ARC HIPPOTHERAPY
Making a
difference in
the lives of
those living with disability.
Who We Are
Working with children and adults with disabilities, we are an SCIO providing specialised physiotherapy through equine movement. Governed and guided by a board of volunteer trustees and supported by a team of committed, passionate volunteers, ARC Hippotherapy is a welcoming and happy place for our participants. Learn more about this incredible program.
What We Do
Hippotherapy involves a specially trained physiotherapist who works with the horse as a "live" treatment tool. The movement of the horse supports the attainment of individualized treatment goals. This therapy can elicit positive changes in children who present with cognitive, motor, and/or psychosocial disabilities. Learn more about what we do.
Get Involved
Hippotherapy requires not only a specially trained, licensed and experienced practicing therapist, but many volunteers to support the sessions. With roles on the equine team, side helping team, and administrative support, we invite you to join our crew of passionate and commited volunteers. Learn about how you can get involved.
Donate
Our program is supported by the generous financial contributions of groups and individuals. We would be very grateful if you joined in this support.
An easy ‘cost free’ way of supporting the group is by using the following Shop-Online platforms:
Give as you Live and Easyfundraising.
Or support us directly via our donate page:
Endeavour Awards
At the end of every therapeutic year, our riders receive rosettes and certificates of achievement, to mark their incredible hard work in the therapy sessions they have participated in each week. We are consistently impressed by their dedication and effort, and by the incredible improvement they achieve.
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Graduation Day
Some of our young riders have completed their course of therapy with us and graduated on to a regular RDA riding program, therapy riding at Aberdeen Riding Club, and some even to mainstream riding.
An Upcoming Project
A mechanical horse is a simulator, used as a training aid to either help correct faults or to teach the basics of riding before getting on an actual horse. Mechanical horse-riding simulator exercises are a type of therapy based on the use of robotic or mechanical devices that produces movement similar to a real horse with the aim of simulating hippotherapy.
It is our hope that ARC Hippotherapy will have access to a mechanical horse in the coming years. This will provide an incredible opportunity to support our more vulnerable riders, and to continue therapy during the colder months as well.
For many of our riders to mount the mechnical horse, we will require a mechanical hoist. This device will allow us to safely mount our rider, without risk of injury, to therapist or rider
A Royal Visit
The Princess Royal is President of the RDA. In this role she attends numerous RDA AGM’s, hosts anniversary events and galas. She also, in her extremely busy schedule makes time to visit regional centres to meet volunteers and riders.
Every year the RDA sends an invitation to all centres with a list of dates the Princess Royal is free to visit. Such is her popularity, there is an engagement bid form that has to be completed with infinite care!
In 2022, we requested a visit to formally open our hydraulic lift, as a thank you to all who contributed to its installation. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful - restricting her visit to a Friday and the Coronation would not have helped!
We intend to submit another bid to tie in with the installation of a mechanical horse that Aberdeen Riding School are hoping to have in operation in the next year or two. As ARC Hippotherapy will have use of this equipment, we hope this in conjunction with the hydraulic lift will make our bid more attractive and interesting to the Princess Royal.