Content
Animals are able to improve human health in many ways, in fact, animal-assisted therapies began in IEngland in the year 1872 and it was in the year 1875 that a French neurologist discovered all the benefits that horses could offer their patients.
Thus were born the equestrian therapies also known as hippotherapies, or hippotherapies, which have not stopped being used since their origin until today, in order to improve the quality of life of many people. Want to know what the different ones are types of horse therapies? So be sure to read this article by PeritoAnimal where we enter this fascinating world.
hippotherapy
The companionship of animals is associated with numerous improvements for human beings, so it is currently possible to carry out animal therapies for older people or find a good solution with assisted therapy with dogs.
But horses, these animals that arouse so much fascination, also have an important characteristic, the movement they present is very similar to the physiological pattern of human gait, so they are able to improve various pathologies when these therapies are performed with qualified professionals.
It is an integral therapy, as it does not only improve the physical aspects of the human being, but also social, mental and psychological aspects. The different types of therapies with horses that we can find are mainly indicated for the following cases:
- Muscle Coordination Problems
- cerebral palsy
- Autism
- Down's syndrome
- spinal cord injuries
- Parkinson's
- Multiple sclerosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Developmental Disorders
Within the important scope of hippotherapy different disciplines can be distinguished, then we explain what each of them consists of.
Types of Horse Therapy
The equestrian therapies that are currently most used to alleviate various diseases are mainly the following:
- therapeutic riding: This type of hippotherapy goes beyond simple riding, as it proposes to the patient that they are responsible for the various cares that the horse needs. Acquiring this responsibility has a very positive impact on the capacity for interaction and independence.
- adapted riding: This type of therapy is dedicated to those people who enjoy riding more, who suffer from some kind of physical disability and therefore need the mount to adapt to their individual needs.
- Hippotherapy: It is mainly based on the movement of the horse and can be performed with the same or on the same. This type of therapy generates various stimuli for the patient to finally improve aspects such as coordination or balance.
- therapeutic circle: In this case, the horse is mounted only with a blanket to be able to perform movements on its back. This therapy not only has physical therapy objectives, it also has a psychopedagogical objective.
- social hippotherapy: This therapy takes advantage of the affective bond established with the horse to help the patient to overcome their adaptation conflicts and thus be able to integrate in a better way into society.
- Occupational Equestrian Therapies: Are those that are carried out to favor the labor insertion of people with disabilities.
Horse therapy professionals
The professionals who intervene in horse therapy belong to several disciplines, although the ones that stand out the most are the following:
- Psychologists
- Physiotherapists
- Pedagogues
- Riding technicians
- occupational therapists
In order for a person to observe major health improvements it is absolutely necessary that horse therapies take place under the supervision of these professionals. and in a place suitably adapted for this purpose.
