When Ryan Woods was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the tender age of thirteen months, his parents were determined to find the perfect therapy to treat his illness. Michelle and Bradley Woods consulted with their son’s physical therapist and developmental specialist, and when both mentioned
hippotherapy.

According to the definition of the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) the term refers to using the movement of a horse as a method to deal with and hopefully improve impairments, disabilities and other limits to function in people with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.

“Hippotherapy has helped Ryan build trunk control, the warmth of the horse relaxes the high tone that he has in his legs and the gait of the horse provides both sensory perception as well as mimicking the gait of a person, meaning the rider will gain strength by the side-top side, up-and-down, and back-and forth motions,” Michelle explained.