As far back as 600 B.C. in ancient Lydia, the value of the horse in therapy was documented. However, systematic study did not begin until 1875 in France by a Dr. Chassaign, who concluded that patients with neurological disorders showed marked improvement in posture, balance, joint movement and psychological well-being.

In 1952, after two world polio outbreaks, Liz Hartel amazed the world by winning the Silver Medal in dressage at the Olympics after losing the motor use in her legs. Ms. Hartel attributed her recovery to her therapist, her horse. As therapeutic riding spread throughout Europe, it gained recognition through the activities of James Brady, President Reagan's press secretary. He bacame brain injured due to an assassination attempt on the president and it was the Haflinger, just like ours at STEP, that helped Mr. Brady recover motor planning balance.

Research took off like a rocket in the USA as did NARHA, the National Certification and Standards Orginization for Therapeutic Riding. From this foundation began offshoots developed by the professional that implement using the horse in therapy. Thus was born DRT (Developmental Riding Therapy) in 1982. There is much confusion about the various forms of "therapeutic riding". What can be said is that there are two basic types, the first being Therapeutic Riding. This system of riding can be taught by riding instructers that have a basic level of skill and certification. Only rehabilitation professionals, or therapists, can implement the second system of therapeutic riding, called Classic Hippotherapy, and its deriviative, DRT. The traditional therapeutic riding approach is expanded into a model systems approach, an integrated treatment system. This innovative approach is currently undergoing professional peer review and has been in this country since 1982, but utilized since 1977 in Germany and Europe. STEP currently utilizes this system.

Much of the early research and foundation was the hard work of Jan Spink, MA, who combined the core concepts of medicine, psychology, education and horsemanship into a four-phase model for therapeutic riding. This four-phase model consisted of rehabilitation (mind-body approach), medicine, horsemanship and psycho-education.

By following the DRT method, we at STEP are able to find avenues for client placement and treatment progressions within the field of Therapeutic Riding. Children start in the continuum where they are best suited and are paired with the appropriate instructor or therapist. This unique approach to therapeutic riding is proudly offered only at STEP.