Lori Murdock

Gabe Byars
OTA 1220
23 April 2016
Modalities Reflection- Hippotherapy
On Wednesday April 20, Brenda Lyman-Carr the Associates Dean (who also happens to
be an Occupational Therapist) came to talk about Hippotherapy. Ive always loved horses so I
was really fascinated by what she had to say.
The definition of Hippotherapy is: a physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatment
strategy that utilizes equine (horse) movement. Like the definition says, only a PT, OT, or
Speech Therapist can do Hippotherapy. She emphasized this point a few times because there are
others who are certified riding instructors who do similar things with clients on horses, but they
cant call what they do Hippotherapy. I thought it was interesting that speech was involved in
Hippotherapy, but Brenda told us that play will increase the verbalization of kids which is why
they can practice this therapy as well.
The ultimate goal of Hippotherapy is to get the client moving while the horse is moving.
Hippotherapy helps with improving ROM, improving trunk balance, improving attention to task,
sensory processing, and much more.
My favorite part of the presentation was hearing the stories and real life applications of
Hippotherapy. Brenda told a story of a client she worked with who had no trunk when he
began. He continued to take as many classes as he could, and never quit going to Hippotherapy.
Brenda saw him later and his trunk was straight! It was amazing to think that he obtained a
straight trunk from being on the back of a horse.
Brenda also showed some pictures of another client who had a bad pelvis tilt, an
abnormal curve of her back, a flexed neck, and need of support to sit. After getting on a horse
though and doing Hippotherapy, her pelvis was in neutral, her back was straight, and she wasnt
holding on to anything for support.

These stories proved to me that Hippotherapy can make a difference. I wasnt sure if I
believed in the benefits that this kind of therapy could bring, but after hearing and seeing what it
could do I became a believer.
In conclusion, the thing I love most about Hippotherapy is that not only is it fun, but
brings tremendous benefits. I can apply this principle when Im an OTA practitioner in the future
and add in creativity and fun into my treatments. Not only will this engage my clients more, but
it will bring about the results Im looking for too.