New Hope Therapy Presents
Nature-Based Therapy Opportunities
In partnership with non-profits and businesses in the Hot Springs area, New Hope Therapy is able to offer hippotherapy, aquatic therapy and animal therapy on the farm for adults and children in the areas of physical and occupational Therapy.
Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, or speech therapy that uses the movement of the horse as a therapeutic tool to improve motor skills, balance, posture, coordination, and sensory integration and is conducted by licensed therapists trained in both human therapy and equine handling.
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Aquatic therapy, also known as hydrotherapy or aquatic rehabilitation, is a specialized form of physical rehabilitation and exercise performed in a water environment. It utilizes the unique physical properties of water to facilitate therapeutic movement that may be difficult or impossible to perform on land. This approach is distinct from general water exercise because it is overseen by a licensed healthcare professional, such as a physical therapist, who tailors the activities to specific medical needs and recovery goals.
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Occupational therapy on a farm, with responsibilities that must be done regularly to maintain the land and the animals, can improve sensory processing skills, self-awareness, self-esteem and relationships with others. Farms, like children, involve growth, nurturing, hard work and down-to-earth fun. The connectedness inherent in this way of life can promote healthy change at all levels. Farm-based physical therapy integrates hands-on, experiential activities with therapeutic goals, using the farm environment as both a treatment space and a healing context. This approach is rooted in nature-based therapy, animal-assisted learning, and occupational engagement, making it especially effective for clients who benefit from movement, sensory input, and relational connection.
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