The Development of Hippotherapy Practices in Türkiye and the Evaluation of Current Research

Abstract

his study systematically investigates the effects of hippotherapy interventions on motor skills, self-care competencies, socialization, and quality of life in individuals with special needs in Türkiye. A comprehensive review was conducted, analyzing 18 graduate theses and 26 peer-reviewed articles obtained from the YÖK Thesis Database, TR Dizin, and Google Scholar. The findings indicate that hippotherapy exerts a significant impact on gross motor function, postural balance, and trunk control, particularly among children with cerebral palsy (p < 0.05). The intervention also promotes independence in activities of daily living, leading to functional improvements in self-care skills, and enhances mobility in parallel with gross motor development. Furthermore, hippotherapy was associated with statistically significant improvements in social interaction and communication, facilitating more effective engagement with social environments and contributing to overall quality of life. In individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, interaction with the horse was found to reduce atypical behaviors and positively influence sensory integration processes. Collectively, the literature from Türkiye underscores hippotherapy as an effective, holistic, and supportive rehabilitation approach that fosters multidimensional development in individuals with special needs. This study provides a methodologically grounded synthesis of the Turkish hippotherapy literature, offering an evidence-based framework for establishing clinical practice standards and guiding future research in the field.