhythmic movement of the horse reduces spasticity, develops stability of the neck and back muscles, and improves coordination.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – interacting with a horse is emotionally liberating, reduces anxiety, and stimulates speech and social interaction.
• Delayed psycho-speech development - classes activate speech centers through rhythmic stimulation and the need to follow commands.
• Scoliosis I–II degrees, postural disorders - the horse “teaches” its back to hold itself correctly without force.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - horse riding requires concentration, which trains voluntary attention.
• Rehabilitation after neurological injuries - restoration of motor functions through passive movement.

An important detail that many sources miss: the first lesson with a child is always introductory. A professional hippotherapist will never force a child onto a horse. If there is fear, first just get to know him: come up, pet him, treat him with a carrot. It is this acquaintance that often turns out to be key - the child himself will want to sit down.

Age:  Hippotherapy is used starting from 2 years (if indicated and with the consent of the doctor). Recreational horse riding and horseback riding - from 3.5–4 years.

Hippotherapy for adults: not only rehabilitation

Here competitors are almost always limited to a list of diagnoses. But the truth is that most adults who ride regularly don't do so for medical reasons—and still experience real therapeutic benefits.

What does horse riding give to a healthy adult:

• Core and back muscles. Maintaining balance in the saddle is a constant work of deep stabilizer muscles. The very ones that are important for posture and the prevention of back pain, but which are almost never trained on exercise machines.
• Reducing stress and anxiety. Concentration on the horse, its movement and breathing is a kind of meditation in motion. After an hour's horseback ride, the level of anxiety decreases significantly.
• Improved coordination and balance. This is especially true for people who lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle.
• Emotional reboot. The animal does not judge, does not rush, does not wait for a report. This is a simple but powerful psychotherapeutic effect.
• Socialization and new experiences. For a city dweller, a horseback ride through the forest is a fundamentally different feeling of space and one’s own body.

For adults diagnosed with hippotherapy, hippotherapy is used for osteochondrosis, consequences of stroke, multiple sclerosis, depression and anxiety disorders, and coordination problems after traumatic brain injuries.

A nuance for office workers:  Horseback riding is one of the few physical activities where correct posture is not achieved through willpower, but arises on its own: otherwise you simply won’t be able to stay in the saddle.

How the lesson works: what to expect for the first time

This section is almost never found in competitor materials - and it is this section that is most often of interest to those who are thinking of trying it for the first time.

Getting to know the horse. The lesson never begins with immediate landing. First - introduction: approach, pet, give a treat. For children, this stage may take several sessions. For adults - 10–15 minutes.

Landing and adaptation. The instructor helps you sit down (a platform or ramp is used for patients with limited mobility). The first minutes the horse stands still - the body gets used to the height and warmth of the animal.

Movement in steps. The main gait in hippotherapy is the step. The horse is led by a handler, the instructor walks alongside and insures the rider. No canter or trot for beginners and patients.

Exercises on a horse. Depending on the purpose of the lesson - body turns, bending, breathing exercises, working with hands. For healthy adults, the first session may involve no exercise at all—just a feeling of movement.

Duration. The first lesson is usually 20–30 minutes. Over time, the duration increases to 45–60 minutes.

After class. Often - caring for the horse: brushing, treating. This element is no less important than the riding itself: it builds trust and responsibility, especially in children.

Contraindications: when not to

Hippotherapy is a gentle technique and has relatively few absolute contraindications. Nevertheless, they exist.

Absolute contraindications: congenital fragility of bones (osteogenesis imperfecta), hemophilia, acute mental disorders with dangerous behavior, severe diseases in the acute stage.

Relative (the decision is made by the doctor): severe cardiovascular diseases, stage III hypertension, severe scoliosis (grade III–IV), joint instability, epilepsy with frequent seizures.

In all cases, before a course of hippotherapy, a doctor’s consultation and a medical certificate are required. This is the standard of any professional center.

How to choose a club or center: 6 questions 

• Does the instructor have specialized training in hippotherapy (medical, psychological or pedagogical education + certificate)?
• How do horses behave? They should be calm, accustomed to different people, with an even rhythmic step.
• How is security organized? A helmet, safety rails, and the presence of a horse handler are all required.
• Is there a platform for boarding (important for children and patients with limited mobility)?
• Can I watch the lesson before recording? A good center will always allow it.
• Do they offer a trial introductory lesson without the obligation to purchase the course?

What if I just want to try - without a diagnosis?

This is perhaps the most important question for most readers. The answer is simple: horseback riding and recreational riding are available to everyone—and they work, too.

You don’t need a diagnosis to feel how after an hour on horseback your back relaxes, tension goes away and you want to breathe deeper. You don't have to be "sick" to benefit from contact with a living, warm, calm creature weighing half a ton who is in no hurry.

For adults without special needs, a regular horse ride with an experienced instructor is sufficient. The first time is always accompanied, at a pace, along a familiar route. No fear of heights: the horse senses the rider’s condition and reacts to it.

For those afraid of heights:  Most beginners feel a little anxious when landing - this is normal. After just 10–15 minutes of walking, anxiety usually goes away on its own. The horse calms down.

Try it - it's easier than it seems

Hippotherapy is perceived as something complex and special - rehabilitation centers, medical certificates, special techniques. All this is true for the clinical form. But outside the clinic there is a simpler and more accessible way: come to a good place, get to know the horses, go out into the field.

Equestrian Club “Ecorancho” in the Moscow region (Mozhaisky district, 115 km from Moscow along the Minsk highway) works with horses that are well known and who are accustomed to people of all ages and experience. Here they offer walking walks for beginners, classes in an indoor arena and horse riding lessons with a professional groomer Dmitry - who, judging by the reviews of guests, finds a common language with even the most cautious children.

No experience or special training is required for horseback riding - just the desire to try.

The horse is in no hurry. She just goes - and takes you with her.