• Physiotherapists with foreign languages
• Priority is given to those who attend all three modules

The graduates are able to

• apply basic hippological knowledge in a targeted manner for the treatment of people with neurological disorders.
• take responsibility for the adequate selection and specific training of horses.
• analyse the symptoms and thereby plan, implement and evaluate an appropriate treatment for hippotherapy in an evidence-based manner.
• to select and modify aids in a goal-oriented way.
• to communicate professionally with the different interfaces.

Hippotherapy is physiotherapy with the help of the horse. It is a recognised medical treatment measure. The movement transmission of the horse's step and back is used for therapeutic treatment of patients. In this CAS you will acquire the skills to assess and treat adults, children or adolescents with central neurological movement disorders with the help of the horse in a problem-oriented and professional manner. You will learn to document the process competently and to review and adapt it according to the principles of evidence-based therapy.

Module 1: (5 credits) Basic Module Hippotherapy
Theoretical basics of hippotherapy

• Self-experience as a patient and as a horse handler
• Needs, health and behaviour of the horse
• Horse anatomy
• Biomechanics of the horse's back
• Analysis of the horse's stride
• Requirements for the assessment of the horse's stride
• Horse management

Module 2: (5 credits) Advanced Module Adults

• Disease patterns and symptoms with reference to hippotherapy
• Examination, findings, problem analysis, goal formulation, treatment plan
• Starting positions, giving help, aids
• Treatment and practical work

Module 3: (5 credits) Advanced Module Children

• Disease patterns and symptoms with reference to hippotherapy
• Examination, findings, problem analysis, goal formulation, treatment plan
• Starting positions, giving help, aids
• Treatment and practical work

Variants

The basic module Hippology has to be completed together with the advanced module adults as CAS Hippotherapy Adults or together with the advanced module Children as CAS Hippotherapy Children. If both CAS Children and Adults are attended at the same time year, this corresponds to CAS Hippotherapy plus. Priority is given to those who attend all three modules.

In the first module you will learn the theory of horses and how to deal with them, on the other hand you will gain a lot of self-experience through practical work on and with the horse. In the second and third module, the theory of hippotherapy findings for adults and children is discussed and related to dominant symptoms. The practical implementation and the analysis of case studies complement the theory. The main topics on the two final days are the practical findings and treatment. Experience is gained at the practice site through the inclusion of real patients and the resulting findings are then analysed.

Corinne Almer
Prof. Dr. Reinald Brunner
Tiziana L. Grillo
Anne-Lise Joray-Tendon
Lea Knaus
Kirsten Ursem
Brigitte Wehrli

The curriculum was developed by the ZHAW together with its partner Association Swiss Group for Hippotherapy-K®.

University admission:

• Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy or Diploma in Physiotherapy with subsequent title acquisition (NTE)
• Qualified physiotherapists without a university degree or with a foreign diploma can be admitted as part of a fee-based equivalence procedure
• Typically two years of professional experience
• Access to the field of practice

Subject prerequisites for Basic Module Hippology, Module 1:

• Good knowledge of horses and riding experience
• Experience in handling the horse, especially leading and working in hand (course in ground work an advantage)

Subject prerequisites for Advanced Module Adults, Module 2:

• previous successful completion of the basic Hippology module
• Knowledge and skills in treating people with MS through completed continuing education, e.g.:
  - CAS Neurophysiotherapy - Specialist in Multiple Sclerosis (University of Basel), sections 1 and 3
  - Bobath Concept
  - or equivalent further training

Subject-specific prerequisites for Advanced Module Children, Module 3:

• previous successful completion of the basic Hippology module
• Knowledge and skills to treat CP children through completed continuing education, e.g.:
  - CAS Clinical Expertise in Paediatric Physiotherapy (Module 1)
  - CAS NDT Bobath
  - DAS Developmental Neurological Therapies
  - or equivalent further education

• Data basic module hippology: 20.02. (theory), 10./11./12./13.03.2025 (practice)
• Data advanced module adults: 23./24./25.04. (theory), 23./24.06.2025 (practice), Exam day: 21.11.2025
• Data advanced module children: 23.04., 02./03.05. (theory), 26./27.06.2025 (practice), Exam day: 20.11.2025
• School hours
  Basic module hippology: 09.15 - 16.30 Uhr (theory), 08.30 – 16.30 (practice)
  Advanced modules: Usually from 09:15 to 17:15
• Locations for practical days
  Basic module hippology: Stiftung Hippotherapie-Zentrum Basel, Binningen
  Advanced module adults: Centre Rencontre, Courfaivre
  Advanced module children: Kinder-Reha Schweiz, Affoltern am Albis
• Advice
  For the theory day on April 23, 2025, please bring your tablet/laptop with you for some content internet access is required. You can bring your documents on your laptop or print it out.