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What is Therapeutic Riding?
Therapeutic riding uses the recreational pleasures of horseback riding and care of horses to set social, emotional and physical goals for individual riders. In both therapeutic riding and hippotherapy cases, the horse is used because of its gentle and rhythmic movement, which mimics the walking human’s pelvic motion and provides excellent sensory feedback to the rider.

Under the direction of a NARHA-certified riding instructor and with the guidance of an experienced physical therapist, GALLOP clients learn to sit their horses properly, use their reins to command the horse, and ride at a walk and trot. Three volunteers assist: one leads the horse and one walks on either side to provide support, guidance, supervision and assistance, if necessary. The horse’s gentle movement results in movement of the rider’s pelvis which mimics the human gait. It also increases the disabled rider’s flexibility, balance and muscle strength and may reduce spasticity. Motivated by the experience of guiding a horse, riders with emotional and neurological disabilities often show improved focus, self confidence and skills.

Examples of riders we teach include individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, traumatic head injury, post-stroke, pervasive developmental disorders, mental retardation and individuals who have suffered emotional trauma such as first responders (NYPD, NYFD, EMS) and their families. We also offer lessons to Veterans, under the NARHA Horses for Heroes Program