Hippotherapy for Children with Special Needs

What is hippotherapy?

The term hippotherapy has its roots in ancient Greece, where hippos translates to horse. According to the American Hippotherapy Association, hippotherapy is a form of therapy employed by professionals specialising in occupational, physical, and speech therapy. It involves a therapeutic riding session for the patient guided by a therapist. A horse’s gait can improve the general well-being of a patient in terms of his/her physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and behavioural health.

What type of special needs can hippotherapy help?

Hippotherapy can be implemented to aid children who have both physical and cognitive impairments such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, and Down syndrome. However, hippotherapy is not recommended for all children with special needs. Those with health complications such as “fragile bones, hemophilia, hemorrhoids, a history of aggression toward animals, or uncontrolled epilepsy” (Granados & Agís, 2011) are advised against this form of therapy.

How does it help children with special needs?

The movement of the horse is said to mimic the rhythm of walking. During hippotherapy, riders are passively riding so that they can sense the natural movement of the horse.

This improves motor skills as it links to the central nervous system, and also helps those with developmental delays in speech and cognition.

Additionally, interactions with the horse boosts their confidence and encourages them to develop social skills. Children who partake of hippotherapy can reap other benefits such as “improved circulation, respiration, balance, motor coordination and mobility” (RDA Singapore, n.d.).

What hippotherapy services are available in Singapore?

Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore (RDA) is a charity that provides hippotherapy services to children suffering from intellectual and physical disabilities with horses generously sponsored by willing individuals, families, and organisations. Maintenance of the stables as well as caretaking of horses relies on donors and volunteers. Hippotherapy has proven to be a very popular choice among parents of children with special needs, as there is a waiting list for these children to have a slot. Currently, as of 2017, RDA is the only charity organisation to provide this service in Singapore and it hopes to continue to do so with the help of the public.

REFERENCES:

1. American Hippotherapy Association. (2016). Retrieved from American Hippotherapy Association: http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/
2. Granados, A. C., & Agís, I.F. (2011, March). Why Children With Special Needs Feel Better with Hippotherapy Sessions: A Conceptual Review. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 17(3), 191-197. doi:http://dx.doi.org.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/10.1089/acm.2009.0229
3. RDA Singapore. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from RDA Singapore: http://rdasingapore.org/faqs/