Hippotherapy is a specialized treatment strategy that uses the purposeful, rhythmic movement of a horse to achieve functional goals in physical, occupational, or speech therapy. Unlike adaptive riding, which focuses on teaching horsemanship skills, hippotherapy is led by a licensed healthcare professional who uses the horse's gait to stimulate the rider's nervous system.
The horse's walk provides multidimensional movement that mimics the human walking pattern, helping patients improve their balance, posture, and motor coordination. It is primarily used as a rehabilitative tool for individuals with neuromuscular or sensory processing disorders.
