HANDS AND HEARTS FOR HORSES, LOCATED IN THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA, OFFERS ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND HIPPOTHERAPY SIX DAYS A WEEK, ELEVEN MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. THERAPEUTIC RIDING (TR)IS A FORM OF RECREATIONAL THERAPY PREFORMED BY A PATH,INT. CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTOR. MIMIKING THE MOVEMENT OF THE HUMAN PELVIS, THE MOVEMENT OF THE HORSE ALLOWS RIDERS TO GAIN MUSCLE STRENGTH AND TONE, INCREASED RANGE OF MOTION AND FLEXIBILITY, INCREASED TRUNK CONTROL, AND IMPROVED SENSORY INTEGRATION. HIPPOTHERAPY IS A FORM OF EQUINE FACILITATED ACTIVITY PREFORMED BY A PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR SPEECH THERAPIST. UNLIKE IN TR WHERE RIDING SKILLS ARE TAUGHT IN ADDITION TO WORKING ON PERSONALIZED GOALS, THE HORSE IS USED SPECIFICALLY AS A DYNAMIC OBJECT AND TREATMENT TOOL WITH LESS EMPHASIS PLACED ON LEARNING HOW TO STEER OR CONTROL THE HORSE. LIKE TR, ALL HIPPOTHERAPY LESSONS UTILIZE UP TO THREE VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM SAFETY AND EACH HIPPOTHERAPY LESSON IS OVERSEEN BY A NARHA INSTRUCTOR TO ENSURE RIDER, HORSE, AND VOLUNTEER SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE LESSON.
