Local Teams, Mpacting Dreams
Healing with Horses Ranch (The Double H Ranch) provides safe, affordable Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies to individuals with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges to promote healing and independence.
History of riding therapy
At the turn of the century, England recognized riding for the disabled as a beneficial form of therapy and offered riding therapy for wounded soldiers at the Oxford Hospital during World War I. By the 1950's, British physiotherapists were exploring the possibilities of riding as therapy for all types of disabilities. The British Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) was founded in 1969 with the enthusiastic support of the Royal Family.
Riding therapy was introduced in Scandinavia in 1946 after two devastating outbreaks of poliomyelitis. Lis Hartel, an accomplished horsewoman, was stricken with the disease. Although surgery and physiotherapy helped her to walk again with the aid of crutches, she was determined to ride independently again and began daily supervised riding sessions to improve her muscle strength and coordination. Liz Hartel brought attention to riding for the disabled when she won the silver medal for Dressage at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games. She and Ulla Harpoth, a physical therapist from Copenhagen, went on to use horses as therapy for their patients.
PATH, Intl. (formerly known as NARHA) , is the nationally recognized organization founded in 1969 to promote safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada.
Body-The rhythmic, three-dimensional and symmetrical movement of the horse provides physical benefits including:
* Enhanced muscle tone for strength and agility
* Enhanced circulation, respiration and metabolism
* Enhanced balance and coordination
* Enhanced fine and gross motor skills
Mind-The therapeutic riding experience offers unique opportunities for cognitive advancement such as increased:
* Concentration, reasoning and attention span
* Sensory integration
* Visual and spatial perception
* Language skills
Soul-The opportunity to bond and partner with the horse, achieve mobility and increase independence results in:
* Improved self-image
* Improved motivation
* Improved self-confidence
* Improved self-discipline
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