HIPPOTHERAPY AND ADAPTIVE EQUESTRIAN SPORT: HOW AMANZHOLOV UNIVERSITY TEACHES REHABILITATION COURSES

At Amanzholov University more than 500 people have undergone rehabilitation courses using the method of hippotherapy and adaptive equestrian sport. This is a modern approach to treating people with musculoskeletal disorders, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder and neurological disorders. It is based on horseback riding.

The courses have been held at the university since 2014 in cooperation with the AkTai Foundation for the Support of Children with Disabilities. During this time, half a thousand people from different parts of Kazakhstan have been trained in trend rehabilitation, taught by instructor Ekaterina Rudenko. It is EKR – the only region where hippotherapy is widely used and is developing on a large scale.

-I have 13 years of experience, so I know perfectly well that the method is proved not only by scientific researchers, but also by my own practice. During the horse’s movements, especially during a quiet stride, the patient’s body succumbs to wave-like vibrations that replicate the natural movements of the human body during walking. This activates many muscles, improving coordination, flexibility and overall fitness,” said Ekaterina Rudenko.

Hippotherapy session takes place at the equestrian complex and includes several stages. First, the patient establishes a trusting contact with the animal, and then performs individually selected exercises on the horse under the supervision of Ekaterina.

The last course ended a couple of days ago. Then 12 people from EKR, WKR, Almaty, Aktobe, Zhambyl and Almaty regions were trained in this unique method. All of them in the near future plan to become full-fledged hippotherapy instructors, which are needed by special children and their parents. In 2022, the parent community even initiated a petition to introduce adaptive equestrian service in Almaty.

-During the training our trainees receive the most useful and relevant information. The theoretical block is aimed at organizing the whole work and studying the mechanisms of the horse’s influence on the human body. The practical block includes correct riding and observation of the patient. People with pedagogical or medical education master the knowledge best, but there are no specific diploma requirements from our side, – said Kamshat Khamzina, manager-marketer of the Resource Center for Professional Training and Professional Development of Amanzholov University.

-To take the course, I specially gathered a group in Astana and applied for training through the university. Ekaterina is a specialist from God. Thanks to the received knowledge now Paralympic equestrian sport is well developed in the capital. I am just working in this direction, – shared course participant Amina Yesina.

-I took the course in 2021 and I still use the skills I learned every day, working as a rehabilitation instructor in Ridder. I have children who used hippotherapy as an additional treatment, and now they have grown into athletes. They go to competitions and come back with medals,” said Anastasia Kozmina.