• Hippotherapy Participation Guidelines

  • Thank you for your interest in services at Hold Your Horses. Please read the following guidelines in their entirety before proceeding to our pre-screen form. These guidelines will help you understand if mounted activity is a safe, supportive, and effective form of therapy for a participant. In some cases, mounted work with horses may not be the best fit for therapy. Please Note: 

     

    • Participants not meeting the mounted criteria may qualify for groundwork or alternative services
    • Returning participants may require re-screening

  • Program Overview

  • Hippotherapy is a skilled occupational therapy intervention using the movement of a horse to support:

    • Posture and balance
    • Coordination
    • Sensory processing
    • Emotional regulation
    • Functional participation

    Services may include mounted and/or groundwork, depending on clinical appropriateness and safety.

    Participation is determined through pre-screening based on:

    • Client safety
    • Horse welfare
    • Clinical appropriateness

  • Participation Guidelines

  • Hold Your Horses (HYH) follows the guidelines below to promote a safe, supportive, and effective environment for all participants, horses, staff, and volunteers.

    While our goal is to serve as many individuals as possible, participation in mounted programming is based on goodness of fit, including:

    • Rider ability
    • Safety considerations
    • Horse suitability
    • Available staffing and supports

    Exceptions may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account diagnosis, age, height, weight, mobility, and overall functional ability.

    If a participant begins to demonstrate any precautions listed below after enrollment, a re-screening may be required, which may result in:

    • Program modification
    • Transition to unmounted services
    • Discontinuation of mounted participation


    HYH reserves the right to determine appropriateness for mounted services at any time for safety reasons.

  • Contradictions & Precautions

  • Contraindications (Participation is Unsafe)

    • Atlantoaxial instability with neurological symptoms
    • Spinal instability or severe abnormalities
    • Acute fractures or dislocations
    • Severe osteoporosis with fracture risk
    • Uncontrolled seizures
    • Uncontrolled cardiac or respiratory conditions
    • Active medical exacerbations (e.g., RA, MS flare)
    • Uncontrolled hemophilia
    • Dangerous behaviors toward self or others
    • Severe, uncontrolled thought disorders
    • Recent surgery without medical clearance
    • Open skin breakdown in contact areas

    Precautions (Require Clinical Review)

    • Allergies (animal/environmental)
    • Controlled seizures
    • Migraines
    • Managed cardiac/blood pressure conditions
    • Spinal fusion/fixation
    • Hip conditions
    • Medical equipment use (e.g., catheter)
    • Medications affecting alertness or balance
    • Poor endurance
    • Age under 4

  • Physical Participation Requirements

  • Participants Weighing 100 lbs or Less

    • Assist with mounting/dismounting (minimum 25% effort)
    • Requires moderate to maximum support
    • Appropriate horse available

    Participants Weighing 101–130 lbs

    • Assist with mounting/dismounting (minimum 50% effort)
    • Requires moderate support
    • Able to assist with repositioning and tolerate physical assistance
    • Appropriate horse available

    Participants Weighing 131-190 lbs

    • Assist with mounting/dismounting (minimum 75% effort)
    • Minimal assistance from one staff member
    • Independently self-adjust while mounted
    • Appropriate horse available

  • Postural & Physical Control Requirements

  • Neck Control

    • Independently turn head
    • Maintain upright head control with helmet
    • No uncontrolled head movements during horse motion


    Weight-Bearing Ability

    • Stand on:
      • One foot with moderate assistance OR
      • Both feet with minimal assistance
    • Ability to step backward
      • Exceptions may be considered with strong upper-body strength for transfers. 

    Trunk Control

    • Bench sit independently for at least 2 minutes
    • Maintain balanced sitting on horse for majority of session without reliance on support

  • Behavioral & Cognitive Considerations

  • Participants must:

    • Demonstrate safe emotional regulation
    • Avoid excessive or unsafe movement
    • Refrain from behaviors that pose risk to self, others, or horse


    Unsafe behaviors include (but are not limited to):

    • Hitting, kicking, biting, pinching
    • Spitting, scratching, hair pulling
    • Screaming or pushing
    • Removing helmet
    • Attempting to dismount independently
    • Excessive bouncing, rocking, or leaning

  • Commitment to Access

  • HYH is committed to providing adaptable, inclusive programming whenever possible. Please contact the Clinic Manager to discuss individual circumstances and options. 

  • HYH Pre-Screen Form

  • Client Date of Birth*
     - -
  • Pre-Screening Date (Today's Date)*
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  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Scheduling & Payment

  • Preferred payment method:*
  • Can you commit to regular weekly sessions?*

  • Client Health & Medical Info

  • Seizures:*

  • If yes: 

  • Controlled with medication?

  • Client Movement & Physical Skills

  • Level of assistance for transfers*
  • Weight-Bearing Ability*
  • Level of assistance for ambulation*
  • Head Control:*
  • Sitting balance*
  • Rows
  • Everyday movement skills (check all that apply)*

  • Client Behavior & Emotional Regulation

  • How often does the participant struggle with big emotions?*

  • Client Sensory Preferences & Communication

  • Sensory preferences (select all that apply)*
  • Communication:*
  • Follows directions:*

  • Client Experience & Interests

  • Has the participant been around horses before?*

  • Treatment Goals

  • Video (Optional But Helpful)

  • We may ask for a short video (1-3 minutes) showing: 

    • Sitting and standing 
    • Balance
    • Movement (walking, stairs, play)
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  • Final Note

  • This form is designed to help our team understand each client’s individual strengths, needs, and goals so we can determine the safest and most supportive way to offer services within a hippotherapy environment. 

    Submitting this form does not guarantee mounted riding or participation in hippotherapy sessions. Instead, it helps us make informed decisions about whether hippotherapy is appropriate at this time, or whether alternative or preparatory services may be a better starting point. Our goal is always to ensure a safe, positive, and beneficial experience for every participant. 

  • Date*
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