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TherAplay's front entrance
Abstract:
For my W131 immersion experience I went behind the scenes to see Hippotherapy in action. This article details what I learned during my time at TherAplay in February 2024. All names have been changed for patient confidentiality. (except the horses)
Written by Zoey Vlake on March 21, 2024
Feature Style Article: How Hippotherapy Helps Children With Disabilities
The forefront of the battlefield was a familiar place for Ollie. Sitting atop his steed he gripped his weapon of choice a brightly colored yellow beanbag. For many, the mind can be a lonely void constantly at war with itself, especially for those with autism like Ollie. Ever since coming to Children's TherAplay in Carmel Indiana, Ollie has improved by leaps and bounds and is more prepared for his everyday battle than ever before. Ollie is not alone any longer because he has his trusted physical therapist by his side, and she always has the perfect plan of attack.
As we drew closer to the target Ollie became distracted by an unexpected newcomer that he had never seen before. He studied me carefully as I walked along beside him. I glanced at him with a friendly smile. His eyes looked unnaturally large due to his thick glasses and his bright blond hair was brushed neatly under his helmet. It was a sharp contrast to my messy ponytail and oversized T-shirt that I had paired with old, ripped sneakers. I suddenly became keenly aware of how tightly I was holding Ollie’s leg because my palms began to sweat. I quickly wiped them off on my pants and relaxed my grip. Ollie didn't speak much, but after inspecting me he smiled and turned his attention back to his target as if to say, I guess you are alright.
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Ponyboy, the horse Ollie was riding
My attention was mostly on his “noble” steed Ponyboy. Most of the horses at TherAplay were well-tempered due to their old age and previous careers. Ponyboy, however, was not like the other horses. Ponyboy was the smallest pony in the barn. But do not be fooled by his innocent appearance. He wore a muzzle to prevent any sudden urges he had to bite. Some other volunteers also said that Ponyboy had once flipped onto his back with his legs in the air. All because a parent came into the arena through a door that was not typically used. Luckily a therapist managed to get the kiddo off Ponyboy, so no one was hurt.
The handlers regularly desensitize the horses to moving objects to limit the chances of a horse spooking, but I was still not taking any chances with Ponyboy. The therapist lined Ponyboy up and Ollie took aim. He shifted his weight but managed to stay balanced on Ponyboy with minimal assistance while throwing the beanbag. All his training led to that moment, but was it enough? The yellow beanbag flew through the air closing the distance. We all watched with anticipation as if everything was happening in slow motion. Miss. The beanbag plopped into the sand just beside the bucket Ollie was aiming for. His therapist assured him that it was alright and that he could try again at the next bucket.
This years Polo At Sunset Event
Anyone who has stepped foot into the TherAplay facility has nothing but positive things to say about what a welcoming and friendly environment it is. However, I have found that many people living in the area do not know what TherAplay is. Those who have not bothered to research it often make assumptions about it being some exclusive stuffy horse barn for special families. These assumptions are anything but true. They may not provide regular horse-riding lessons, but there are other ways that people can be included in TherAplays efforts. TherAplay relies heavily on volunteers and yearly fundraising events that they host. These events bring together a diverse community of people to take part in carnival games, polo, day camp, golf, and more to help raise money and secure sponsors. These events not only bring the community together but also help make TherAplay more affordable for those who need it.
“one-on-one physical, occupational, or speech therapy, prescribed by a physician and delivered by a licensed therapist in conjunction with a horse handler and a specially screened and trained therapy horse.”
While Hippotherapy covers a wide variety of activities it is not the same thing as therapeutic riding. According to the Children's TherAplay website, Hippotherapy is defined as “one-on-one physical, occupational, or speech therapy, prescribed by a physician and delivered by a licensed therapist in conjunction with a horse handler and a specially screened and trained therapy horse.” This definition covers therapy that is done both on and off the horse. Since it is prescribed, Hippotherapy is also typically covered by insurance. This is further supported by the American Hippotherapy Association, which defines therapeutic riding as “recreational horseback riding lessons adapted to individuals with disabilities.” The two are quite similar and both mediums can be used to treat various disabilities. The key differences lie in the goals and methods of each medium. Therapeutic riding is traditionally done recreationally in a group setting with a focus on posture and balance while Hippotherapy focuses on achieving individual functional therapeutic goals.
TherAplay only offers Hippotherapy. The clients, which they call Kiddo’s, only spend about half of their therapy sessions on the horses. Touring around the facility the manager showed me the various rooms they use for physical, speech, and occupational therapy. The other half of the time while the kiddos are riding, they play different games to help improve coordination, balance, confidence, and other skills that are needed to perform everyday activities. “Atypical sensory processing is associated with behavioral, emotional, and learning challenges” (Zawisz, 2022). Autism is a vast spectrum. Across that spectrum are also different ways that those with autism perceive and interpret sensory information. Therapists can use that unique perception to expose the kids, like the horses, to various stimuli to help them learn to overcome those challenges. Throwing beanbags and riding at TherAplay is just one example of how they use this method while getting the kiddos to take part in an engaging activity that will help them develop their physical skills as well.
The main gym for physical therapy
As the kiddos get more comfortable and their needs change, so do the methods. Ponyboy has small strides, so he moves around a lot and is used for more experienced kiddos. As a newer horse, Ollie was not as used to Ponyboy’s movement, which made it harder for him to focus on throwing the beanbags. He may have struggled at first, but he kept trying. Then finally, on his third try, Ollie held a red beanbag in his hand. Ponyboy had been lined up a little far from the bucket, but Ollie threw it anyway. Flying through the air the beanbag plopped right into the bucket. Success! We all cheered him on before helping him dismount. Ollie walked off holding his therapist's hand ready for his next learning activity.
“Atypical sensory processing is associated with behavioral, emotional, and learning challenges”
Working with three kiddos at a time, each of the therapists had different methods for every unique person. One girl rode backward. Another passed rings back and forth. Each was also matched with the horse that would best suit their needs. Anytime a Kiddo failed at a task they were encouraged to try again. Whenever they succeeded, they were cheered on, which would put the biggest smile across some of their faces.