WHAT IS HIPPOTHERAPY?

Hippotherapy is the use of the horse’s movement for rehabilitation. Licensed Therapists properly position the patient on the horse, analyze the patient’s response and direct the horse’s movement to achieve specific patient treatment goals. Hippotherapy facilitates improved balance, posture, mobility, communication and behavior for patients of all ages and many disabilities.

Hippotherapy is offered at the Chatsworth location on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday mornings and at Newbury Park by appointment. The minimum age for Hippotherapy is 2 years old. Please call for additional information about scheduling and costs - Scholarships may be available, please call the office for more information. To get started please click here to download the necessary forms and return them to Joann Benjamin at Ride On. For more information please e-mail us at   hpot@rideon.org.

Why The Horse?

The well-trained therapy horse moves in a rhythmic, symmetrical and organized way. Each step the horse takes provides strong sensory and physical input in many dimensions including up and down; side to side; and back and forth. By asking for variations in these movements the therapist gains results that cannot be achieved by a machine or duplicated in a clinic setting.

The very capable horses at Ride On have been carefully selected for their movement quality and even temperament and then further trained. The horse accurately and tirelessly provides ample opportunities for the patient to experience movement and sensory input that will enhance the quality of life.

The warmth, touch, sight and sound of the horse and the outdoor ranch environment allows our patients to reach their goals and have fun at the same time.