The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding

Therapeutic horse back riding is a form of therapy that hardly feels like therapy at all. Therapeutic riding at the PEAKS program is provided by a team consisting of NARHA certified instructors, trained volunteers, and of course the specially trained therapy horse.

The therapeutic benefits of horseback riding for someone with a disability are tremendous.

• Physically horseback riding can increase trunk strength, motor planning, and fine motor skills, while also improving muscle tone and flexibility (just to name a few of the benefits). The horse moves in a pattern very similar to the human walk. The three-dimensional, rhythmical motion of the horse stimulates and works muscles of the rider and provides normal sensory-motor input of “walking” to the rider improving posture, balance, muscle tone, and gross motor skills. For someone with a physical disability, the increased mobility while on horseback can be extremely liberating.

• Cognitively, riding involves intricate task planning, team work, and sequencing.  In addition the movement of the horse can be used to facilitate improvements in sensory integration and verbal processing.

• Emotionally, The horse acts as an equalizer between individuals with disabilities and those without serving to boost self confidence and self esteem as well as helping to overcome learned helplessness. The bond between horse and rider can also have many of its own benefits for both the rider and the horse!

• Socially, in a therapeutic riding lesson, riders have the chance to bond with the horse, instructor, and volunteers, which assists in the development of trust. Contact with the horses and horsemanship training provides a non-competitive setting for learning. New abilities, self-discipline, improved concentration and risk taking builds self-confidence. Instructors utilize lesson plans that encourage interaction with others promoting appropriate social skills