Equine Assisted Therapy Device

for Children with Poor Core Strength

Catherine Lach (FABE), Nate Hollis (BME), Rob Bramwell (BME), Olivia Hemmelgarn (ME), Steven Jorden (ME), Christi Perko (S/OT)
Mentors: Tanya Nocera, PhD (BME), Theresa Berner, MOT OTR/LATP (HRS)

Purpose The Design Process

The general purpose of this device should be to keep a rider with
Problem Concept Concept Proposed Prototype Test and Finalize
weak core stability in the saddle independently but still allow for Mock-Ups
Definition Sketches Screening Design Build Iterate Design
fluid motion between the horse and rider.

Background The New Device: Requirements & Functions

Current Products: ● Adjust for sitting height of torso between 24.7" and 37.8"
●Other products on the market resemble this
● Adjust for shoulder width between 10" and 19.1"
image but are custom designed
●Product like this may promote rider comfort ● Adjust for sitting width of hips between 8.7" and 15.5"
and safety ● Measurements were taken from Humanscale ™ Body Measurements from
●Give the rider full independence to ride the Standing height of U.S. adult males at 95th percentile (73.2") and Standing
horse without aid from side walkers height of U.S. Youths from Age 5 at 50th percentile (44.7")
●Too rigid on horse, may increase pressure ● Adhere to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Int.
ulcers (PATH) standards
●Might impede measurable improvements in ● Allow for quick release
postural control and balance
● Accommodate horses 700 -1200 lb
●No mass production, inaccessible to
consumers ● Cost no more than $700
Figure 1: Independence
Saddle by Rifton
Benefits of developing new product: Testing and Design Validation
●Decrease risk of injury to side walkers
Not all statistical data collected. Tests still occurring this week.
●Decrease risk of injury to equines
Analysis 1: Horse comfort testing and pressure mapping
●Increase anteroposterior and mediolateral strength and range of
motion
Scope
Figure 3: Function Tree for New Device
Populations using EAT that may
have core instability: Population Specifications for Two The Design and Prototype
•Cerebral Palsy •Autism Designs:
Spectrum Analysis 2: Quick-Release Functionality
•Stroke Disorder ●3-5 years; 6-9 years - Side laterals being removed at request of DoH
●30-59 lbs; 60-90 lbs
•Traumatic Brain •Spinal Cord Market: Analysis 3: Tactile Feedback Response
Injury ●17 million globally →
Injury Therapeutic Horse Riders with
Analysis 4: Likert Scale and Comparison Surveys
Cerebral Palsy - Non-adjunct therapy surveys complete
●1,200-1,500 → School-aged - Final modifications being done before final surveys
children diagnosed with CP each
year References & Acknowledgements
●43,323 Professional Association -Heat shaped polymer sown to a saddle pad
of Therapeutic Horsemanship
Bertoti, D. B. (1988). Effect of therapeutic horseback riding on posture in children with cerebral palsy. Physical therapy, 68(10), 1505-1512.

-Aluminum tube core to lift above the saddle and support

Clayton, H. M., Kaiser, L. J., de Pue, B., & Kaiser, L. (2011). Center-of-pressure movements during equine-assisted activities. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 65(2), 211-216.
Shurtleff, T. L., Standeven, J. W., & Engsberg, J. R. (2009). Changes in dynamic trunk/head stability and functional reach afterhippotherapy. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 90(7), 1185-1195.
Janura, M., Peham, C., Dvorakova, T., & Elfmark, M. (2009). An assessment of the pressure distribution exerted by a rider on theback of a horse during hippotherapy. Human movement science, 28(3), 387-393.

International (PATH) Participants

Zadnikar, M., & Kastrin, A. (2011). Effects of hippotherapy and therapeutic horseback riding on postural control or balance in children with cerebral palsy: a meta-analysis. Developmental medicine & child neurology, 53(8), 684-691.

the back plate

Independence Saddle by Rifton https://www.rifton.com/adaptive-mobility-blog/blog-posts/2006/september/independence-saddle
Disabled Rider Horse https://ourfirsthorse.com/2009/04/disabled-rider-horse-saddles/
https://research.cerebralpalsy.org.au/what-is-cerebral-palsy/facts-about-cerebral-palsy/

as of 2016 https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/research/facts-and-statistics/
The members of the team would like to express our gratitude to the volunteers at Dreams on Horseback. We would like to thank Josie Drushal and Marsha Krantz for their

-Suspension with encased spring connecting core tubing involvement in past projects with OSU Rehab Engineering Teams and for their insight and advice into our current product. Without their insight, clarity of our problem definition and preliminary
design specifications would not have been possible. Their generosity of time and knowledge is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to extend special thanks to horse rider Brady and all of the other riders for their excitement in testing out past and future product prototypes, for their resilience

-Lateral arms connected via quick release mechanism

through their individual challenges, and for their commitment to Equine Assisted Therapy. All of the riders at Dreams on Horseback are truly inspirational.

Figure 2: PATH Participants in 2016 Thank you to Alex Wynn, an Agricultural System Managements student specializing in Welding & Machining, for the endless hours he spent cutting and welding our device. Without
his knowledge, we would not have had an easily accessible and experienced welder to assist in the fabrication of our device.