Campus Hippotherapy Program Provides Emotional and Physical Benefits

One of the unique services available through the physical therapy program is hippotherapy. This treatment utilizes work with horses and patients to connect and receive emotional help in addition to physical treatment through equine movement. It is also available to veterans through the Beck PRIDE Center.

The horse provides a base of support that aids in achieving control, balance, building endurance and other movement responses. Students have the opportunity to interact in actual sessions with patients involved in research with trained faculty members. All hippotherapy sessions are held at the Equine Center on campus.

The hippotherapy program is under the supervision of Dr. Roy Aldridge, professor of physical therapy. In addition to the hippotherapy program, Dr. Aldridge’s research interests include lymphedema and educational predictors.

To learn more about Dr. Aldridge and the hippotherapy program at Arkansas State University, watch the following video.