What is Hippotherapy?

With a variety of occupations needed in this progressive era, the world is coming up with new ways to tackle different situations. There are various unique courses that have been emerging in the last few years. One career that is coming forward is Hippotherapy. It is part of the medical literature and is a kind of therapy that helps patients improve their physical health. This article will give you all the details you need to know about hippotherapy.

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About Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a way in which the therapist uses the movements of a horse to give physical and speech therapy to the patients. Hippotherapy has been used to help people who suffer from disabilities such as neurological disorders like autism, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioural disorders, and psychiatric disorders. 

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How Does it Work?

A horse’s movement is multidimensional and is comparable to the pelvis of a human. Sitting on a horse would need the use of every muscle in the body. However, in the environment of hippotherapy, it could activate all kinds of sensory integration such as tactile, vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive stimulation. It has also been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses causes changes in brain wave patterns. Thus, the environment helps the brain to process.

Who Benefits from Hippotherapy?

Children with various mental and physical disabilities make up the patient population for Hippotherapy. This includes, but is not restricted to:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Down Syndrome
• Autism
• Behavioural Disorders
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Amputees
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Psychiatric Diseases
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Rheumatism Joint Diseases Etc.

Who can Provide Hippotherapy?

In most countries, hippotherapy requires specialisation and can be provided by the therapists listed below once they have completed the necessary training and certification.

• Physiotherapists (PT)
• Occupational therapists (OT)
• Speech-language pathologists (SLP)

The American Hippotherapy Association in North America has a licencing programme to become a titled Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPSC)

Hippotherapy as a Career

Hippotherapy is done when an experienced physiotherapist is present, along with a horse, and horse caretaker. Physiotherapists control the horse’s gait and velocity and move the horse in different directions. These movements help to develop neuromuscular and sensory reactions in the patient. In this industry, therapeutic riding is also gaining a lot of support. It helps to improve the quality of life for people who are restricted by physical or mental disabilities.  

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Job Roles in Hippotherapy

Some popular careers and important skills that are needed in the various areas of occupation are listed below:

• In Administration, the positions available are Executive Director, Member, a part of the Board of Directors, etc. People can also be development executives and program managers. The important skills to be in such positions include management of meetings, business, human resources, accounting, and training, along with the knowledge of the corporate wing and purchasing.
• In Facility Management, there are positions for stable and grounds Maintenance. The skills required include a major understanding of rules and regulations of land use issues, area management, etc.
• Animal Care is another field that is important to have thorough knowledge about. It is vital that the worker understands the anatomy of the horse and its health. Horse behaviour and handling are very important tasks as well. The positions open for this can be barn managers and horse caretakers. 
• In Instructional Positions, people can take jobs as Head Instructors, Assistant Instructors, Volunteers, etc. To achieve this, some important skills required include management of the  Riding programs. The worker would have to manage participation, lesson plans, scheduling, certification, etc. 

How to Get a Hippotherapy Certification in the USA?

Wondering how you can become a certified hippotherapy professional? You have to get certification in the course. The USA offers courses in Hippotherapy. Here’s everything you need to know about Hippotherapy in the USA:

• To become a certified hippotherapy clinical specialist, one must be currently licensed or certified to practice as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech or language therapist in the U.S. 
• Three years of full-time work in any of those professions is required.
• A complete 100 hours of treatment in practice using hippotherapy is needed within three years of the application deadline.
• A hypnotherapist should be comfortable working with horses and have riding abilities as well. 
• The candidate has to appear for a certification examination and then have to pay the required fees. 

Must Read: MSc Occupational Therapy

Hippotherapy in India

There are a small number of centres that provide only limited services in India. The patients in India do not receive a standardized or controlled treatment procedure. Not just that, hippotherapy does not come under general health insurance. But hippotherapy centres are coming up, which are inaugurated by The Ministry of Health in the country. The number of centres that provide certified hippotherapy training is increasing. With the coverage of hippotherapy classes under general health insurance, there will be a time when effective and safe services are available to patients. To be a hypnotherapist, it is necessary to study psychology and get a license and a certification. 

FAQs

The importance of hippotherapy is acknowledged more deeply by physicians, and therapists in our country, and a greater number of patients, and their families will benefit from this form of treatment. This was all about the Hippotherapy. For the latest updates around study blogs, you can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and also subscribe to our newsletter. Leverage Edu wishes you all the best in all your future endeavours.