01/16/2026
Did you know that hippotherapy and therapeutic riding are not the same? Hippotherapy can only be done by licensed physical therapists (or PTAs under a licensed PT), and is certified through the American Hippotherapy Association.
The term hippotherapy refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
Best practice dictates that occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals integrate hippotherapy into the patient’s plan of care, along with other therapy tools and/or strategies.
On the opposite end of this spectrum is therapeutic riding, where the goal is to teach an individual how to ride with accommodations as needed for a disability. Therapeutic instructors are certified through PATH International to make sure instructors are safe and knowledgable about riding skills and disciplines.
At All Star, we currently offer Therapeutic Riding. Join us today!
