Programs

Benefits
The horse and human bond has been known since antiquity for its healing qualities. With a therapy horse's non-judgmental approach, quiet trust and sense of play, students are highly motivated to learn and to grow into their full potential.

One of the most fascinating, yet not widely known, aspects of therapeutic riding is that the walking motion of a horse more closely resembles the human walking gait than any other movement known to us. In fact, even with all the technological advances made in the field of physical therapy, no one has been able to replicate this movement on a machine. Combined with other therapies, Carlisle Academy is playing an important complementary role in helping students make significant improvements, resulting in greater functional skills and overall life enhancement.

  • For individuals with physical disabilities, the rhythmical walking motion of the horse closely simulates a person's walking gait, and students experience improvements in muscle strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. With greater freedom of movement comes an increase in self-esteem, confidence, personal mobility and independence.
  • For individuals with cognitive disabilities, therapeutic riding offers a motivational opportunity to improve their concentration, attention span, memory, and language skill development.
  • For individuals with behavioral and emotional challenges, the positive horse and human interaction experienced through therapeutic riding can result in a greater sense of teamwork, responsibility and communication. As the bond develops, so does the student's ability to take risks and deal with both success and failure.


Testimonials
It’s All About Outcomes
Student outcomes remain our key focus as we strive to attain our goals and fulfill our mission. Our student survey showed moderate to significant improvement in these top 6 areas: 1) balance 2) confidence; 3) range of motion; 4) muscle tone; 5) listening and following direction; and 6) emotional well-being.

“In my interactions with the families who have participated in this wonderful program, I have been thanked numerous times for getting them involved in a program that has changed their children’s lives for the better.” – Halen Gori, Family Resource Coordinator, CHAD/Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
 “Unbelievable strength improvement resulting in much more boyish behavior—climbing, swinging, sliding—as well as greater stamina in the classroom, at the table and in overall getting through the day.”  
– Parent of a hippotherapy student

“S. talks more at recess, seems more self-confident and participates in groups at school. She is now willing to try riding a bike. S. is more aware of centering and balancing her body.” 
– Parent of a therapeutic riding student  

“She now lets go and walks on her own a lot. She can walk longer distances without falling as often as before. She can put on shoes, remove socks and clothes, and often goes to the bathroom alone.”
– Parent of a hippotherapy student

“Before hippotherapy she used a walker. Within three weeks she started using crutches and was able to walk 25’ without assistance.” 
– Parent of a hippotherapy student

“All of my students show great gains in coordination, balance and relaxation; and in one case, digestive tract improvements. When they ride, they have shown good improvement in following directions. All of the workers have been FABULOUS with my students. The program is one of our favorite annual units for adaptive physical education and we look forward to it.”  
– School teacher