Volunteer Ecuador Quito Hippotherapy Program Abroaderview.org

This project was created in 1995 with the main objective to offer rehabilitation and integrate recreational programs through therapies with horses for children, youth, and adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Riding therapy or equine-assisted therapy and canine-assisted therapy with dogs is recognized worldwide as an effective method for physical, mental and/or emotional rehabilitation. It transmits to the patient a sense of balance, coordination, orientation and rhythm.

The movement of the horses back is used therapeutically. Equine-assisted therapy uses horses as therapeutic instruments and prepares the patient for other physiotherapeutic functions, but offers huge psychological benefits.

Volunteers will handle the horses during therapy sessions 3 or 4 people are necessary. Volunteers are more than welcome to help with feeding of the horses, preparing them for each therapy session, cleaning the horses afterwards and other general tasks during the therapy sessions. In addition, the volunteer can also help with horse-back riding lessons for the general public and in the administrative area, as well as garden maintenance. It is also possible to participate in the canine-assisted therapies.