At Riding for Rehab, we believe in the huge potential of the horse to be used in a therapeutic programme. Years of combining physiotherapy and riding means we’ve been privileged to work with many disabled adults and children.
We spend our time helping clients develop close relationships with horses - and seeing lives improve as the work they do with horses aids posture, balance and co-ordinated movement. This work can help people to fulfil their aspirations and dreams: it’s why we get up in the morning.
Whether we’re in the arena running a hippotherapy session, out in the woods leading a therapeutic ride or acting as an expert witness and treating therapist in a medico legal case, clients and horses are always at the heart of what we do.
About Elizabeth
Riding for Rehab was founded by Elizabeth Beckerlegge, to provide a physiotherapy service to riders with a disability, whether from birth or acquired during life.
A Chartered Physiotherapist, who has worked in the NHS, the charitable sector and in private practice, Elizabeth has spent her life with horses.
She first became involved with riders with a disability more than 40 years ago, initially as voluntary helper. Once qualified as a physiotherapist, she worked with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) at group, county, regional and national level.
Elizabeth is one of the UK’s Hippotherapy pioneers - she was among the first physiotherapists in the country to gain the qualification and ran the first Hippotherapy practice in England at a time when this specialism was just developing.
Today, Elizabeth has completed medico legal training, making her the UK’s only expert witness as a physiotherapist in Hippotherapy.
She is currently chair of Chartered Physiotherapists in Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy (CPTRH) and has given presentations at home and abroad on the use of the horse in the lives of people with a disability.
How we work
The Riding for Rehab philosophy means we treat every client as an individual. Whether they want to ride for therapy, sport or as a leisure activity, each person is fully assessed and their personal goals and aims are discussed and agreed.
We’ll then devise a bespoke plan, which may involve other physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, riding instructors and others to maximise the potential of the horse to provide a vehicle for rehabilitation.
The overall goal is always to maximise the physical, psychological and educational benefits of riding to achieve the most transformational result for our client.
