Hipotherapy - a Good Element for a Resort City

Hipotherapy as a method includes phisical, psychological, pedagogical and social rehabilitation by use of horseback riding an aim of which is to improve, restore partly lost or compensate completely lost functions of movement.

Hipotherapy also improves self-balance and coordination by normalising the muscular tonus as well as increasing self-confidence. As a method it includes not only medical rehabilitation but also horse riding sports for disabled people and recreation measures.

There was established the only one institution of hipotherapy in Latvia, in Jurmala seven years ago. It is attended by 90 pacients per month. The competition "Calk" for disabled people was organized for the first time in 1999 in cooperation with Jurmala municipality and The National Hipotherapy association of Latvia.