Explanatory notes on aspects of therapeutic riding

By: Helen Du Plessis

The effects of the use of the horse as a therapeutic aid can all be related to the neuro-, senso-, psycho- and sociomotoric development of all developing children regardless of whether they are challenged or not.

Rapid developments in natural science during the 19th century overlooked the references to the healing nature of horse riding. This led to a decline in the prescription of horse riding as a therapy, and riding became the prerogative of the cavalry and the elite. During the last century professionals showed an increase awareness of the educational, social and rehabilitating benefits of horse riding therapy (Heipertz, 1989).

• A child’s defective movements can only be dispersed and corrected through movement. So it can be said that movement can only be learned and corrected through movement. Therefore all stimulation of movement should only be elicited through the use of a horse that has pure fluent movement.

• The achievement of a successful treatment rate is determined by the therapist’s correct application of the movement dialogue of the horse, remember nothing remains immobile on the horse. With not only the horse’s movement being important but its body language and character being vital components as well.

“Movement is the door to learning. To live is to move”.
(P. Dennison)

This movement of the horse transfers movement patterns to the rider’s body centre, to the lumbar spine and pelvic regions, duplicating the pattern man typically executes when walking upright = Gait specific trunk training. The communication of all the horse’s swinging impulses is the key to hippotherapy. All these impulses stimulate movement responses that correspond to the physiologically correct movement patterns of man. The horse’s movement is on a vertical, horizontal and forward/backward plane as it moves forward through space.

All movements are centrally controlled in the brain. The brain does not store isolated muscle functions, but rather movement sequences and thus movement patterns. If movement patterns are lost centrally, the respective brain part cannot program new movements, despite its nerve cell reserves. Through the loop of reciprocal peripheral-central influences, movement combinations can be centrally integrated. The pelvis movement causes a reseating mobilisation of the spinal column and hip joints = neuromuscular facilitation through proprioceptive stimulation of the pelvis.

• When moving with the motion of the horse the client experiences a “HANDLING” through the horse. So it can be said that the horse’s rhythmical movement impulses facilitate a multitude of postural corrections which improve trunk control, balance and co-ordination.

• When riding the horse transmits 110 multi-dimensional movement impulses to the rider in only one minute and so it can be said that 20 minutes of riding (just walking) is equal to three hours of physiotherapy.

• The self-balance of the horse works as a kind of biofeedback to the balance of the rider.

- The motion-dialogue of rider and horse, which functions as a sort of body language type communication between ‘Horse and the rider who is unable to verbalise’.

- The natural herd behaviour of the horse can be used to promote ‘Bonding’, this interaction therefore creates the foundation for learning the basic conditions of social skills.

In conjunction with the above basic physical benefit we should not forget the cognitive benefits as well.

• ‘Sensory Integration’ is the ability of the brain to interpret and act on messages coming from your senses, so that the brain can create useful body reactions and perceptions as well as reactions with feelings and thoughts.

• One of the main systems within the process of ‘Sensory Integration’ is the ‘Vestibular System’ which is connected to the brain via the cranial nerves. The function of the Vestibular System is involuntary so it is only activated as the child’s head is moved. So the horse’s movement is described as a bi-lateral movement that activates and promotes the function of the ‘Vestibular System’ automatically creating positive body and mental function.

The stimulation of positive body function is therefore directly connected from the ‘Vestibular System’ to the ‘Brain or Human Sensory Process’s’ and the key for the communication between the two is in the movement of the child’s head and neck.

No other movement stimulation therapeutic method can be as intensely applied as that of the horse’s movement and so no machine or human can be as effective in therapeutic movement application as the horse.

Helens blog can be found at: