Hippotherapy

What is Hippotherapy?

The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.

Best practice dictates that occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology professionals integrate hippotherapy into the patient’s plan of care, along with other therapy tools and/or strategies.

AHA, Inc., 2020, "What is hippotherapy?", https://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org/what-is-hippotherapy

Featured In:

The Ellsworth American

"Except for the entourage, it looked at first glance like an average riding session. But then Easton sat backward on the horse. After a couple laps facing the horse’s tail, he turned to sit sideways, with both feet off to the same side. He rode several laps and then turned the other way."

Meet The Team

DUSTY

Dusty is tried and true. She is the most loving and reliable horse at the barn. Her mild nature and eagerness to please make her the perfect hippotherapy horse.

THOR

Thor is our barn goof ball. A gentle giant, he loves making new friends. He provides some much needed comic relief but treats everyone with care.

Coastal Physical Therapy Services, LLC

is a member of the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc.

Hippotherapy services are provided at

Whispering Pine Riding Stable

located in Jonesboro, Maine.

Funding options available through

Whispering Pine Equine Alliance

Fun activities such as ball toss are added to treatment to work on additional balance challenges, fine motor skills, and crossing mid-line.	When patients advance fewer side walkers are needed for safety.	Quadruped activities are the most challenging.	Weight bearing through the arms helps with shoulder strength and stability.
Side sitting is very challenging for the core muscles.	Games, such as Simon Says, help make treatment more fun while challenging balance and coordination.