Why Horses?
Horses are uniquely powerful partners in helping people with disabilities. Their movement mirrors the human walk, stimulating muscles and building balance, strength, and coordination in ways no machine can replicate. Beyond the physical, horses offer trust, connection, and nonjudgmental relationships that build confidence, independence, and emotional healing. This rare blend of physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits makes horses pivotal in transforming lives.
What are some of the benefits of partnering with a horse?
Physical Benefits: The horse’s movement mimics the human walk, improving balance, posture, coordination, muscle tone, and core strength.
Cognitive Benefits: Riding and working with horses engages problem-solving, attention, sequencing, and memory skills.
Emotional Benefits: Horses provide unconditional acceptance, helping reduce anxiety, build self-esteem, and foster confidence.
Social Benefits: Lessons encourage communication, teamwork, and relationship-building with peers, volunteers, and instructors.
Sensory Benefits: The multi-dimensional movement of the horse offers rich sensory input that helps regulate and organize the nervous system.
Motivational Benefits: Horses are fun and engaging partners, inspiring clients to push past limitations and celebrate achievements.
Life Skills: Interacting with horses teaches responsibility, patience, empathy, and perseverance.
Therapeutic horsemanship can be effective for:
ADD/ADHD
Anxiety
Autism Spectrum
Cerebral Palsy
Depression
Developmental Delay
Down's Syndrome
Hearing Impairment
Speech delay/Non-Verbal
Stroke
Spina Bifida
Traumatic Brain Injury
Multiple Sclerosis
Visual Impairment
.......... and so much more!
"My eight-year-old daughter, Clara, was recently diagnosed with Autism and while she is incredibly bright, her behaviors and emotion regulation skills are significantly delayed. Clara has struggled to function in a typical school environment since PK as she has meltdowns and becomes overwhelmed. At Wings of Hope, she is at peace. She is connected with her horse, her instructor, her volunteers, and she is content, focused, and calm. Wings of Hope is one of the few "activities" she can consistently participate in, where we feel loved and supported as a neurodivergent family and where she is understood and accepted as a human with worth and potential."
Dr. Kary Johnson
Owner | Executive Director
The Reading Connection | Literacy United
"As an occupational therapist, you tend to have to get creative to best meet your client's individual needs. When considering how hippotherapy could help my client reach her physical, cognitive, and visual needs, I had several questions. How can the horse's mannerisms and movements be used as a tool to help my client reach her goals? What are some things I should consider when determining who would benefit from working with these horses? At Wings of Hope, the wonderful staff were able to help guide me through such questions. They collaborated with me in such a way that I felt confident blending my occupational therapy knowledge with their equestrian knowledge. My client always left their facility with a smile on her face, even on the more challenging days! I am grateful for the experience my client and I were able to share at Wings of Hope."
Meleah Fuchs, OTR/L, CNS
Occupational Therapist
Rehab Without Walls
