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A New Dawn

Hippotherapy and therapeutic riding program

What is Hippotherapy?

Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input.


A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy.


Hippotherapy has been used to treat patients with neurological or other disabilities, such as autism, cerebral palsy, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, head injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral disorders and psychiatric disorders. 

Benefits of Hippotherapy

The list below includes, but is not limited to, the benefits of hippotherapy.


Physical benefits could include improvements in:

  • Balance/equilibrium
  • Control of extremities
  • Coordination
  • Endurance
  • Eye-hand coordination
  • Fine motor skills such as writing, tying shoelaces, and snipping with scissors
  • Gross motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking 

Cognitive benefits could include advancements in:

  • Attention
  • Expressing thoughts and needs
  • Self-regulation

Sensory benefits could include positive effects on:

  • Body awareness
  • Limbic system function related to arousal, motivation, and attention
  • Social interaction
  • Pressure grading
  • Head and trunk control
  • Postural symmetry
  • Mobility
  • Motor planning
  • Muscle tone and strength
  • Range of motion
  • Respiratory control
  • Timing and grading of responses
  • Understanding of visual cues
  • Visual coordination
  • Sensorimotor function
  • Sensory integration
  • Tactile response
  • Proprioception 


Downloadable Forms


Emergency Treatment Form:

A New Dawn - Emergency Treatment PDF


Liability Release Form:

A New Dawn - Liability Release


Welcome Form:

A New Dawn - Welcome


Medical History:

A New Dawn - Medical History


Registration Form:

A New Dawn - Registration Form

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