Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies and Autism Ranking:

History

Derived from the Greek hippos (horse), "hippotherapy" literally refers to treatment or therapy aided by a horse with the earliest recorded mention in the writings of Hippocrates. 

In the UK Agnes Hunt began using therapeutic horseback riding at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry in 1901.  Olive Sands took her horses to the Oxford Hospital to provide riding for the rehabilitation of soldiers wounded in the trenches during the First World War.  In 1952 Lis Hartel, a Danish wheelchair user, won Olympic medals with her horse.

In the USA, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was established in 1969 and is now known as the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. It promotes safety and optimal outcomes in equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.  The American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) was established in 1992 and does something very similar.

In the UK, the Riding for the Disabled Association was set up in 1969. It now acts as the unifying voice of a number of smaller groups offering various forms of EAAT.

The Federation of Horses in Education and Therapy International was set up in 1974.  It was created to provide a means of sharing and enhancing technical and educational expertise at the international level in the field of therapeutic riding.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2018

Next Review

01 Sep 2024