| This is the second article in my series on hippotherapy | | | | sore the day after my session. |
| in South Florida. On my second visit to take part in | | | | The second time around the pylons, my physical |
| hippotherapy in South Florida, I was mounted on a | | | | therapist had me reaching in front of me, with my arm |
| female horse, Flash, named after the movie | | | | just slightly off to the side and touching the top of the |
| Flashdance. Unlike Chocolate Chip, the horse I rode on | | | | pylon. This exercise was much harder. One new to |
| for my first session, Flash is thinner and has a | | | | hippotherapy would be surprised to learn the |
| narrower midsection. According to my therapist, Jane, | | | | intensiveness of such exercises as they are seemingly |
| Flash is also more smooth-gaited, making the transition | | | | simple maneuvers. |
| between surfaces on the hippotherapy course easier | | | | In technical terms, the goal for this hippotherapy |
| to navigate. | | | | session was to exercise the corpus callosum, the |
| One new to hippotherapy might believe that riding a | | | | structure within the brain that provides communication |
| horse, with a narrower midsection, would make it | | | | between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. |
| easier for a person with balance issues to maintain | | | | The exercise of having my left hand reaching across |
| their balance. In fact, it is harder for a client to maintain | | | | my body's midline to the right sends motor and |
| balance on Flash. The physical therapist, took me | | | | sensory information to the brain, and then from the |
| through some exercises, which focused on | | | | brain to the muscles. |
| strengthening lateral muscles needed for balance. | | | | Based on pictures taken during my session, my |
| First, as part of my hippotherapy session, a series of | | | | physical therapist has determined that my left leg |
| pylons were placed in the path of the horse. As I went | | | | almost acts independent of the rest of my body. |
| around each one on the course, I raised my right hand | | | | Though disturbing to say the least, future hippotherapy |
| and twisted the upper section of my body and turned | | | | sessions will likely integrate my left leg back into my |
| my head and pointed to an object on the right side of | | | | bodily movements. So, I guess you might say that |
| the course. I then crossed my arm over the front of | | | | hippotherapy has taught me that I have been having |
| my body and pointed left to the top of the pylon. This | | | | an out of body experience for the past seventeen |
| exercise was repeated using my left hand and turning | | | | years; well, at least it would appear that my left leg |
| to the left and then crossing my left arm over my | | | | has been having that experience without the |
| body to the right. Clearly, this series of hippotherapy | | | | intervention of hippotherapy. |
| exercises stimulated muscle activity as my sides were | | | | |