Hippotherapy

Riding as an exercise for the disabled dates back to the Greeks (5 BC). Through history it has been well documented that riding has been prescribed in many countries to improve the mental and physical well being of the disabled.

In Malaysia, the project was initiated in 1989 by the then President of the Selangor Polo and Riding Club, Raja Aman Shah. Formal riding sessions commenced on April 1989 with 5 children from SCAS & FT. Sessions usually begin with warm up exercises. During the session, the children perform numerous activities on horseback, which are both rehabilitative and fun. The children are also educated on the basic anatomy of the horse as well as the basic equipment used in horse riding, and all activities related to the care of the horses.

Currently there are 2 riding clubs that volunteer their services; Selangor Polo and Riding Club (Thursday mornings) and the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club (Tuesday mornings). The usual session size is 4 - 8 children (numbers depend heavily on the number of volunteers available).

Some of the benefits of horse riding for the disabled are:

• It is a suitable recreation activity (without the need of wheelchairs and walking aids)
• Confidence is achieved or strengthened by the discipline of learning to ride and control a horse
• Maintaining one's balance sitting on a moving horse improves body control and sitting posture
• The rhythmical nature of the activity facilities relaxation of spastic muscles, especially inner thigh muscles
• Control of the reins improves upper limb function
• Activities carried out whilst on horseback improve fitness, balance, and hand eye coordination
• Emotionally it provides the child with the opportunity to interact with the world on a different physical level (looking at world from the vantage point of a horse is a vast contrast to that from a wheelchair)
• A social opportunity for children and volunteers to improve appreciation of the abilities and needs of the disabled
• An opportunity to develop skills in order to participate in equestrian events (social and competitive)