Ironstone Therapy
Ironstone Therapy, Inc: Establishment and History
A nonprofit affiliate of Challenge Unlimited, Ironstone Therapy, Inc. employs licensed professional physical and occupational therapists who provide therapeutic intervention for our clients as young as two years old. Ironstone Therapy, Inc. was established in 1997 as a medically-based physical and occupational therapy service provider and was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1998. As a result, numerous partnerships with educational and medical providers were established and in 2000 our first contract with Early Intervention was sealed.
What is Hippotherapy?
The term hippotherapy refers to how licensed occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful manipulation of equine movement as a therapy tool to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes.
Best practice dictates that licensed occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology professionals integrate hippotherapy into the patient’s plan of care, along with other therapy tools and/or strategies.
Benefits of Hippotherapy
Therapy using the movement of the horse is the primary purpose of the Ironstone Therapy program and is the basis for our Equine-Assisted Therapy philosophy. When riding, the movement of the horse stimulates the sensation of walking for the person in the saddle. Ironstone’s therapists use this unique motion to help clients improve balance and coordination, increase muscle tone, and make gains in strength and stamina – all of which can be difficult to achieve in the classroom or clinic. The farm environment also provides a wide variety of sensory input, and a more natural community setting to work on social engagement with the horse and others. For the client, therapy is effective and fun!
Pricing
Hippotherapy session costs vary based on insurance. Contact your provider to see if your services can be covered or partially covered.
Interested in Irontstone Therapy For Your Loved One?
Ironstone Therapy’s clients are referred by physicians, Early Intervention programs, and word of mouth. Following referral, a therapy evaluation is conducted and a plan of care is determined. Progress is carefully monitored, documented. When a child achieves predetermined goals, recommendations are made for either discharge, or continuation with therapeutic/recreational riding in the Challenge Unlimited Therapeutic Riding Program.
Send a message to our Therapy team and someone will reach out to you for next steps.
Ironstone Therapy and Therapeutic Riding Success Stories From Families
Ironstone Farm is proud to assist a number of children as young as 2 through OT and PT services using the power of hippotherapy. Most of our therapeutic riders began their journey in Ironstone Therapy through early intervention. Here are some success stories.
Grow Stronger Together
By donating to our cause, you are directly supporting the people we serve and helping to ensure that therapeutic riding is accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial means.