Hippotherapy is a therapeutic approach that uses interaction with horses — their movement, presence, and responsiveness — as a clinical tool within a broader therapeutic programme. The word derives from the Greek hippos, meaning horse. It is distinguished from equestrian sport or recreational riding by its clinical framework: hippotherapy is conducted under the direction of healthcare professionals and is a prescribed component of an individual therapeutic plan.
At IsraClinic, hippotherapy is conducted at a dedicated equestrian facility with trained horses and qualified therapeutic staff, as part of integrated outpatient psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment.
Hippotherapy works through multiple simultaneous therapeutic mechanisms — neurological, physiological, psychological, and relational — that are unique to the interaction with horses.
Sensorimotor stimulation. The movement of the horse produces a three-dimensional pattern that closely resembles human walking, transmitting rhythmic, multidirectional sensory input to the rider. This proprioceptive, vestibular, and tactile stimulation supports neurological processing, balance, coordination, and body awareness in ways difficult to achieve through other modalities.
Relational response. Horses are particularly sensitive animals. They respond moment-to-moment to the emotional and physiological state of the person they are with — providing instant, non-judgmental feedback. For patients who have difficulty with human relationships, the relational simplicity and unconditional nature of the horse's response can be profoundly regulating and corrective.
Natural environment. The outdoor setting in which hippotherapy takes place contributes independently to its therapeutic effect — contact with nature reduces physiological stress markers and supports mood regulation through mechanisms distinct from the horse interaction itself.
Anxiety disorders, PTSD, and stress-related conditions — the regulation and grounding that horse interaction provides — through physical rhythm and the relational experience of being with a responsive, non-threatening animal — directly supports physiological and emotional stabilisation.
Depression — hippotherapy combats the withdrawal, passivity, and disconnection that characterise depression through physical engagement, outdoor contact, and the motivational pull of working with animals.
Trauma — particularly early relational trauma where trust in human relationships has been disrupted, the horse provides a relational experience that is immediate, authentic, and free of the complexity that human relationships carry. The horse does not judge, does not have an agenda, and does not lie.
Children and adolescents with emotional, behavioural, or developmental difficulties — hippotherapy provides a medium for building self-confidence, emotional regulation, impulse control, and social skills in a context that is intrinsically motivating and removed from the pressures of the clinical setting.
Serious mental illness — schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder — hippotherapy contributes to engagement with treatment, physical activation, sensorimotor integration, and quality of life alongside the primary components of psychiatric care.
Hippotherapy is conducted at a dedicated facility with specially trained horses and qualified therapeutic staff. Sessions are always delivered as part of an integrated treatment plan — clinically indicated by the clinical team and reviewed as treatment progresses.
Format, frequency, and goals are specified in the patient's individual treatment plan. Sessions may involve mounted work, ground work with the horse, or both, depending on the clinical indication and the patient's response.
A physical health assessment is conducted before hippotherapy is initiated to ensure the programme is appropriate for the patient's condition and medical history.
All hippotherapy at IsraClinic is delivered within the framework of the Psychoergonomic Method — ensuring its use is embedded in a comprehensive clinical understanding of this specific patient's presentation, needs, and therapeutic goals.
Hippotherapy is indicated when the sensorimotor, relational, and environmental properties of horse-based therapy provide a clinically meaningful addition to the treatment plan — particularly for presentations involving emotional dysregulation, trauma, social withdrawal, and for children, adolescents, and adults who respond strongly to animal interaction.
The treating team will assess whether hippotherapy is indicated as part of the individual treatment plan.
IsraClinic accepts patients for in-person treatment in Tel Aviv, in English, Russian and Hebrew. No referral is required.
Clinical Programme Curator: Valery Kravitz | IsraClinic | Last reviewed: 2026
The horse responds to what you feel — not what you say. If you would like to discuss whether hippotherapy is right for your situation, our team is available in English, Russian and Hebrew.