Testimonials From Professionals
Horseback riding loosens tense muscles, improves posture, teaches and improves balance, and provides exercise similar to walking. It provides mobility that might not be available to the disabled rider. It is perceived as fun rather than a boring or uncomfortable therapy session. Exercises on the horse and the games we play are an important part of the therapy. Learning new skills, particularly those associated with controlling a large animal, builds confidence and provides motivation to accept new challenges. Over all of this is the almost mystical influence of the interaction between horse and rider that must be experienced to understand.

Professionals from NW Arkansas agree with this assessment. Their testimonials follow.

Linda Steadman
Physical Therapist, Benton County Sunshine School
Claire and Sabrina "The benefits of hippotherapy and therapeutic riding are so profound and far reaching I am thrilled to tell everyone how strongly I favor this unique approach for disabled clients."

"The gentle rhythm of the horse's body helps relax the high muscle tone, helps develop trunk postural control and aides the child in learning to use dynamic postural stability.  The movement of the horse in different gaits helps improve breath control, muscle strength and circulation.  When specialized movements of the rider are superimposed upon the horse's gait, you can see body awareness, spatial orientation and rotation of the trunk (a vital part of skillful, aesthetic walking for the child) dramatically improve over a short riding session."

"The positive psychological benefits seen are improved self-esteem, confidence, motivation, increased attention span and the positive effect of human-animal bonding."

Dr. Kerri Russell

test1 “I am a pediatric physical therapist who has been working with children with special needs for over 23 years.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with children at Horses for Healing as part of their physical therapy experience.  I have found it to be a very effective form of therapy for many reasons.  During the physical therapy session, we often use various pieces of equipment to accomplish our goals in the treatment session.  These may include various therapeutic balls, weight shifting equipment and mobility activities for functional training such as stairs and walkways.  All of these therapeutic devices are accomplished with the use of a horse in therapy.  The many therapeutic activities that can be accomplished include improved joint flexibility or stability; relaxation for hypertonus with facilitation of normalized tone and movement, facilitation of proximal support through the shoulder and pelvis, improved posture and static control, trunk equilibrium or balance mechanisms in many upright dynamic or static postures and generalized strength and endurance.  However, one of the most effective components of hippotherapy is the motivation it has on the child.  A special bonding occurs between the horse and the child.  It is a wonderful way to make therapy fun and effective!”

Barry Allen, M. D
test2 “Horses for Healing Riding Center provides therapeutic riding for special children: children who have special needs because of their individual disabilities.  With therapeutic riding, they are able to achieve remarkable success in confidence, physical conditioning and in self-esteem.  Watching these children riding with the assistance of Horses for Healing volunteers demonstrates the success of this program in enabling these special children to achieve their maximum potential.”