What is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic
riding uses equine-oriented activities for the purpose of contributing
positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well
being of people with disabilities. Therapeutic riding provides benefits
in the areas of therapy, education, sport, and recreation and leisure.
Therapeutic Riding Classifications
The following classifications reflect the primary fields of therapeutic
riding and their different approaches. An integrated approach to
therapeutic riding uses the therapeutic benefits in all four fields;
however, each can be practiced as a specialty.
Education
Equine activities are used to achieve psycho-educational goals
for people with physical, mental and psychological impairments as
well as to provide the individual with skills in the sport chosen
(such as riding, driving or vaulting). The emphasis is to incorporate
cognitive, behavioral, psychological and physical goals into the
program plan while teaching adapted riding, driving or vaulting.
The horse is a strong motivator for accomplishing these goals.
Therapeutic riding instructors, educational specialists and *licensed
/ credentialed health professionals are involved in the design and
implementation of the programs. The frequency of consultation with
educational specialists is determined on an individual basis.
Sport
People with physical, mental and psychological impairments can
participate in sport activities - adapted as needed - with the horse.
These activities include riding, driving and vaulting as forms of
therapeutic recreation and competition. Activities are directed
toward the acquisition of skills leading to the accomplishment of
specific horsemanship goals. Therapeutic riding instructors are
primarily responsible for the design and implementation of the program.
Educational specialists, recreational therapists and *licensed /
credentialed health professionals may assist the instructor in a
variety of ways, and are generally involved on a consultative basis.
Recreation and Leisure
People with physical, mental and psychological impairments may
use equine activities - adapted as needed - as a recreation and
leisure experience. The emphasis is on an enjoyable and relaxing
experience that provides additional therapeutic benefits in the
areas of socialization, posture, mobility and an overall improved
quality of life. Individuals may participate in horse-related activities
to their maximum ability in an atmosphere of support, structure
and socialization for the primary purpose of the intrinsic enjoyment
of the activity.
Therapeutic Riding Instructors and recreational therapists are
primarily responsible for program development. Educational specialists
and *licensed / credentialed health professionals are generally
involved on a consultative basis.
* "Licensed / credentialed health professionals" refers
to physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language
pathologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, nurses and
rehabilitation specialists. Health professionals providing direct
service "therapy" through equine oriented activities should
have additional specialized training in the use of the horse as
a component of treatment in their respective area of expertise.
Therapy
Equine activities are used as a form of therapy to achieve physical,
psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication goals. The
therapy is provided by a licensed / credentialed health professional.
The use of the horse involves a team approach among licensed / credentialed
health professionals, therapeutic riding instructors and clients.
The client may be treated as a group or on an individual basis directly
be the health professional.
Knowledge of the principles of classic hippotherapy is considered
essential for all licensed / credentialed health professionals who
provide direct therapy treatment using the horse. Such health professionals
also integrate the treatment principles of their professions into
the equine activites used in the treatment setting.
Several health professions, including Physical Therapy, Occupational
Therapy, Speech Pathology and Psychology, have developed specialized
forms of treatment using the horse within those professions. These
include but are not limited to, Classic
Hippotherapy, Hippotherapy,
Developmental Riding Therapy, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
Freedom Ride
1905 Lee Road
Orlando, FL 32810
Map to Freedom Ride
Phone: (407) 293-0411
Fax: (407) 293-6280
info@freedomride.com
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