Hippotherapy
Harnessing the Power of Equine Movement
At Hummingbird Pediatric Therapies, hippotherapy is a treatment tool in which licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists use the movement of a horse as part of a comprehensive therapy plan. The horse’s unique movement provides dynamic sensory and motor input that can support improvements in balance, postural control, strength, coordination, communication, and functional skills. Every session is individualized to help children work toward meaningful goals in a motivating and engaging environment.
Hippotherapy sessions take place at the Hanson Center in Burr Ridge, which is also the site of our occupational therapy and counseling sessions incorporating animals.
Why Is Hippotherapy Beneficial?
Hippotherapy allows therapists to use the horse’s movement as a powerful treatment tool to support a child’s development and functional goals. The horse’s rhythmic, repetitive, and multidimensional movement closely resembles the movement patterns of human walking, providing unique sensory and motor input that is difficult to replicate in a traditional clinic setting.
As the horse moves, the child must continuously make small adjustments to maintain their position. These adjustments can help improve:
Postural control and core strength
Balance and coordination
Muscle activation and body awareness
Motor planning and functional movement skills
Sensory processing and regulation
Attention, engagement, and participation
Communication and social interaction skills
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In addition to the physical benefits, the barn environment offers meaningful opportunities for children to build confidence, practice problem-solving, follow directions, and engage in motivating activities. The relationship between the child, therapist, and horse often creates a unique and enjoyable therapeutic experience that encourages active participation and supports progress toward individualized goals.
At Hummingbird Pediatric Therapies, hippotherapy is always guided by a licensed physical, occupational, or speech therapist and is carefully integrated into each child’s plan of care to help them achieve functional outcomes that carry over into daily life.
What Does a Typical Hippotherapy Session Look Like?
Our sessions incorporating hippotherapy are typically one hour long and are always provided as a co-treatment by two licensed therapists.
During the first portion of the session, the child works with the therapists while mounted on a therapy horse. The therapists carefully monitor the child’s response to the horse’s movement, assessing factors such as postural control, engagement, sensory processing, endurance, and muscle fatigue. The amount of time spent utilizing the horse’s movement is dependent on each child’s needs and therapeutic goals.
The second portion of the session focuses on functional skill development both in and around the arena. Activities may target balance, strength, coordination, communication, motor planning, emotional regulation, or other individualized goals. The horse’s movement serves as a treatment tool that helps prepare the sensory and motor systems, creating opportunities for children to practice and develop new skills in meaningful and functional ways.
It is important to understand that hippotherapy is not appropriate for every child, and the horse’s movement may not be beneficial at every stage of a child’s development. Our therapists continuously assess each child’s response to treatment and make recommendations based on their progress, safety, and overall therapeutic outcomes. The horse is one of many tools available to our therapists, and its use is guided by what will best help each child achieve their goals.
Is My Child Appropriate for Hippotherapy?
Before beginning hippotherapy services, our team will work with you, your child, and your child’s current therapists, if applicable, to determine whether incorporating equine movement into therapy is a safe and effective treatment option. Every child responds differently to the movement of the horse, and careful screening helps ensure that this treatment approach aligns with your child’s needs and goals.
Getting Started
Current Hummingbird Families
If your child is already receiving services at Hummingbird, talk with their current therapist about whether adding therapies incorporating hippotherapy may be beneficial. Your therapist can help determine whether this treatment approach aligns with your child’s goals and, if appropriate, will communicate with our intake team to begin the screening process.
New to Hummingbird?
Families who are new to Hummingbird can contact our intake team directly. We will complete a screening questionnaire and gather information about your child’s medical history, functional abilities, and therapy goals to determine whether hippotherapy may be an appropriate part of the plan of care.
What We Consider Before Starting
Before beginning hippotherapy, our therapists carefully evaluate a variety of factors to ensure that participation is both safe and beneficial. These considerations may include:
- Physical abilities: Head and trunk control, sitting balance, and the amount of support needed during activities
- Helmet tolerance: The ability to wear a properly fitted helmet for the duration of the session
- Sensory and emotional responses: Comfort around large animals, reactions to movement, height, environmental sounds, and other sensory experiences common in a barn setting
- Interest and engagement: Whether your child enjoys movement and is likely to participate meaningfully in the activities involved in hippotherapy sessions
Learn More Today
Interested in learning more about our Hippotherapy program? Contact us today to see how we can help your child benefit from this unique therapeutic approach.