A mechanical horse has been gifted to a specialist school in Exeter.
Vranch House School and Centre — an independent school for children with physical difficulties — was given the riding simulator by Masonic Charitable Foundation.
The horse is designed to replicate the movement of a real equine in three different paces. It will be used to deliver hippotherapy sessions for pupils and patients who use the school’s services.
“Hippotherapy is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that utilises natural equine movement in order to improve children’s limb strength and range of movement, core strength, balance, coordination and head control,” said a spokesman for Vranch House.
The horse was gifted with a ceiling track hoist and associated equipment, thanks to a successful application by the school’s physiotherapist Kirsty Scales.
Children will carry out exercises while on the horse, assisted by two members of staff, with the programme being overseen by Kirsty.
“The two school pupils and four out patients who have trialled it so far have really enjoyed their sessions and have been very keen to ask for more,” the spokesman said.
“As the horse is being used for therapy exercises rather than teaching riding, we use it with a soft pad rather than a saddle, which enables the children to sit in a variety of different positions.”
The Vranch House team thanked PolyPads who made the school a bespoke pad to meet its needs, and paid part of the cost as a donation to the charity.
“Once we have taken measurements for different-sized children we will be able to make sure we have appropriately sized pads to accommodate all suitable patients, and allow a range of exercises,” they added.
Images by Vranch House School and Centre
