Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy
Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding uses all that the horse encompasses – riding, care, interaction – to assist the disabled individual in developing skills, both physical and emotional. At The Luci Center the focus is on ability. The combination of riders, horses, instructors and volunteers creates a team that works in a positive manner toward success. The Luci Center strives to give each student the opportunity to have a complete understanding of horsemanship. The ability to ride and care for the horse and equipment builds self-esteem and confidence, patience and discipline as well as body strength, balance and coordination. Individuals aged three and older with a variety of disabilities can benefit from therapy received in this non-clinical, sensory-rich environment.
Individuals with the following medical conditions could, and have, benefited from interacting with The Luci Center team – both human and equine.
- Autism
- ADD/ADHD
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delay
- Down Syndrome
- Functional Spinal Curvature
- Learning Disabilities
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool under the guidance of a licensed therapist (most often a physical or occupational therapist). In hippotherapy, the horse’s walk provides sensory input through movement which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the rider are similar to the human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The variability of the horse’s gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the rider and then use this movement in combination with other therapeutic strategies to achieve results.
Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy
Therapeutic Riding
Therapeutic riding uses all that the horse encompasses – riding, care, interaction – to assist the disabled individual in developing skills, both physical and emotional. At The Luci Center the focus is on ability. The combination of riders, horses, instructors and volunteers creates a team that works in a positive manner toward success. The Luci Center strives to give each student the opportunity to have a complete understanding of horsemanship. The ability to ride and care for the horse and equipment builds self-esteem and confidence, patience and discipline as well as body strength, balance and coordination. Individuals aged three and older with a variety of disabilities can benefit from therapy received in this non-clinical, sensory-rich environment.
Individuals with the following medical conditions could, and have, benefited from interacting with The Luci Center team – both human and equine.
- Autism
- ADD/ADHD
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delay
- Down Syndrome
- Functional Spinal Curvature
- Learning Disabilities
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy uses the movement of the horse as a treatment tool under the guidance of a licensed therapist (most often a physical or occupational therapist). In hippotherapy, the horse’s walk provides sensory input through movement which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the rider are similar to the human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The variability of the horse’s gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the rider and then use this movement in combination with other therapeutic strategies to achieve results.