HABRI Central

Therapeutic horseback riding is used for people with many disabilities through out the country. However, these programs can be quite expensive for the families of the participants. Many programs are not funded and since they are not covered by insurances, most families have to pay out of pocket. However, Hippotherapy programs are covered by insurance companies because they require a PT or OT certified therapist with a few days of horse related training. Therefore, all therapeutic riding centers should increase their standards for instructors and have them all be PT/OT certified as well. This would increase funding for the therapy and lessen the burden of this therapy on families that wish to participate. This would also create another path for Pre-Vet students at Rutgers University—creating another career where they can work hand in hand with animals with out going to vet school.

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

1. Animal-assisted therapies
2. Animal roles
3. Animals -- Therapeutic use.
4. Autism
5. Hippotherapy
6. Horseback riding
7. Horseback riding therapy
8. Horses
9. Mammals
10. Occupational Therapy
11. Physical therapy
12. Speech and Language Therapy
13. Therapeutic horsemanship