Horses create a dynamic, three-dimensional movement that cannot be reproduced in a traditional clinic setting. The patient receives sensory, motor, and neurological input from the movement of the horse, which provides benefits in many areas:    

Improvements in:

  • muscle tone and strength
  • gross motor skills such as sitting, standing and walking
  • range of motion
  • coordination
  • endurance
  • balance/equilibrium
  • head and trunk control
  • body awareness
  • posture
  • mobility



Positive effects on:

  • eye-hand coordination
  • limbic system function related to arousal, motivation and attention
  • sensorimotor function
  • oral motor control, voice quality and vocal/verbal communication


We use the horse's movement as a treatment strategy during speech therapy sessions to treat a wide range of diagnoses. These include:

  • Autism
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Down Syndrome
  • Developmental Delay
  • Social Communication Delay
  • Language or Learning Disabilities
  • Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Genetic Disorders

Why Use Horses In Therapy?