Therapeutic horseback riding may improve social skills in children with autism.
Children with autism who rode horses as therapy showed improvements in several social skills after 12 weeks of therapy. This study compared before-therapy and after-therapy scores on social skills tests for 19 children (5-10 years old). Children were improved in sensory seeking and sensitivity. They also had more social motivation and were less distracted. The authors said that this is the first study to measure the impact of horseback riding on social skills in children with autism.
Autism Therapy: hippotherapy
definition of hippotherapy: Therapy that involves individuals interacting with and riding on horses. Hippotherapy is done with a licensed physical or occupational therapist and has specific physical goals for each session and is physical or occupational therapy using the horse as the therapy tool. Hippotherapy may be beneficial to people with a variety of special needs, including children with autism.
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- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, by Bass, MM, Duchowny CA, and Llabre MM, published in 2009, summarized Oct 5, 2009
Rachel Gerhart, a speech and language pathologist, established PonyTalk Speech Therapy Services combining hippotherapy with speech therapy. She explains that she uses typical speech therapy approaches while a child with autism or other special needs is on horseback. She has found that the 12-week program allows children to address their therapy goals while experiencing the movement, and sometimes freedom, of being horseback. Hippotherapy provides increased muscle strength, self-esteem, mobility, and coordination. It seems to help the children to be more responsive to speech therapy. Gerhart states, “Children experience the benefits of therapy without feeling like they are doing any work. As a result, they may be more responsive to treatment in this setting versus a typical clinic or educational setting.”
Read original article: Birdsboro Woman Uses Horses to Help Children with Speech
Strengthening Gait is a Hippotherapy Program Helping Children with Autism and Other Disabilities
Oct 4, 2010Strengthening Gait, in Wyoming, provides hippotherapy for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. It began in June when a couple of moms heard a lecture by Deborah Lapinski, an adult with autism, who said she had always communicated better with animals than with people. The children attend two hippotherapy sessions a week, and along with riding the horses, they learn to groom them and talk to them. The kids are also expected to do therapy in addition to the actual riding. For example, they must warm up themselves and their horses prior to riding, they learn balance and sensory integration skills. One mom says, “I just know what it does for kids. Hippotherapy is an absolutely amazing type of therapy for any kid with special needs, but especially those with posture issues and some sensory integration issues.”
Read original article: Douglas Program Uses Horses to Help Children
Little Britches in Litchfield CT offers therapeutic horseback riding to more than 60 kids with autism and other special needs every week. Little Britches is owned by the Daly family, who with a lot of volunteers, works with the children on riding and brushing the horses. Hippotherapy has been found to help children with social skills, balance, and cognitive skills. The kids feel a sense of responsibility and pride as they ride atop the horse with a volunteer at their side. Little Britches asks for only a small donation from participating families and survives on outside donations and grants.
Read original article: Horse Therapy in Washington
Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding Provides Hippo Therapy for Kids with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Jun 23, 2010Morning Dove Therapeutic Riding in Indiana allows children with autism and other developmental disabilities to experience horseback riding. Hippo therapy utilizes the movement of a horse to help children learn proper balance, posture, and muscle control. Director Lisa Condes has plans for the center to expand, increasing the arena size and adding classrooms for physical and occupational therapy. Morning Dove currently has PT and OT volunteers from St. Vincent Pediatric Rehabilitation Services and a client waiting list for therapy.
Read original article: Horse Power Propels Therapy at Morning Dove
Please comment on hippotherapy or other autism therapy topics.
Synonyms for hippotherapy include: hippo therapy
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Hippotherapy and Speech Pathology
Nov 4, 2010 by AnonymousPlease note that the American Hippotherapy Association recognizes Speech-Language Pathologists, as well as, OTs and PTs as trained hippotherapy providers.
This is particularly important in that Speech-Language therapy is the most common therapy in use for individuals with autism.
Responding to hippotherapy is this available in Carroll County or Stratford County
May 14, 2010 by AnonymousResponding to hippotherapy
Mar 29, 2010 by Anonymousspeech pathologists may also be hippotherapists. There are many pragmatic language functions that can be addressed via hippotherapy.
Responding to hippotherapy
Mar 18, 2010 by AnonymousWhere are some good providers for Hippo Therapy in the Columbus, Ohio area ?
Please respond to jim.swank@fcbdd.org Thanks