Home About Us Riders Volunteers Staff Events Gallery Donate Thank You Contact
HorseSense for Special Riders, Inc. (HSSR) • PO Box 906 • La Crosse, WI 54602 • Phone (608) 791-4868 • E-mail info@hssr.org
Copyright 2019. All Rights Reserved. Site Design, Development, SEO, and Hosting by The BLU Group - Advertising & Marketing.
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Therapeutic horseback riding is a unique combination of sport, recreation, and education. There are many benefits to therapeutic riding for individuals with physical, cognitive or psychological disabilities.
Therapeutic riding focuses on forming a partnership with the horse. Students gain confidence by mastering riding skills. Sitting astride a horse increases balance and coordination, strengthens muscles, and brings about body awareness.
The horse's three-dimensional swinging gait closely emulates that of the human gait and allows the brain and body to practice correct walking movement patterns. The rhythmic movement and the warmth generated from the horse's body soothes and relaxes tight or painful muscles, joints, and tendons while building strength and flexibility.
Most importantly, therapeutic riding is FUN! Riders make new friends and social interactions are developed between the horse, instructors, volunteers, and other students.
Benefits
Physical Benefits
|
Cognitive Benefits
|
Psychological Benefits
|
Social Benefits
|
Educational Benefits
|
Who Benefits from Therapeutic Riding?
People who have the following:
- Cerebral Palsy
- ADD/ADHD
- Hypertonia
- Hypotonia
- Learning disabilities
- PTSD
- Down Syndrome
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Developmental Delays
- Paraplegia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple sclerosis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Reactive Attachment Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
- Mental Retardation
- Hearing impairments
- Visual impairments
- Stroke
- Sensory integration disorder
- Cognitive Disabilities