What Exactly Is Therapeutic Riding & How Does It Work?
Therapeutic riding is the process of teaching children with disabilities to ride specially trained horses as a form of therapy. It is practiced in most areas of the world and can provide benefits to children with a variety of physical, emotional, social, or cognitive disabilities. Therapists work with certified instructors to teach children skills that will improve coordination, muscle control, strength, balance, flexibility, communication, and build self-esteem and self-confidence.
Along with improving motor skills and self-esteem, learning to ride horses helps children form a special bond with the animals they ride. Developing an attachment to horses may also help children learn to build positive relationships with family members and peers.
When taking therapeutic riding into consideration, many parents worry about the safety of their children. While there are risks that go along with horseback riding, the benefit to the children outweighs the risk, and special precautions are taken to ensure safety. Certified instructors are walking next to the children, and the horses are specially trained for therapy purposes.
Therapeutic riding can be an excellent part of therapy for children with disabilities. Learning a new skill will build self-confidence and social skills that cannot be learned as well through traditional therapy.