Jesus Alejandro Ceballos Márquez: Equinotherapy: Horse features



What is equinotherapy? What are its characteristics? How old should it be? How does it behave? Is it a safe and reliable therapeutic tool? We answer these and other frequently asked questions about the horses used in the hippotherapy.


·         Appropriate race, sex and age 

They are important aspects to consider. There is no preferred therapeutic race nor sex for rehabilitation therapy with horses, because none of this predetermines the fitness of the horse. As for the age: it is recommended that the specimen is between 7 and 20 years and usually it is horses that are already trained and "retired" of equestrian sports. So rather than age, it is considered the character, experience in previous training and physical condition of the animal.

·         The Ideal thoracic portion 

It must be straight, wide, strong and muscular such that it is able to support the twin mount, i.e., the weight of two riders (therapist or the patient's companion plus the patient). Said portion should not be too wide to allow the lower extremities opening disabled patient to mount. Likewise, the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the horse must work perfectly, since the biomechanics of the horse is critical to the success of the rehabilitation.


·         The good gallop

It’s not enough with just the appropriate rectangular shape of the horse, it is necessary for the specimen to be able to gallop over 85 minutes steps and for said gallop to be cantered, broad, rhythmic and symmetrically regular.

·         The character and behavior expected

The horse, by nature, is a nervous animal, and outgoing, intuitive and owner of a large memory with which it quickly adapts to the environment. So the submissive, docile horse, that generates confidence, suits his rider recognizing the characteristics of the rider, perform therapeutic routines without fear and does not get angry at what happens around his surroundings, will be the fittest.


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