Helping Hooves Equine Therapy Program

   Therapeutic Riding (also known as Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Assisted Activities, Equine Facilitated Therapy, and Riding for the Disabled) is the use of the horse as a therapy tool to achieve goals including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals.                    

                 Using the horse as therapy goes back many centuries. Today, therapeutic riding is practiced  in most countries in the world.  In the U.S, The Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) puts forward standards in the industry that incorporates therapy, education, sport, and recreation/leisure activities.

                  The horse is  an effective therapy tool, because the horse’s movement simulates a normal human gait.  This gentle rhythmic movement helps improve balance, muscle control and tone, motor development and coordination, balance, posture, strength and overall body awareness.  For many riders, horseback therapy is the first time in their lives that they can experience the freedom and joy of independent movement.

  Therapeutic riding offers a motivational opportunity to improve attention span, concentration,  memory, and language           skill development. The positive horse and human interaction can result in a greater sense of teamwork, self-esteem, responsibility and communication.
              
                 Therapeutic riding is goal         oriented and consists of activities that       may include grooming, tacking, stable management, individual exercises, riding skills and games.
                 
                   Each horse used in the program  is picked for their calm, gentle demeanor  and willingness to please. Volunteers are vital to therapeutic riding as they are     trained to lead the therapy horses and sidewalk beside the horse watching the   rider and helping to insure a safe, effective lesson.

• Cardiovascular Accident/Stroke
• Autism
•  Muscular Dystophy
• Cerebral Palsy
• Visual and Hearing Impairments
  
• Mental Retardation
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Spina Bifida
• Emotional Disabilities
• Brain/Spinal Cord Injuries
• Amputations
• Learning Disabilities
• Attention Deficit Disorder