Rehabilitation in the therapeutic riding arena.

This research article talks about the use of therapeutic horse riding as a method of rehabilitation for individuals living with physical, mental or emotional disabilities, detailing the author’s experience with this type of therapy both as a patient and as an executive director of a therapeutic riding program.

Introduction to Therapeutic Riding

• The article began with the author’s introduction to therapeutic riding through a patient named Sara. Sara, who sustained a severe brain injury in a car accident, exhibited remarkable results after engaging in therapeutic riding. The improvements she experienced inspired the author to delve deeper into this form of therapy.
• Therapeutic riding, or hippotherapy, employs horses as therapy aids. The author learned about it from Sara’s physical and recreational therapist, Jan, who had specialist training in this field. The author’s interest in horses further fueled her interest in this form of therapy.

Hippotherapy and Rehabilitation

• Another patient mentioned in the paper was able to progress from a state of physical incapacity after an accident to being able to ride again for leisure. Hippotherapy not only improved her physical condition (strength and balance) but also had a positive impact on her mental health.
• The author, after moving to Vermont, continued to work in rehabilitation, becoming involved with High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program. She began as a program manager and eventually progressed to the role of executive director.
• Therapeutic riding is said to have profound impacts on the whole person, influencing all body systems. The approaches and techniques adopted in this therapy are controlled by various associations, ensuring the benefit outweighs the inherent risks of horse-related activities.

High Horses Therapeutic Riding Program

• The author details her work at High Horses, an organization accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), acknowledging adherence to NARHA’s standards. The organization offers riding instructions to disabled riders, adhering to NARHA’s criteria that ascertain if the benefit of therapeutic riding outweighs the risks.
• As the executive director, the author encompasses the roles of assisting riders, consulting instructors on riders’ medical issues, enhancing family and caregiver understanding of the program, and counseling families and riders.

Therapeutic Riding Team and Process

• Therapeutic riding involves a team consisting of the rider, certified instructor, volunteer side walkers, horse leaders, family or other caregivers, and the horse. The team works together, bearing in mind the patient’s medical conditions and possible risks associated with riding.
• Information about the client’s medical conditions and potential contraindications for riding is provided by the primary physician, ensuring safety. The therapeutic riding team co-operates with other professionals involved with the patient to prepare customized goals and lesson plans.
• The author uses her rehabilitation nursing background to assist riding instructors with understanding various disabilities and medical issues related to the riders.