Equine Therapy: Saddles & Sircingles

Equine therapy, also known as hippo therapy, is becoming a popular form of treatment for children with physical, mental and social disabilities. The movement and body warmth of the horse stimulates nerves, muscles and emotions that generally have not been tapped into, leading to satisfying results. Though saddles are sometimes used, it is more popular to use a surcingle -- a simple strap around the horse for the rider to hold on to.

  1. Definition

    • Equine therapy is better known as hippotherapy. Hippo means horse in Greek. Hippotherapy is the use of horses to stimulate patients with mental and physical disabilities.

    History

    • Hippotherapy is still struggling for recognition in the modern-day medical world. Most doctors are not familiar with the treatment and rarely prescribe it, and insurance companies generally do not cover it.

    Equipment

    • A surcingle with a bareback pad is the most popular form of tack for hippotherapy. Saddles are too bulky and do not allow for the physical contact that the bareback pad and surcingle do.

    Significance

    • The surcingle may have one or two handles, depending on the patient's disability. If the rider needs side-to-side motion, a single handle is used. For front-to-back motion, two handles are used.

    Benefits

    • A fleece or a wool back pad is used under the surcingle, allowing the horse's body heat to rise up and into the patient's body. This warmth can help activate muscles and change moods.

    Considerations

    • Other equipment, such as reins and stirrups, can be added if they are needed for therapy purposes. Helmets are worn at all times.