There are records of people with disabilities riding horses in the times of the ancient greeks. At the the turn of the 20th century England began offering riding as therapy for wounded soldiers at the Oxford Hospital during WWI.  By the 1950's British physiotherapists were expanding the possibilities of riding as therapy to all kinds of handicaps.  In 1952 Liz Hartel of Denmark won the silver medal for Dressage, despite being paralyzed by polio.  By 1969 Great Britian founded the RDA, or Riding for the Disabled Association.  Also in 1969 NARHA was founded.  The North American Riding for the Handicapped is an advisory group to many riding for the disabled facilities in the US and in neighboring countries.  NARHA provides guidelines for saftey and training, it certifies therapeutic riding instructors and gives accreditation to riding centers.  Today the medical field recognizes horseback riding as a valuable method of giving patients physical therapy. A horse's natural walking gait mimics the movement of the human body.  Thus riders often show improvements in flexibility, balance, and control. Hippotherapy, as this is called, is an invaluable tool in improving the lives of patients.  In fact, hippotherapy has become a medical field in its own right.
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