BIT BY BIT

Benefits

The benefits of therapeutic horseback riding are varied:

• Builds strength
• Improves balance
• Increases mobility
• Promotes speech
• Develops self-esteem
• Works on improving emotional health
• Creates a fun and challenging learning environment

Therapeutic horseback riding is a growing resource for health, behavioral and educational specialists. Students who have lost the ability to move in a three-dimensional way, make great progress through the experience of riding and reintegrating the use of:

• muscles
• cognitive processing
• motor planning and strength
• maintaining balanced emotional stability
• skills to be successful in school, work and life

Students termed “at risk” benefit from the emotional bond of handling the horse, performing tasks of responsible care-giving as well as the accomplishment of horsemanship skills, that carry over to the home, family relationships, self-esteem and school activities.