The movement of the horse has much to offer the patient and is a powerful tool. The horse must have the ability to provide medical grade movement. The movements are multi-dimensional and in many ways resemble the movements of a human being. By experiencing the highly organized movement of the horse, the patient has many opportunities to practice the “right way” to sequence movements for tasks such as walking. The horse takes an average of 100 steps per minute or 3000 steps for 30 minutes of equine movement. This naturally variable practice is the key to learning or relearning tasks. The horse also offers sensory inputs, including proprioceptive, vestibular, tactile, and visual, as it moves the patient through space. This multi-channel input, which occurs simultaneously with biomechanical input, helps regulate an otherwise disordered sensory system.

F.A.Q.

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QUESTIONS?

F.A.Q.

Here are some frequently asked questions about hippotherapy and how appointements work.

How does a hippotherapy session take place?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T19:57:24+00:00

How does a hippotherapy session take place?

Prior to the meeting, an assessment of the person’s needs was carried out and objectives were developed.
Then the health professional will choose the right horse that will achieve the objectives (movements, temperaments, etc.)
The person will be able to work on the ground with the horse and the members of the team and/or will ride the horse with the required equipment.
The client is ridden bareback (without saddle) with a pad determined in advance in order to facilitate the transfer of movement to the rider.
The client is accompanied by a handler (horse leader), an occupational therapist and one or more walkers as needed.

What are the benefits of hippotherapy?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T19:58:24+00:00

What are the benefits of hippotherapy?

They are numerous and well documented in the scientific literature.
These include improved postural control, motor planning, anxiety management, etc.
These changes will be reflected in an improvement in overall functioning in the various lifestyle habits (ADLs, school, social skills, etc.)

Why use the horse?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T19:59:17+00:00

Why use the horse?

The movement of the horse has much to offer the patient and is a powerful tool. The horse must have the ability to provide medical grade movement. The movements are multi-dimensional and in many ways resemble the movements of a human being. By experiencing the highly organized movement of the horse, the patient has many opportunities to practice the “right way” to sequence movements for tasks such as walking. The horse takes an average of 100 steps per minute or 3000 steps for 30 minutes of equine movement. This naturally variable practice is the key to learning or relearning tasks.
The horse also offers sensory inputs, including proprioceptive, vestibular, tactile, and visual, as it moves the patient through space. This multi-channel input, which occurs simultaneously with biomechanical input, helps regulate an otherwise disordered sensory system.

Will other approaches be used during hippotherapy meetings?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:00:23+00:00

Will other approaches be used during hippotherapy meetings?

Yes, the occupational therapist will also use the foundations and techniques of the Masgutova Method (Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Integration (MNRI) Method) approach to enrich the encounter with the horse.

How long does a hippotherapy meeting last?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:00:59+00:00

How long does a hippotherapy meeting last?

Generally the session lasts 60 minutes, but the client will mount the horse at most 30 minutes according to his tolerance.

At what age can you start hippotherapy?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:01:47+00:00

At what age can you start hippotherapy?

Sessions can start early, ie as young as 2 years old and sometimes even earlier. However, at Ergo-Hippo l’Envol the age has been set at 4 years.

Is hippotherapy in treatment safe?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:02:24+00:00

Is hippotherapy in treatment safe?

There are inherent risks when working with horses and in an outdoor environment. Therapists mitigate those risks by working with horses that have been thoroughly screened and trained for this discipline. The therapy team is trained in safety protocols and appropriate safety equipment is used during treatment such as helmets and belts. Constant supervision, monitoring, and communication are key to providing a safe and beneficial treatment.

Why choose a therapist trained in hippotherapy?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:03:00+00:00

Why choose a therapist trained in hippotherapy?

Effective use of equine movement as a treatment tool/strategy requires a thorough knowledge of the interplay of human and equine physiology when a patient is placed on a moving horse.

Therapy professionals need an in-depth understanding of equines and equine movement to safely and effectively integrate the impact of equine movement with other therapeutic tools/strategies to achieve their patients’ treatment goals.

What if my child is afraid of horses?Tanya Paiva2023-02-17T20:03:27+00:00

What if my child is afraid of horses?

It is quite common for a child to be bullied by a horse. When hippotherapy is being considered, the child can be introduced to the horse in a number of ways. Doing activities around a horse but not on a horse is an option to help introduce equine interaction. A child who has never seen a horse can actually do well once on the horse and feel the rhythmic movement with support provided as needed. The therapist and parent must work together to find an appropriate approach for this child. There are sometimes patients for whom the horse/equid movement creates too much fear or anxiety. Hippotherapy may not be the tool of choice for this person.