Curious to see if your child could benefit from Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy

About Hummingbird's Hippotherapy Program

What is Hippotherapy?
​Hippotherapy is a mounted activity utilizing the unique movement patterns of the horse.  It is implemented by a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, or Speech Therapist. The child is not learning riding skills, but is gaining improvements in muscle tone, strength, postural control, balance, and coordination from weight shifts and postural displacement created by the unique horse's gait. The rhythm of a horse’s gait is similar to that of the human walk and promotes active responses in the patient.
​What are the Benefits of Hippotherapy?
  • Bilateral integration and body awareness
  • Dynamic postural stability and endurance
  • Midline orientation and mobility of pelvis, spine, and hip joints
  • Problem-solving movement strategies
  • Symmetry and alignment
  • Language rich activities promoting social-emotional and language development​​
Who Can Benefit from Hippotherapy?
Children with the following can benefit:
  • Developmental delays
  • Sensory processing difficulties
  • Motor planning difficulties
  • Speech/language delays 

Hummingbird's Hippotherapy Program in the News

Hummingbird's Hippotherapy Team

Ms. Jenny M.
​Lead Therapist, Hippotherapy Team
PT, DPT
Ms. Laura P.
​PT, MPT
Ms. Jenifer K.
MOT, OTR/L

Hummingbird is Proud to Partner with:

The Hanson Center, Burr Ridge

Learn More

Interested in learning more about hippotherapy?  Check out the resources below for studies and effectiveness of this unique therapy option for your child.
National Center for Biotechnology Information: What is hippotherapy?  The indications and effectiveness of hippotherapy.