Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Is Your Hippotherapy Horse Happy?



During hippotherapy sessions, I get so focused on my client interactions, I can easily forget about the big animal under the child. Since taking riding lessons with Maria Hurley at Divinity Farm, I have been tuning in more to the horse since she is always pointing out her own pony's moods.

Here, Heidi is relaxed with one hind leg off the ground. Her ears were floppy and she was makes cute munching movements with her mouth. When a horse is relaxed she has her head a bit lowered with ears slightly back and her spine is loosened. All this while being desensitized to a vibrating toy with flashing lights!

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
Horseot.com

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