Nancy Tejo, PATH Intl. Cert. Instructor– Owner of Sky Riding LI, www.skyridingli.com
Games and Play
During my therapeutic riding lessons, I commonly incorporate games which encourage reaching in all directions, including across midline and overhead. These games help increase hand-eye coordination, increase trunk and postural control and balance, and normalize muscle tone to elicit functional movement patterns.[1] I utilize equipment such as beanbags, water balls in the warm weather, mini pumpkins in the fall. Other games which encourage balance and coordination include matching-colored rings to the cones, steering the horse to the cones and tossing them onto the cone, selecting balls from a basket and tossing them into another basket.
During riding lessons, riders are also offered a variety of grooming tools, body brushes, curry combs, hoof picks and mane brushes. While on horseback, they learn to brush the horse and select which tools they want to use. This helps encourage planning and large motor skills.
To increase fine motor skills and planning, I incorporate wooden puzzles for the younger riders. They learn to steer the horse toward the puzzle area, stop the horse “whoa,” and then work on the puzzle before asking the horse to “walk please,” while rising to two-point as the horse steps over the ground pole.
Backwards Sitting
Often you will find my riders sitting backwards, a position which offers a variety of benefits. For riders who need calming, placing their hands on the haunches of the walking horse, provides a one-two repetitive movement which helps them regulate and quiet themselves. This positive outcome of quieting has been reported by clients’ caretakers/parents to last throughout the day and often for several days.
In this same position, sitting backwards with both arms propping up the rider and with their hands on the horses haunches, a modified quadruped position (crawling) while the horse is walking, riders work towards improving upper extremity muscle tone, endurance, and postural control. [2]
Additionally, while sitting backwards riders cannot see where they are going and can’t plan if the horse turns or stops. These abrupt changes help the rider develop a reactionary postural response in order to maintain their balance.[3] [4]
More Benefits[5]
Muscle tone and strength
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills
Range of motion
Coordination
Endurance
Symmetry
Body awareness
Mobilization of pelvis, lumbar region, and hip joints
Oral motor ability, voice quality, and vocal communication
Emotional and cognitive well-being
Self-esteem
Confidence
Didactic and group interaction
Concentration
Muscle tone and strength
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills
Range of motion
Coordination
Endurance
Symmetry
Body wareness
Mobilization of pelvis, lumbar region, and hip joints
Oral motor ability, voice quality, and vocal communication
Emotional and cognitive well-being
Self-esteem
Confidence
Didactic and group interaction
Concentration
The Horses
I am often asked what does it take to be a therapy horse? I am very selective about which horses I use for each rider. Safety is always the most important element in each lesson. I am very fortunate to be able to work with horses which provide a variety of inputs. Some are flat movers, meaning they don’t have much bounce to their gate, others have short steps which feels very different than a long strided horse. Each horse is used as a trial to get a sense of their temperament. However, horses are herd animals and will react if something is out of the ordinary such as a loud noise that is unrecognizable, fireworks, low flying helicopters, or unmufflered motorcycles. But all the horses I use have the following criteria.
Criteria of a Therapy Horse[6]
The horse must exhibit a docile demeanor.
The horse must have no condition that affects temperament or movement (i.e., inadequate balance and symmetry).
The horse must be desensitized to sudden external movements, noises, and tools or props PT uses.
The horse must be able to stand quietly for mounting/dismounting as well as grooming and tacking.
Horses must have exceptional "barn etiquette.” People and other animals should not upset them.
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[1] Meregillano G. Hippotherapy. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2004;15:843-854.
[2] https://sheacenter.org/blog/therapies/physical-therapy/sitting-backwards-on-the-horse-five-positions-used-in- hippotherapy/
[3] Does horseback riding therapy or therapist-directed hippotherapy rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy? John A Sterba; Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Jan;49(1):68-73 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17209981/
[4] Effect of hippotherapy on balance, functional mobility, and functional independence in children with Down syndrome: randomized controlled trial Yelda Kaya , Seda Saka , Deniz Tuncer, Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Jul;182(7):3147-3155.
[5] Meregillano G. Hippotherapy. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2004;15:843-854.
[6] https://sunnysidefjords.org/training-therapy-horse/