Review on the development and research status of hippotherapy in China

Hippotherapy, a therapy measure involving horses in the rehabilitation process of people with disabilities, has gained widespread application both domestically and internationally. It involves fields such as medicine and psychology and attracts significant attention. Internationally, hippotherapy has garnered immense interest in the therapy field for people with disabilities and the relevant research has developed rapidly. However, in China, hippotherapy is still in its nascent stage and has not yet established a comprehensive hippotherapy course system. This paper reviews the research progress of hippotherapy in China, explores the therapeutic effect of hippotherapy on children with disabilities, and demonstrates that hippotherapy can effectively aid in the rehabilitation of these children, improving their sports abilities and social communication skills. Therefore, this paper provides a reference for the establishment of a hippotherapy system in China, which can help in improving social acceptance for special children and promoting the overall development of rehabilitation for children with disabilities.