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Speech Language Pathology in Motion

(631) 479-3393 ex.3

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    • About the Practice
    • Our Therapists
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  • Services
    • Speech Therapy
    • Feeding Therapy
    • Intensive Therapy Program
    • The C.A.M.P. Program
    • Enrichment Groups
    • Telepractice
  • Treatment Tools
    • AAC
    • Animal Assisted Therapy
    • Aquatic Therapy
    • DIRFloortime
    • Hippotherapy
    • The SOS Approach
    • PROMPT Therapy
  • Blog
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  • Join our team
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
      • About the Practice
      • Our Therapists
      • Upcoming Events
      • Resources & FAQs
      • News
    • Services
      • Speech Therapy
      • Feeding Therapy
      • Intensive Therapy Program
      • The C.A.M.P. Program
      • Enrichment Groups
      • Telepractice
    • Treatment Tools
      • AAC
      • Animal Assisted Therapy
      • Aquatic Therapy
      • DIRFloortime
      • Hippotherapy
      • The SOS Approach
      • PROMPT Therapy
    • Blog
    • Contact
    • Patient Portal
    • Join our team

(631) 479-3393 ex.3

Speech Language Pathology in Motion
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About the Practice
    • Our Therapists
    • Upcoming Events
    • Resources & FAQs
    • News
  • Services
    • Speech Therapy
    • Feeding Therapy
    • Intensive Therapy Program
    • The C.A.M.P. Program
    • Enrichment Groups
    • Telepractice
  • Treatment Tools
    • AAC
    • Animal Assisted Therapy
    • Aquatic Therapy
    • DIRFloortime
    • Hippotherapy
    • The SOS Approach
    • PROMPT Therapy
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Patient Portal
  • Join our team

Hippotherapy

Client in a speech therapy session on a horse, horse being long lined.

What is hippotherapy?

We are pleased to offer hippotherapy as a treatment tool at Speech in Motion, since opening in 2011.  Speech in Motion is the only American Hippotherapy Association Facility member on Long Island. 


According to the American Hippotherapy Association, " The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes. Best practice dictates that occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology professionals integrate hippotherapy into the patient’s plan of care, along with other therapy tools and/or strategies." 


The term hippotherapy originates from the Greek word, “hippos” meaning horse (or equine), and roughly translates as "treatment with the help of the horse". 


When including hippotherapy in a speech therapy session, the therapist purposefully selects, uses and modifies the horse's movement to facilitate the neuromotor systems that support human function. The therapist also purposefully selects equipment and uses different developmental positions for the client while on the horse to maximize the benefits of the movement and to target specific functional outcomes.  A walking horse produces highly organized multi-dimensional movement at an average rate of 100 steps per minute.

Client smiles during a speech therapy session incorporating hippotherapy.

Why horses?

Speech language pathologists may incorporate a period of purposefully manipulated equine movement (hippotherapy) into a speech therapy session in order to:

  • Engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
  • Increase client motivation, engagement and participation in treatment. 
  • Provide graded and rhythmic input to support the systems that impact the 5 main areas that SLPs treat:
    • Speech production (articulation, phonology, voice/volume, fluency and resonance).
    • Language development (receptive language/the language we understand and expressive language/the language we use)
    • Social communication skills (pragmatics and non-verbal communication)
    • Cognitive-communication abilities (organizing thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving)
    • Swallowing (oral motor abilities and feeding skills)


To learn more about the use of hippotherapy in speech, check out these articles from The Speech in Motion Blog:

  • ASHA Leader: Exploring Hippotherapy
  • What is Hippotherapy?
  • Top 10 Hippotherapy Myths and Misconceptions
  • AAC and Hippotherapy
  • What is the Difference Between Hippotherapy & Therapeutic Riding?

Client looks at her AAC system while receiving speech therapy incorporating hippotherapy.

Best Practice:

We follow the “Best Practice Statements” set by the American Hippotherapy Association and the recommendations of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association when incorporating hippotherapy into speech treatment.  It is considered best practice for hippotherapy to be included as part of a larger total plan of care. It is offered in conjunction with other speech therapy treatment tools, strategies, approaches, and methods in order to provide the best possible results for our clients.  


Practicing skills in multiple environments and during various activities supports generalization of skills and helps our clients make progress faster.  It is at the therapist’s discretion how often and how long hippotherapy is used, if at all, during each speech therapy session.  

Research related to hippotherapy

There are over 8 systematic reviews, 98 peer reviewed articles, and 11 peer reviewed case studies that show support for the use of equine movement in treatment on The American Hippotherapy Association bibliography and reference list.  Further, there is a significantly larger body of research related to the conceptional framework tied to hippotherapy, which includes dynamic systems theory, motor learning principles and sensory processing.  


In addition, there are numerous articles related to the benefits of incorporating animals in therapy.  According to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI),  "people are happier and healthier in the presence of animals.  Scientifically-documented benefits of the human-animal bond include  decreased blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and enhanced feelings of well-being." 


Research related to therapy incorporating hippotherapy shows evidence of the following:

  • Improved postural stability
  • Increased motivation
  • Improved participation
  • Increased adaptive behaviors
  • Improved motor control
  • Improvements in muscle symmetry
  • Improved social-emotional behavior
  • Increased social awareness
  • Increased social skills and behaviors
  • Increased display of social behaviors including talking, making physical contact and looking at faces
  • Improved positive social behaviors including becoming more receptive to social advances from peers.

Child with a physical disability smiling while sitting backwards on a horse during a speech session.

Considerations for determining if hippotherapy is an appropriate speech therapy treatment tool:

When determining if including hippotherapy in a speech therapy session is appropriate, a number of factors are taken into consideration. 


The inclusion of hippotherapy in treatment may be contraindicated for some patients for medical reasons (see our FAQ page for a list of precautions and contraindications).  


Based on information from your doctor and your case history we will determine if there are any contraindications and precautions present and if it would be beneficial to include hippotherapy in your treatment plan. 

Precautions & Contraindications
Speech therapist modeling pronunciation of a word with a client on a horse. Hippotherapy

Hippotherapy Myths:

  • Hippotherapy is NOT the same as "therapeutic riding" or "adaptive horseback riding".  It is NOT a horseback riding lesson.  It should not referred to as "equine therapy" or "horse therapy".  
  • Hippotherapy is NOT a program. Use of the term "hippotherapy program" is incorrect.  
  • There is no such thing as a "hippotherapist" in the U.S. 
  • Hippotherapy is not a separate service or a procedure.  
  • Doctors should NOT write prescriptions for "hippotherapy".  Prescriptions should be written for speech therapy regardless of the treatment strategies that will be used.  The treatment strategies or tools will be selected by the therapist and may be changed at any time in order to most effectively treat the patient.

Therapist smiles at a client during a speech therapy session incorporating hippotherapy.

Therapist Training

According to the American Hippotherapy Association, licensed speech language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy professionals are the only personnel who have the prerequisite knowledge and training needed to understand, apply and use hippotherapy effectively.  The highest credential one can obtain in the application of hippotherapy in OT/PT/SLP treatment is to become a Board Certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist (HPCS).  To become a board certified Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist is a lengthy process requiring the successful completion of the Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist Certification Exam. To learn more about this certification visit the American Hippotherapy Certification Board website. 

The Hippotherapy Team

When including a period of purposefully manipulated equine movement (hippotherapy) in a therapy session, the speech language pathologist is assisted by a team.  Each member of the team plays an important role. The team is made up of a specially trained:

  • Speech-language pathologist
  • Horse
  • Horse handler
  • Side-walker

American Hippotherapy Association Facility Member
American Hippotherapy Association Lifetime Member Logo

Speech Language Pathology in Motion, PLLC

829 Old Nichols Road, Islandia NY, United States

Phone: (631) 479-3393 Fax: (631) 479-3358

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