Hawaii Beach House, East Molokai Large oceanfront home sleeps 6 with views of Maui and Lanai. Near hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, swimming, surfing, fishing.
Johann & Sandra's Maui Sports & Recreation Find information about windsurfing, scuba diving, surfing, mountain biking, horseback rides and most other sports activities on Maui.
Wikipedia Links
Therapeutic Horseback Riding Therapeutic Horseback Riding is an alternative therapy for individuals with a range of physical, emotional, cognitive, and social special needs. There are several different kinds of programs that utilize horses and horseback riding for therapeutic benefits. Sometimes referred to as equine assisted therapy, therapeutic riding is usually most effective in children because of the nature of mental, physical and social development. However, equine assisted therapy produces very favorable improvements in riders of all ages. There are hundreds of programs around the world as well many organizations dedicated to the various forms of equine assisted therapy. Therapeutic riding refers specifically to horseback riding lessons for people with special needs in which the therapeutic benefits of riding are a result of learning riding skills. Other forms of equine assisted therapy include hippotherapy, in which a certified therapist uses the horse as a therapeutic tool, and equine facilitated psychotherapy in which a certified mental health professional utilizes the horse in various ways for therapeutic benefit. Therapeutic riding is sometimes considered a form of animal assisted therapy. As with canine assisted therapy and dolphin therapy, the contact with another living being and the special bond people form with animals is used as a therapeutic tool. However, horses provide more than just skills acquired from a relationship with an animal or learning to care for an animal. Riding a horse provides a unique and often profound therapy for many people. The motion of the horse, concentration needed to require riding skills and communication between therapist/instructor and rider allows people with a variety of disabilities to benefit from riding. Riding, like many other alternative therapies, can also be considered a form of recreational therapy. That is, because riding is an enjoyable activity for many people, therapeutic riding is also used as a quality of life therapy for people with degenerative diseases as well as a 'fun therapy' for children and adults alike. Riding is a rapidly growing field with much diversification. Although it is termed 'alternative,' horseback riding has been recognized by many medical professionals and therapists as a very effective therapy for just about anyone.