Hippotherapy

No, it’s not therapy on a hippopotamus – though wouldn’t that be fun. No, hippotherapy is a form of therapy using a horse. Emelyn began hippotherapy in August with her occupational therapist. While I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, I’ve been incredibly excited to see how she’s progressed. It’s not just the progress she’s made on the horse, it’s the progress she’s made because of the horse.

Emelyn cracking up her therapist, Megan, and the
volunteers at Healing Strides.

Hippotherapy uses the gait of the horse to provide input similar to a human’s gait. When Emelyn started in August she required quite a bit of core support on the horse, however, within just a few short weeks Emelyn now requires very minimal support. And more importantly, those advancements on the horse are translating into her everyday development skills. When Emelyn started hippotherapy she would drop an object in her right hand if you placed an object in her left hand. She didn’t seem to have the ability to coordinate both hands at the same time. Fast forward six weeks and she’s now able hold an object in each hand simultaneously for nearly half a minute. 

Clearly riding side saddle is just as funny.

There are large motor benefits to hippotherapy as well. The gait of the horse improves stability, balance and strength, while helping to “normalize” muscle tone (read my layman’s explanation of low muscle tone here). These are all areas of weakness for Emelyn that have shown improvement over the past several weeks.

Backwards...why not!?

While we’re thrilled with the physical improvements we’re seeing in Emelyn from hippotherapy, it’s also a blast to see her so happy while riding. I’m definitely a believer in this non-traditional form of therapy. Special thanks to Healing Strides of Virginia in Boones Mill, as well as the numerous volunteers, for the good work you do for so many little kiddos who benefit from hippotherapy and therapeutic riding.