special needs

Therapeutic Riding Benefits Through Fun and Games

Nancy Tejo, PATH Intl. Cert. Instructor– Owner of Sky Riding LI, www.skyridingli.com

Games and Play

During my therapeutic riding lessons, I commonly incorporate games which encourage reaching in all directions, including across midline and overhead. These games help increase hand-eye coordination, increase trunk and postural control and balance, and normalize muscle tone to elicit functional movement patterns.[1] I utilize equipment such as beanbags, water balls in the warm weather, mini pumpkins in the fall.  Other games which encourage balance and coordination include matching-colored rings to the cones, steering the horse to the cones and tossing them onto the cone, selecting balls from a basket and tossing them into another basket.

During riding lessons, riders are also offered a variety of grooming tools, body brushes, curry combs, hoof picks and mane brushes. While on horseback, they learn to brush the horse and select which tools they want to use. This helps encourage planning and large motor skills.

To increase fine motor skills and planning, I incorporate wooden puzzles for the younger riders. They learn to steer the horse toward the puzzle area, stop the horse “whoa,” and then work on the puzzle before asking the horse to “walk please,” while rising to two-point as the horse steps over the ground pole.

Backwards Sitting

Often you will find my riders sitting backwards, a position which offers a variety of benefits. For riders who need calming, placing their hands on the haunches of the walking horse, provides a one-two repetitive movement which helps them regulate and quiet themselves.  This positive outcome of quieting has been reported by clients’ caretakers/parents to last throughout the day and often for several days.

In this same position, sitting backwards with both arms propping up the rider and with their hands on the horses haunches, a modified quadruped position (crawling) while the horse is walking, riders work towards improving upper extremity muscle tone, endurance, and postural control. [2]

Additionally, while sitting backwards riders cannot see where they are going and can’t plan if the horse turns or stops. These abrupt changes help the rider develop a reactionary postural response in order to maintain their balance.[3] [4]

More Benefits[5]

  • Muscle tone and strength

  • Gross motor skills

  • Fine motor skills

  • Range of motion

  • Coordination

  • Endurance

  • Symmetry

  • Body awareness

  • Mobilization of pelvis, lumbar region, and hip joints

  •  Oral motor ability, voice quality, and vocal communication

  • Emotional and cognitive well-being

  • Self-esteem

  • Confidence

  • Didactic and group interaction

  • Concentration

  • Muscle tone and strength

  • Gross motor skills

  • Fine motor skills

  • Range of motion

  • Coordination

  • Endurance

  • Symmetry

  • Body wareness

  • Mobilization of pelvis, lumbar region, and hip joints

  • Oral motor ability, voice quality, and vocal communication

  • Emotional and cognitive well-being

  • Self-esteem

  • Confidence

  • Didactic and group interaction

  • Concentration

    The Horses

I am often asked what does it take to be a therapy horse? I am very selective about which horses I use for each rider. Safety is always the most important element in each lesson. I am very fortunate to be able to work with horses which provide a variety of inputs. Some are flat movers, meaning they don’t have much bounce to their gate, others have short steps which feels very different than a long strided horse. Each horse is used as a trial to get a sense of their temperament. However, horses are herd animals and will react if something is out of the ordinary such as a loud noise that is unrecognizable, fireworks, low flying helicopters, or unmufflered motorcycles. But all the horses I use have the following criteria.

Criteria of a Therapy Horse[6]

  • The horse must exhibit a docile demeanor.

  • The horse must have no condition that affects temperament or movement (i.e., inadequate balance and symmetry).

  • The horse must be desensitized to sudden external movements, noises, and tools or props PT uses.

  • The horse must be able to stand quietly for mounting/dismounting as well as grooming and tacking.

  • Horses must have exceptional "barn etiquette.” People and other animals should not upset them.

 __________________________

[1] Meregillano G. Hippotherapy. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2004;15:843-854.

[2] https://sheacenter.org/blog/therapies/physical-therapy/sitting-backwards-on-the-horse-five-positions-used-in-  hippotherapy/

 [3] Does horseback riding therapy or therapist-directed hippotherapy rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy? John A Sterba; Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Jan;49(1):68-73 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17209981/

[4] Effect of hippotherapy on balance, functional mobility, and functional independence in children with Down syndrome: randomized controlled trial Yelda Kaya , Seda Saka , Deniz Tuncer, Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Jul;182(7):3147-3155.

[5] Meregillano G. Hippotherapy. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. 2004;15:843-854.

[6] https://sunnysidefjords.org/training-therapy-horse/

 

Therapeutic Riding–Improve Communication by Releasing the Tendon Guard Reflex

 Releasing the Tendon Guard Reflex

The Tendon Guard Reflex which is activated by stress may be relieved by the action of “heels down”.   Horseback riding can be used as a tool to reduce the tendon guard reflex which is the body’s natural response to fear. This reflex causes all the tendons in the back of the body to shorten.( Judith Cross-Strehlke)

Shortened calf muscles, toe walkers, often show up in autistic and speech impaired people. These people may be exhibiting an exaggerated tendon guard reflex in response to stress. Carla Hannaford, PhD., has found a correlation between shortened calf muscles and the limited ability to speak or communicate.  She advocates for activities that consciously bring neural attention towards a relaxed calf and the whole back body.

What is the Tendon Guard Reflex?

The Tendon Guard Reflex is activated with stress in response to protecting the muscles and tendons and is characterized as Red or Green Light.  A healthy mature Red Light reflex initiates a freeze and fight response. A person with a hyperactive red light TGR is over-focused on unimportant details, can perseverate, or simply shut down or freeze. A person with a hypoactive red light TGR seems unaware that focused attention is needed and continues with whatever activity he is actively engaged in, remaining oblivious to any need relating to a looming danger or obligation. .  (Dr. Masgutova, MNRI Body System Integration Program)

 A healthy, mature Green light response initiates a flight response when posed with certain stress.  A person with a hyperactive green light TGR often acts without much forethought, can misread the situation, and respond impulsively, often resulting in a fight or flight reaction without much provocation. A person with a hypoactive green light TGR remains relatively nonresponsive to events and experiences that generally elicit action in others.  (Dr. Masgutova, MNRI Body System Integration Program)

Therapeutic and classical horseback riding provide opportunities to stretch and relax the tendons and muscles along the back of the leg.  Riding students are encouraged to bring their heels down, allowing their weight to drop into their heels.  Exercising and stretching the tendons, which facilitates tension release via the Tendon Guard Reflex; helps bring the whole body to a renewed relaxation.

Riding lessons and time with horses naturally provide physiological benefits.  The calm nature of horses becomes a calming force for our riders. The horse’s gaits act as a soothing mechanism for riders.   Equestrians have always encouraged heels down for safety purposes, and now Therapeutic Riding instructors and those working in the field of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy have another tool to aid with releasing the TGR and exploring the benefits.

Benefits of Therapeutic Horseback Riding

By Nancy Tejo PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Horse movement and the interaction with horses provide benefits and opportunities for improvement in many areas. Some of these include cognitive, sensory, proprioception, gross and fine motor skills, muscle development, and psycho-social development.

Opportunities to improve cognitive development are created as the riders show an increased willingness to participate on horseback. This motivation enhances their ability to focus and follow directions. Riders show an improvement in attention, concentration, and comprehension.

Sensory input is delivered to the riders from the horse and the enriched environment at the barn. Sights, sounds, smells and tactile sensations are presented by the riding equipment, grooming tools, horse’s coat, and movement. Outdoor therapy and activities provides a natural environment which helps people relax, reduce stress and instill a sense of well-being. Exercising in a green space is more beneficial than forms that concentrate on exertion without considering the surroundings. (Stephen Riddell, 2011)

Maneuvering a horse around the ring in specific patterns requires motor planning. Riders execute the correct sequence of events by navigating the riding ring. They steer around cones, over poles, pass appropriate letters and work with other riders in the ring.

Proprioception, knowing where one’s body in is space, encourages development of balance and coordination. Riders learn to maintain proper alignment of their body and personal body placement while around the horses. This translates to learning personal space on the ground.

The unique sensory stimulation of the horse’s movement and the deep pressure experienced by the rider when mounted on the animal provides the sensation of walking. The walking and trotting movement of the horse stimulates the riders muscles needed for walking and coordination and aids in encouraging correct locomotion.

Results of the interaction between mounted rider and horse includes correction of body posture, gross motor skills, increased core development and improved muscle symmetry. (William Benda, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. December 2003)

Riders adjusting to the constant motion of the horse, mounting, dismounting, posting, balancing in the stirrups, holding two-point position, and steering are activities which provide opportunities to increase gross motor function.

Fine motor skills development is encouraged by the proper holding of the reins, grooming the horse’s mane and tail, assisting with buckling, unbuckling and tacking the horses. These acquired competencies can readily be transferred to functional life skills for children with autism. (Margaret Ann Stickney, 2010)

Come and meet a Sky Riding LI horse, Central Islip, LI. Therapeutic Riding benefits everyone including individual with mental, physical and emotional delays. Sky Riding LI at Parkview Equestrian Center also offers Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy for anyone looking for peace, balance and clarity and make changes in their lives. Please call 516-241-2046 for more information or visit www.SkyRidingLI.com.