Benefits & Advantages
- Benefits of Therapeutic Horseback Riding (Hippotherapy)-Physical and Psychological!
- Involves personal and educational goals
- Linked with IEP goals and socialization goals
- Promotes responsibility and routines
- Fine motor and gross motor skills
- Ensures development of a network of friends and increases the likelihood of participating in their community (Kleinert, Miracle, & Sheppard-Jones, 2007).
- Creating a new friends and peer support
- Siperstein, Glick & Parker (2009) created a summer sports day camp where children with and with out a Cognitive Impairment participated in sports non competitively.
- The children initially participated in community and team building exercises in order to gain a sense of belonging.
- The goal of the camp was to improve skills in the sports (basketball, soccer, and swimming) and to increase peer relationships.
- When the camp was completed, the children were asked various questions. The questioned involved enjoyment of the camp and new friendships made.
- 97% of children with out a disability named at least one child with a Cognitive Impairment as a new friend that they have made. 84% of children with a Cognitive Impairment named at least one person with out a disability as a new friend that they have made.
- Only five children were not nominated as a new friend that they made; two were children with a Cognitive Impairment.
- Promotes a healthy lifestyle by being active.
- Increases an individuals quality of life.
- Promotes inclusion, minimizes deconditioning, optimizes physical functioning, and enhances overall well-being.
- Pediatricians and parents may overestimate the risks or overlook the benefits of physical activity
- Must consider overall health status, individual preferences, safety precatuions