Chapter 55 Hippotherapy
OVERVIEW.
Hippotherapy is an intervention that uses equine (horse) movement to improve a patient’s neurological function. The patient engages in controlled, enjoyable, and challenging activity while riding on a horse. The intent is not to improve horse riding skills.1 Horses provides sensory input through their movement. The movements are thought to mimic movements occurring during human gait.
SUMMARY: CONTRAINDICATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS.
Two sources cited a total of 17 concerns for hippotherapy. Lelong et al2 cited one concern (for horse allergies), whereas Strauss3 listed 17. The largest proportion of concerns was for persons with neurological diseases (35%) and included issues such as the riding-related risks with epilepsy, spasticity-related sitting difficulties, or the concern of aggravating an existing condition (e.g., increased spasticity; fatigue-related deterioration). Horse allergy concerns were cited by both sources. Lelong et al2 advised that children be monitored for sensitivity.
