The American Hippotherapy Association provides the following information about what Hippotherapy Intervention is and is not:

The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practices 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 professsionals integrate hippotherapy into the patient's plan of care, along with other therapy tools and/or strategies.

What does that mean at SaddleUp?

SaddleUp does not provide "horse therapy", "therapeutic riding", or "equine therapy." SaddleUp currently offers occupational therapy that utilizes equine assistance as a therapy tool to promote functional outcomes. Sometimes this entails riding; sometimes this entails activities pertaining to horse care. Riding the horse will not be the only activity utilized throughout sessions. Barn activities, horse care, and other modalities such as play-based learning, opportunities for sensory integration, tabletop tasks, and practice of life skills may also be utilized to meet your needs or your child's needs.