Hippotherapeut/Hippotherapeutin

In Germany, Hippotherapists are healthcare professionals who treat sick children, adults, and individuals with disabilities by conducting physiotherapy exercises on horses. Before starting treatment, they create individual treatment plans and coordinate these plans with relevant doctors and other therapists. They select suitable horses for therapy, prepare them for therapeutic use, and personally manage the treatment process. During therapy sessions, they give instructions to those guiding the horse, carefully observe the patient's condition on the horse, document each treatment step to track progress, and adjust the therapy flow if necessary.

Hippotherapists are typically employed in physiotherapy and massage clinics, as well as care facilities for individuals with disabilities. Their work environments are mostly riding halls, arenas, stables, and pastures, though they may also work in an office setting from time to time.

This profession is acquired in Germany through a "Weiterbildung" (advanced training/specialization). Generally, holding a physiotherapist diploma and having at least one year of professional experience are prerequisites for admission to this 6 to 12-month (part-time) advanced training. During the training, fundamental topics covered include the selection and training of therapy horses, enhancing horse motivation and maintaining their health, the use of therapeutic equipment, sensing and visualizing movement transfer, and different horse guiding techniques. In advanced courses, topics such as the fundamentals and mechanisms of action of hippotherapy, neurological assessment, indications/contraindications, legal and insurance questions, pediatric assessment and treatment planning, emergency measures, and first aid are covered in depth. For physiotherapists coming from Turkey to specialize in this field, their diplomas must first be recognized in Germany, and they must possess a good command of the German language.

In Germany, "Hippotherapeut/Hippotherapeutin" follows a Weiterbildung path — advanced specialisation that builds on an existing Ausbildung or degree (e.g. Meister, Fachwirt, certified course).

In Germany, "Hippotherapeut/Hippotherapeutin" follows a Weiterbildung path — advanced specialisation that builds on an existing Ausbildung or degree (e.g. Meister, Fachwirt, certified course). Foreign applicants should additionally verify diploma recognition via anabin.kmk.org before applying.

Workplace varies by employer. Check the official BERUFENET listing for the current breakdown of typical work environments for Hippotherapeut/Hippotherapeutin.

Salaries vary by region, employer size, and experience. Consult BERUFENET for current figures, or salary aggregators like gehalt.de and stepstone.de Gehaltsreport.