{"id":39,"date":"2014-02-28T21:47:38","date_gmt":"2014-02-28T21:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.equestriantherapy.com\/?page_id=39"},"modified":"2021-06-23T14:45:13","modified_gmt":"2021-06-23T18:45:13","slug":"therapeutic-riding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.equestriantherapy.com\/therapeutic-riding\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Therapeutic Riding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Therapeutic riding benefits patients with cognitive, physical, emotional, social or a combination of these challenges. Persons with disabilities are often restricted in their movements and interaction. With horseback riding or equestrian therapy<\/a>, they are given the opportunity for independence and mobility. Riding an animal for therapy offers physical and mental benefits to the handicap individual who are usually refused of outdoor experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People with specific disabilities are benefited in innumerable ways with therapeutic horse riding. Here are the common areas of disability that are targeted in many therapeutic riding programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is observable in patients with in stroke, spastic cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury characterized by muscle tone increase in the limbs. During riding, the horse\u2019s movement naturally mimics a person\u2019s motion while walking. In this way, the horse aids in relaxing the rider\u2019s muscles and increasing his or her balance and flexibility. Riders increase their sense of control when riding narrowly-built horses with smooth bearings. The experience build in them feeling of freedom and confidence through equestrian or equine therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patients with hypotonia have decreased muscle tone in the body trunk area. Riders with ataxic and hypotonic cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury are helped in many ways when they are mounted on wider horses. These horses give patients the feeling of stability and with bigger gaits, weakened muscles are stimulated. Trainers noticed that during the first few sessions, hypotonia patients are unable to support themselves but after a few months, observable changes can be noted \u2013 they are able to!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abnormal development and impairment in the psychosocial process that involves interacting, communicating, gaining knowledge or learning, planning and others is referred to as cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHypertonia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hypotonia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cognitive impairment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n