What is hippotherapy? The indications and effectiveness of hippotherapy

Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input.A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities.Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy.Hippotherapy has been used to treat patients with neurological or other disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral disorders and psychiatric disorders.The effectiveness of hippotherapy for many of these indications is unclear, and more research has been needed.Here, we purpose to give information about hippotherapy which is not known adequately by many clinicians and health workers. Key words: Equine-assisted therapy; hippotherapy; therapeutic horse back riding.H ippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech therapy that utilizes the natural gait and movement of a horse to provide motor, and sensory input.It is based on improvement of neurologic functions, and sensory processes, and used for patients with physical, and mental disorders.Especially, in paralyzed individuals it contributes to physical rehabilitation programs [1,2].Herein, we wanted to provide information about hippotherapy whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in scientific studies, and so prevalently used in many countries in the fields of physical, and mental disabilities.In our study, recognition of the importance of this new method for our country will provide benefit for many patient groups. DiagnosisHippotherapy means treatment with the aid of a horse.Despite long-term use in history, only a few studies have been performed on its theoretical basis.Only scarce information are available on its psychological, physical, social, and educational effects in specially trained children.Hippotherapy is a treatment method with concurrently favourable psy-