PrintWhen author Helen Thompson wrote, “In riding a horse, we borrow freedom,” she was probably referring to the way horses allow us to experience things we could never accomplish on our own two feet. I like to think that Ms. Thompson’s sentiment is doubly true when it comes to para-equestrian.
It’s hard to talk about the history of para-equestrian competition without first discussing the history of therapeutic riding in general. Although Greek and Roman writing mentioned the benefits of the relationship between horses and people, Lis Hartel, who rode to two Olympic silver medals after polio left her unable to walk without the aid of crutches, is widely regarded as the founder of modern day therapeutic riding.
She created Europe’s first therapeutic riding center, which soon came to the attention of the medical community. By the 1960s, riding was accepted by the American Medical Association as an “invaluable therapeutic tool.” There is a difference, however between therapeutic riding and hippotherapy.
Therapeutic Riding – teaches riding skills to people with disabilities. The focus is more on riding skills and setting riding goals.
Hippotherapy – uses the horses as a way to deliver physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy. The focus is on setting therapy goals. Hippotherapy is performed by licensed physical therapists and has very specific tasks and goals.
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was founded in 1969 to “promote safe and effective therapeutic horseback riding throughout the United States and Canada.” Over the years, NARHA has grown by leaps and bounds. The organization now boasts 3,500 certified instructors and 800 member centers around the world which help more than 42,000 people every year.
Not only does NARHA promote riding as a form of therapy, but the organization has also worked to develop “equine-assisted activities and therapies,” which includes carriage driving, vaulting, equine-facilitated learning, mental health, ground work, stable management and Horses For Heroes, a program designed to help war veterans and military personnel.
As more and more people participated in therapeutic riding, organizers of such programs began to see a need for further goals for riders. Many of the riders who were not able-bodied off the horse found themselves on equal footing when riding. Although many people move up to para-equestrian competition today from therapeutic riding programs, the two are not synonymous. Para-equestrian is competition for riders with disabilities.
