Hippotherapy module 3 EN

1. SpecialisedVET training on Hippotherapy for
professionals working with children with
intellectual, emotional, physical and psychomotor
disabilities
2019-1-TR01-KA202-074547

3. • 3.1. Equipment for the horse
• 3.1.1. Presentation and how to use it
• 3.1.2. Principles of hippotherapy
• 3.2. Equipment for the rider
• 3.2.1. Equipment
• 3.2.2.Purpose of safety equipment
• 3.3. Risk management and safety measures in hippotherapy

4.  By equipment we mean the elements for the rider as well as for the horse
 The equipment will be chosen according to each special need of the child, to
her/his age and taking into account her/his full comfort and safety.
 The equipment for the horse will be chosen according to the height of the horse
and having in mind the purpose of the therapeutic session.
 The rider should NEVER be fixated on the horse!

5. • By harness we mean the equipment used on the horse.
• The harness is chosen taking into account following information:
• a) diagnostic and symptoms (all of them) of the rider:
• The most important aspect when choosing the harness is the rider’s safety. In every situation
we must be sure that the harness we have to use will ensure the safety of the rider. If there is
any concern about safety than the least harmful harness will be chosen.The harness will be
constantly adapted/changed to fulfil the safety as well as the best interest of the rider.

6. • b) height and age of the rider:
• The therapist must choose the harness according to the height and age of the rider. It must
be the optimal choice and must ensure an as much as possible anatomical position on the
horse. It should not put pressure on joints and it should offer the highest degree of safety.
Following this, when choosing the harness we must check: that the handles fit the height of
the rider and that they ensure him a good contact with the horse.The straps of the stirrups
(when used) must be correctly adjusted, the saddle and/or blanket must allow a correct
position which allows the rider to keep the balance.

7. • c) therapeutic objectives:
• A good contact with the horse in order to receive an optimal number of impulses.The
intensity of these impulses can be controlled using aids, such as: half pads that attenuate the
impulse, special support cushions, or any other support system that can help the rider to
maintain a correct position.
• d) height of the horse:
• A very important aspect in hippotherapy is the choice of the horse. It is mandatory that the
therapist has total access to the rider, thus the horse’s height must be adjusted to that of the
therapist working with him.

8. If there is an emergency situation, it is mandatory that a rider must be taken by the
therapist from the horse,This is why a rider MUST NEVER be tied with any harness
to the horse.
In some cases the therapist may utilise some elastic bands to protect specific joints
from pressure. But also in this case, s/he will ensure that those bands will allow the
child to be taken by the therapist from the horse.

9. 3.1.1.Equipment used in hippotherapy:
• a) Equipment for the horse
• Lead rope
• Saddle pad
• Cinch

10. • Saddle with or without stirrups
• Saddle with fix handle
• Posture correction cushion
• Saddle with mobile handle
• Bridle
• Halter

11. • b) Equipment for the rider
• helmet
• horse riding vest
• gait belt
• movement amplifying pads
• shock half pads

12. Lead rope
• 1,5 - 2 m long lead ropes, specially
designed for horse leading, are
recommended.
• Lunging ropes are not recommended
as they are too long

13. • Saddle pad (western saddle pad) is the most used
equipment during hippotherapy sessions.
• The saddle pad allows the rider to feel the heat from the
horse.Thus, joints will receive heat.This will also help the
rider to relax and will facilitate a better transmission of
the impulses from the horse to the rider.The saddle pad
also helps to maintain balance while bringing the centre
of gravity closer to the horse.
• The saddle pad can function:
• only with the cinch
• with the saddle

14. Saddle pad (western saddle
pad) for cinch
• is thicker then the saddle pad
used with a saddle
• it needs to be so thick for the
comfort of the horse - it helps
him to feel less movement of
the rider on his back
• western saddle pads are
highly recommended

15. Saddle pad made of wool
attenuates impulses
• It is used as a mid layer
between the saddle and the
saddle pad.
• Being of wool makes it similar
to the saddle pad used without
saddle (western saddle).

16. Cinch
• Following the therapy objective, we can choose from:
• Cinch with two fix handles
• Cinch with mobile handle
• Cinch with two lateral fix handles, one central mobile handle
• Cinch - small with one handle
• Voltage cinches or special therapy cinches can be used

17. Cinch with two fix handles
• recommended especially for the first session
• makes the rider feel very comfortable by touching a
fixed object
• holding the fix handles helps the impulse of the horse
to be transmitted to the back muscle, arms and chest
• helps stabilize the pectoral arch

18. Cinch with mobile handle
• Recommended when the therapeutic objective
is:
• to stimulate the pelvic muscles
• to maintain balance
• to stimulate the back muscles and the core

19. • Cinch with two fix and one mobile
handle
• Cinch small with mobile handle

20. Therapy saddle
• The saddle to be used at the beginning
with each rider.
• It has a fixed handle that offers more
comfort to the rider
• The handle makes the rider feel safe.
Also you can attach a posture cushion to
it to correct the position.

21. Posture correction cushion
• Is used when the pelvic area needs to be
stabilized. Mainly when trying to find
balance.
• It has to be fixed tight so it does not move
while walking.

22. • The cushion will push the pelvic
area to the front, thus correcting the
posture and stabilizing the pelvic
area, ensuring an anteropesterior
movement.
• It will also correct the posture of the
spine and will help the rider to
maintain the position by stabilizing
the centre of gravity.

23. Saddle with front and back support
• Used mainly for very small kids, with
high spasticity. It helps them relax the
legs and maintain a correct position.
• The front handle helps stabilizing the
legs and the back support helps with
stability in general.
• Stirrups can be attached for more
stability

24. Saddle with mobile handle
• It increases the vestibular stimulation.
• The amplitude of the body movement
is bigger and the pelvic area works
more.
• It amplifies the anteroposterior
movement.

25. Bridle

26. Natural Horsemanship rope halter
• It is a halter made of rope with two
knots on the nasal area of the horse.
• The knots work similar to the bridle
by putting pressure on the nasal area.

27. Bridle
The bit is from metal and can have
various forms:
• round
• semi - round
• butterfly shaped
It is being introduced in the mouth of
the horse, and helps train the horse.

28. • The difference between horse assisted therapy and activity
assisted by animal must be kept in mind.
• Horse Assisted Therapy
• It has a precise objective and is a therapy method using the horse as a tool.
• The animal becomes part of the therapy and it is conducted by a therapist with
special training.
• Animal assisted activities
• Human and horse are taking part together.
• There is no treatment plan and no therapist is required.

29. • Hippotherapy is basically a physical movement.
• The positive effects of movement can influence the desire of a child to take part in
therapy.
• After physical exercise, concentration, attention, memory, speech ability and
perception register a better functioning.
• Riding is an intense physical activity.The rider has the opportunity to have fun
while doing sport and working on his physical condition.

30. Helmet
• It has to be a riding helmet.
• It must be well adjusted to the
rider's head.
• It must be easily fitted.

31. Horse riding vest
• It consists of paddings according
to the height.
• The riding vest is protecting the
back spine from the lumbar zone
to the neck without touching the
helmet or saddle.

32. • The horse riding vest protects and supports the spine and will help the rider to
maintain a correct posture.
• Please do not forget that this kind of vests have a velcro system and will not ensure
protection if there is a dangerous situation and the rider must be lifted from the
horse
• It is recommended to use gait belts made of leather and that have handles (1 or 2).
The gait belt does not influence the transmission of impulses and the child can be
lifted from the horse.

33. Gait belt
• They are used to ensure rider’s
safety.
• They have handles that are mobile
and very well attached to the belt.
• They ensure the safety of the child
while he is being lifted from the
horse in case of emergency

34. Gait belt
• The therapist can maintain a permanent
contact with the rider and will not
influence the movement as the belt has
large handles that allow independent
movement.
• They are safer than the riding vest.

35. Saddle pad for movement reduction
• They are used on a saddle.
• They must fit the shape of the saddle in
order to remain fixed.

36. • The saddle pad for movement
reduction is made of silicone and
offers a greater stability to the rider.

37. Saddle pad for movement amplification
• They are usually made of wool or fur
and are amplifying the movement of
the horse.
• It is important that they are made of
natural fabrics that absorb sweat.

38. • It must be used with caution, and
only for riders with a stable pelvis
area.

39. • The horse training consists of lots of activities.They can be easy training as well as
structured actions.
• The horse training has some general rules know by all experts.
• The horses learn to obey the person on the ground while training for dressage, but also
learn to obey the rider while training for equitation.
• The therapy horse will be trained to not respond to any action of the rider, neither vocal
ones nor physical ones (uncontrolled movements, aggressive behaviour, etc.)
• Therapy horses will be trained to follow only requests from the handler.

40. • During therapy sessions the child will squeeze the horse, pinch or hit him.
Therefore, the horse must undergo desensitizing training in order to not react to
any of the above.
• As the horses have a very good peripheral view, they might get scared or annoyed
by flapping hands and other stereotypical movements specific to special needs
children.Thus the horse must be trained to not react to any of these triggers.
• Also, sounds and screams coming from children could be considered stressors for
the horse.
• The person in charge of the safety of the rider will always be on the left side of the
horse, behind the horse leader. If the horse will get scared, s/he will retract to the
right side and will create a safety circle on the left side.

41. • When working with children with motor disabilities (tetraparesis or
quadraparesis*), it must be taken into consideration that they have a high level of
spasticity and a bad balance and that this is a big stress factor for the therapy
horse.
• It is important to consider taking the child from the horse as soon as there is a
danger.
*This is a condition in which all four limbs are weak.

42. Hippotherapy is an activity that brings a lot of stress to the horses through:
• multiple manoeuvres,
• uncomfortable mounting and dismounting,
• uncomfortable weights,
• unusual behaviour of patients (the riders),
• the inability of the rider to maintain a correct position,
• boring activities,
• unusual situations.

43. The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not
constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the
authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be
made of the information contained therein.
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