Assessment of Native Lithuanian Horses for Therapeutic Riding Purposes.

This research focused on assessing the suitability of the Lithuanian-native Žemaitukas horse breed for therapeutic horse riding or hippotherapy. Several tests were conducted, including evaluations of temperament, behavior, and physical measurements, and the results suggested that with proper training, these horses could be effectively used in therapy programs.

Research Purpose

• The goal of the study was to determine if Žemaitukas, a Lithuanian native horse breed, could be suitable for use in hippotherapy. Hippotherapy refers to a treatment strategy involving horses to promote physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy sessions. It was suspected that these horses’ temperament, behavior, and physical traits might make them suitable for such therapy use.

Methodology of the Study

• The researchers carried out a variety of tests to assess the suitability of these horses for hippotherapy. The tests were designed to evaluate temperament, behavior, and zoometric (physical body measurements) traits.
• A total of 32 horses were evaluated in the study. Among these, 29 were Žemaitukas horses that had not previously been used in hippotherapy, while the remaining horses were of different breeds and had been used in hippotherapy. The latter group served as the control group.

Research Findings

• The results showed that the control group of horses, which had previously been used for hippotherapy, scored better in many of the tests, confirming that these tests were suitable for evaluating horses for therapeutic use.
• On the other hand, Žemaitukas breed horses scored an average of 15.9% lower on the temperament test and 21.3% lower on the “Hippo-test” compared to the control group of hippotherapy horses.
• Despite these lower scores, the findings suggest that Žemaitukas breed horses could still potentially be good candidates for use in hippotherapy, provided they undergo special training programs first.

Implications of the Study

• This research provides insights into the potential use of a native Lithuanian horse breed in hippotherapy, broadening the choice of horse’s breed for such therapeutic purpose.
• The findings serve as a stepping stone for further research into the training required to prepare Žemaitukas horses for therapeutic use, as well as the benefits that could result from such arrangements.