Sundance Hippotherapy offers PT, OT and SLP services designed to help patients with mental and/or physical disabilities.
Physical Therapy
The physical therapist can overlay a variety of motor tasks on the horse’s movement to address the motor needs of each patient and to promote functional outcomes in skill areas related to gross motor ability such as sitting, standing, and walking.
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Occupational Therapy
The occupational therapist is able to combine the effects of the equine movement with other standard intervention strategies to work on fine motor control, sensory integration, feeding skills, play skills, attention and self-regulation skills, and functional daily living skills in a progressively challenging manner.
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Speech Therapy
The speech-language pathologist utilizes the movement of the horse to facilitate improved respiratory function, breath control, and oral-motor function. These effects are combined with standard speech and language intervention techniques to target articulation, fluency, and auditory processing. Using the natural environment, the therapist also addresses expressive language, receptive language, and social pragmatics.
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FAQ
What to Expect
You will begin with an initial evaluation from one of our licensed therapists at our Meridian Physical Therapy location in Puyallup. They will work with your physician to obtain a release to ensure we can provide the safest and most effective treatment for each hippotherapy patient. After that, all subsequent treatment will be held at the Sundance Circle Therapeutic Riding Center in Sumner
Does insurance cover hippotherapy?
Yes, most insurances cover hippotherapy. We will call and verify your benefits. Unfortunately, DSHS, Medicaid and Molina are not accepted at this time.
Are there any additional fees?
Yes. Sundance Circle Hippotherapy as a facility is independent from therapists performing therapy and charges a fee of $50 per session to provide care for their horses.
When are treatments offered?
Schedule will vary depending on therapists availability. Please call one the therapy clinics to set an evaluation and find a treatment time that is available.
Can I help with the treatments?
The farm has trained volunteers to help during the session, so we ask that you view the session from the sidelines.
How old do you have to be?
Minimum age is 3 years old and can be any age beyond that, but the patient must be able to hold themselves upright for the most part.
Is there a weight limit?
Yes, there is a weight limit of 165 pounds. This is a precaution to ensure that we do not endanger the health of our horses.
What conditions does this kind of therapy treat?
Cerebral palsy, autism, Down’s syndrome, ataxia, sensory integration disorder, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury, ADHD, genetic disorders, stroke patients, and many more. Feel free to call the Sundance Circle Hippotherapy at 253-251-9994 if you would like to know if a specific condition would benefit from hippotherapy.
Do I need a referral?
Yes. You need a referral for PT, OT or speech and an additional signed release from your doctor. Depending on the condition an additional form or test may be performed to assure the patient can be on the horse. Your therapist will discuss this with you.
How do I make an appointment?
To make an appointment, contact us at (253) 251-9994 or info@sundancehippotherapy.com
