FAQ's

Why is 'Therapeutic Riding' not utilised to its full potential in South Africa?

Horse riding in general has been an elite white sport since time, and so many individuals who would benefit from riding are not offered the opportunity. Especially seen they can't afford the fees charged.

Hippotherapy overseas is applied by registered physiotherapists, but unfortunately in South Africa there is no tertiary or post-graduate courses on the subject. Thus hippotherapy is mainly offered on a limited basis by a few skilled riding instructors, under guidance of a physiotherapist were possible.

Therapeutic riding carries very little public awareness and because the treatment regimen is rather felt than seen it is not accepted by on lookers as reliable. The treatment strategies used in Occupational and Physiotherapy have a higher visibility rate and so are seen by parents as being a more reliable value for money, however during a horse riding session we often see a greater level of motivation and fascination from the child to just be with the horse. This can be attributed to the fact that the horse is alive, it is not a cold and lifeless like a therapy ball or bolster.

Considering this one needs to understand that if the patient is still in the physical growth phase, evidence of the progress made by therapeutic riding will in some cases be slow.

However one must consider that as the child grows the profoundness of the disability will intensify if insufficiently stimulated. Before passing judgement on the progress made or the success achieved by the therapy being applied, objectively consider are the symptoms of the disability at hand remaining consistent or are they regressing and intensifying?

The overheads of a hippotherapy practice are extremely high, and because riders are worked with on a one on one basis, it is not lucrative profession or practise.

If I know a child or have a child that can benefit from what you offer, do I need to obtain a doctors referral before I come to see you?

No, in some cases, a referral is not necessary. Contra indications will be discussed with parents, if it is necessary, we will request an evaluation from our consulting doctor, physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with all relevant reports, if you are using your own doctor then periodic report backs will be sent to the doctor on progress.

How old must the child be to start therapeutic riding?

We do not have an age limit but remember the younger the better. We have toddlers that are already riding, but we are careful not to over stimulate them at this stage, due to the fact that their skeletal structure may not be fully stabilized.

Remembering that early intervention is the key within the overall success rate achieved.

Can Equi-Therapy be used to improve general schoolwork for children who find reading and writing difficult?

Yes - riding therapy can be used to teach a child not only to concentrate better but we are also finding the exercise program we use is strengthening shoulders, arms and fingers - which means better hand writing.

How often and how long should the riding session be for the child that has bad handwriting?

It is suggested to start off with a hour sessions twice a week and as tone increases, the amount of lessons can be reduced to a one hour session once a week, to encourage endurance.

For the child, the key to making this therapy modality successful lays in the dedication of a parent who brings their child regularly to attend therapeutic riding session. (Remember short and often is better than long and irregular.)

Can you please tell us why you allow some children to play with a toy while they are riding?

Well, if you ask a child to stretch up into the air under normal conditions, he will lift his arms into the air, he will not stretch as high as what he is actually capable of but if he has a toy in his hand and you ask him to stretch up and touch the sun with the toy, he will be more conscious of what he is doing and therefore he will put more effort into the task we have set for him.

Is the riding program that you offer directed only at the disabled member of the family or can siblings or parents ride as well?

Research all over the world shows that horse riding is the only sport where disabled and normal people can compete hand in hand with little or no adjustment. So what I am saying is, I have set up a service where each member of the family is catered for, according to their own respective and relevant needs or requirements, while still remaining within an equestrian framework.

If we are experiencing inclement weather what are your options?

At present we are forced to cancel lessons if the weather is not conducive to therapy and riding but in the future we hope to change this!
We have proposed an 'Indoor Therapeutic Riding Arena'.

Children suffering from Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities often get sick if exposed to outdoor weather conditions, so to accommodate them Windy Hollow is planning to erect an indoor therapeutic riding hall at an estimated cost of R450, 000. With this hall, our riders will be able to ride all year round no matter what weather conditions may prevail - no sunburn, no wind, no cold and no rain - Pneumonia and Bronchitis are the main cause of moralities amongst disabled people.