By Cole Brazinski
As part of our service project, we wanted to help people connect to animals. As far as we know, this is the first website in Central New York to help connect people and animals. Are goal is to find a way that animals and humans interact and how these interactions could improve the lives of humans.
One connections we found is hippo therapy. Hippo therapy is treatment strategy for people with disabilities that utilizes equine movement. Hippo therapy literally means "treatment with the help of the horse" from the Greek word, "hippos" meaning horse.
Specially trained therapists use this treatment for clients with movement dysfunction. In hippo therapy, the movement of the horse influences the client. The client is positioned on the horse and actively responds to his movement. The therapist directs the movement of the horse; analyzes the client's responses; and adjusts the treatment accordingly. This strategy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to help kids and people attain independence.
Some places that offer Hippo therapy are http://www.rootfarm.org/
Sources: http://www.childrenstheraplay.org/
Great Blog!
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