Seeking health benefits of four-legged friend

Aug 11 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A RARE service that harnesses horsepower to help people with mobility problems is opening in Northumberland with the creation of three jobs.

Dr Dorothee Debuse is bringing hippotherapy – a specialist physiotherapy intervention using horses – to Titlington near Alnwick.

Dr Debuse, who qualified as a chartered physiotherapist at Northumbria University, where she now lectures part-time, first came across the technique in her native Germany as a child when it was used to treat her spastic diplegia – a cerebral palsy affecting her legs.

She said: “Because I have cerebral palsy I know what it feels like to be a patient, so I’m in an ideal position. When I was eight years old my movement improved vastly after starting therapeutic riding – after four weeks I was able to ride a bike.

“My condition drove me to become a physiotherapist and after working in Germany, where hippotherapy is renowned, I feel very passionate about helping people with neurological problems in this region.

“Riding a horse has proved to be incredibly empowering, giving people a great deal of hope with raised self esteem and a feeling of achievement both physically and psychologically. It’s beautiful to witness.”

The business, which will create jobs for a specialist physiotherapist, a horse handler and an assistant, received more than £8,300 from the Northumberland Uplands LEADER programme. The money comes from the Rural Development Programme for England fund, which is managed by One North East and part of its Real Help For Business Now drive.