Have you ever gone horseback riding?  Did you know horseback riding offers a myriad of mental and physical health benefits?  While riding on a horse, the rider works on core strength, balance, coordination, muscle tone and flexibility.  The action of riding a horse also provides many mental health benefits: it’s calming and relaxing.  How might someone be able to reap these benefits at anytime of day or night?  Developers at GAIT, LLC have recently developed the solution: REST, or Relaxing Equine Simulator Therapy.

GAIT, LLC was founded in 2012 by two retired businesswomen.  One day, they were having a conversation that turned to the “scourge of autism in the 21st century.”  The grandson of a friend of one of those two businesswomen has autism, and she had witnessed how the boy’s behavior changed from agitated to calm after a horseback riding session.

Eventually after three years of hard work, the two women developed a device that would replicate the gait of a slow walking horse: the REST.

REST is engineered to replicate “the therapeutic value of riding a walking horse.”  It has proven to benefit many individuals, especially those with autism, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, and more!  Check out the device’s unique features below!

Features of REST:

• Design:
  • Designed, marketed, and manufactured by GAIT, LLC in the USA.
  • American made with gears, arms, shafts, and motor encased in a sheet metal frame.
  • Constructed to last a lifetime
  • Exterior surface is 100% washable.
• Portable:
  • The REST is very portable.  To transport it, just grab the handle, and roll it on two wheels.  Or you can use both handles to lift it into your vehicle.
• Rechargeable:
  • The REST’s rechargeable battery lasts 8+ hours, making it even easier to transport anywhere on the go!  Or, just plug the device into the wall and use it while recharging at home, school, or the office.
• Automatic:
  • REST is activated by pressure:
    • Sit on it to start it
    • Once you stand up, it’ll stop automatically
• Control:
  • The standard seat height is 14 inches: ideal for elementary school desks.
  • The REST also includes a seat insert that elevates it to 18 inches, which is the standard size for a lot of furniture.
  • The speed is also adjustable: it goes from slow to slower.

To learn more about this device, check out the GAIT, LLC website.

If you’re interested in trying REST out in person, schedule a tour of our assistive technology lab!