Hippotherapy is the use of horse riding as physiotherapyHippotherapy is a type of physiotherapy that uses the motion of the horse to help to work on specific muscle patterns, helping improve stability and balance. This can then be used to progress skills being learnt in school. For example, with improved trunk control a young person can reach out to touch a button. Or, improved arm and hand control means being able to use a joystick to drive a powered wheelchair.Many areas of the Chailey Heritage Individual Learner Driven (CHILD) Curriculum can also be taught, and reinforced, through hippotherapy.These include:Improved ability to sitPostural and head controlImproved upper limb selective control and dexterityImproved coordination and spatial awarenessA multi-sensory experienceTherapeutic back ridingTherapeutic back riding allows the child to sit upright on the horse, with the Hippotherapist sitting behind the child in order to better facilitate their posture on the horse.To take part in Hippotherapy, an assessment needs to be carried out with the Hippotherapist as well as providing information regarding the young person's needs. Who runs the sessions? An HSPC registered Chartered Physiotherapist with an additional qualification in Hippotherapy will assess the young person then prepare, plan and run each session, together with assistance from our Equine Coordinator and our riding-specific volunteer Who is it for? Young people aged 2 to 25 years How much does it cost? For young people attending the school from age 4-19 years the sessions are funded via the Foundation's fundraising department.For those outside the Foundation or between 19 and 25 years these sessions must be privately funded.An assessment costs £70 and each 30 minute session costs £60 Why does it cost more than a standard lesson or RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association) session? This is a very specialist form of therapy which is very labour-intensive requiring at least 3 team members, specialist facilities with extensively trained ponies and hoisting facilities. Hippotherapy is not simply pony rides or horse riding lessons - it is a therapy session. Watch Anastasia's and Elliott's Hippotherapy journey