HIPPOTHERAPY

Who is likely to benefit from Hippotherapy?

There is considerable research evidence that

Hippotherapy is particularly beneficial for

people who have neurological disorders that

affect their ability to move (neuro-motor

impairments).

Conditions that may benefit from hippotherapy

include:

  - cerebral palsy,

  - multiple sclerosis,

  - spinal cord injury,

  - acquired brain injury,

  - stroke,

  - Parkinson’s disease

However, this list is not exclusive and hippotherapy is also likely to

benefit children with Developmental Delay, Dyspraxia, Spina bifida,

Down’s Syndrome and ASD, and people of all ages with other

neurological impairments.

People with neuro-motor impairments tend to share some of the

following signs and symptoms:

   - abnormal muscle tone (this could be high or low; i.e. people’s

     muscles might be tight across certain joints, or they may be

     generally very “floppy”)

   - difficulties with coordination of arm and/or leg movements

   - difficulties with balance in sitting, standing and/or walking

   - difficulties in controlling their trunk and/or head in an upright

     position

   - difficulty or inability to walk.