The Hi.K.E.R International Institute  is the largest scientific organization in Greece and one of the largest in Europe. It is a rehabilitation team which operates in the field of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy.  It is based in the Varibobi Equestrian Club and the Equestrian Club of the Northern Suburbs.
It is one of the few scientific Hippotherapy teams in Europe consisting only by professionals pertaining to the  health sector (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, etc.) and its philosophy embraces the horse as an invaluable rehabilitation mean. The therapeutic team of the Hi.K.E.R International Institute  is currently consisted with  35 health professionals, who are all members of the Hellenic Association of Hippotherapists and Therapeutic Riding Instructors  (Hel.As.Hi.T.R.I.). The therapeutic sessions  of  the Hi.K.E.R International Institute  are conducted under the supervision and guidance of the group president  John Nikolaou, the program coordinator  Nikos Polyzos and the vice president Nikos Nikolaidis. The three of them  practice TR & Hippotherapy on a purely scientific basis in recent years in Greece. The therapeutic sessions of the Hi.K.E.R International Institute  take place daily and during weekends at the Varibobi Equestrian Club and at the Equestrian Club of the Northern Suburbs.

The Hi.K.E.R International Institute  applies the  Hi.KER approach for its therapeutic sessions and the individuals participating  are  children and adults with neurological and developmental disorders, a few of which are: Autism (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome , Psychomotor Retardation,  Myopathy, Multiple Sclerosis, etc.
The sessions are conducted within a specially designed area (arena) with the aid of  specially trained horses for therapeutic riding.

Our  philosophy:

The constant research for a more effective therapeutic intervention through the application of therapeutic riding, inevitably leads us to comprehend the necessity for the following:

a. The need of a  greater effort to understand, first of all the horse as a therapeutic agent and

b. The acquisition of thorough knowledge and practical understanding of all existing means and methods used to achieve treatment and rehabilitation.

We hope that in time more professionals will share our concerns and objectives, because our common goal is one: the advancement and the steady progress of the patient. This can be achieved only through continuous study and research, through the accumulation of daily experience, through a passion for our work and, last but not least, through love for our work and for our patients.

What is Therapeutic Riding? What is Hippotherapy?

Why the horse ?

Indications

A short historical perspective of Therapeutic Riding (TR)

The Hippo Kinesio-Educational Rehabilitation (Hi.KER) Approach

Training course in Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy

Therapeutic team

Book on the therapeutic riding and hippotherapy in the Greek language

News & Activities

G.S.A.T.R.H model summer camp for disabled children

Contact us

A few words about the founders:

Yannis Nikolaou, PT, MA, President of  Hi.K.E.R. International  Institute

John Nicholaou graduated from the Physiotherapy Department of ATEI of Athens and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education Needs from the UEL (University of East London). It has been also specialized in interventions Padovan (Neuro- functional reorganization), PECS system and  DIR-Floortime model.

Yannis Nikolaou is also:
• Certified riding  trainer (FEI)
•  Initiator of  Hi.K.E.R. Approach and Trainer of new therapists (Senior Hi.K.E.R. Instructor ).
• Certified National Classifier
• Founding member and director of the Greek Scientific Association of Theraprutic Riding and Hippotherapy (G.S.A.T.R.H.)
• Founding  member of the Hellenic Association of  Hippotherapists and Therapeutic Riding Instructors  (Hel.As.Hi.T.R.I.).
• Founding member of Greek Community Behavior Analysis (G.C.B.A.)
• Co-owner of the Center for Special Therapies: '' The Knowledge Tree ”
• Has participated in many research studies and has presented at conferences, workshops, seminars on the  subject of  therapeutic riding and pediatric rehabilitation

Nikos Polyzos, PT, MA, Program director of  Hi.K.E.R International Institute

Nikos Polyzos graduated from the Physiotherapy department of  ATEI of Athens. He holds a Master's Degree in Special Education Needs from the UEL (University of East London)  and has completed the Basic postgraduate education in Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT- Bobath).  It has been also specialized in interventions Hippotherapy, Sensory Integration, Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), TEACCH program and  DIR-Floortime model.

Nikos Polyzos is also:

• Initiator of  Hi.K.E.R. Approach and Trainer of new therapists (Senior Hi.K.E.R. Instructor ).
• Founding member  &  Program director of  Hi.K.E.R International Institute
• Founding member and Chief of the Greek Scientific Association of Theraprutic Riding and Hippotherapy (G.S.A.T.R.H.)
• Founding member and President of the Hellenic Association of  Hippotherapists and Therapeutic Riding Instructors  (Hel.As.Hi.T.R.I.).
• Founding member of Greek Community Behavior Analysis (G.C.B.A.)
• Co-owner of  the Special Therapies Center:  '' The Knowledge Tree ”
• He has participated in many research studies and has presented at conferences, workshops, seminars, on  the  subject of  Hippotherapy and pediatric rehabilitation.

Nikos Nikolaidis, OT, Vice Presidentof  Hi.K.E.R. International  Institute

Nikos Nicolaidis graduated from the Occupational Therapy Department of  ATEI of Athens and has completed the basic postgraduate training in Sensory Integration (Sensory Integration therapist) and Functional ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis)

Nikos Nicolaidis is also:

• Initiator of  Hi.K.E.R. Approach and Trainer of new therapists (Senior Hi.K.E.R. Instructor ).
• Founding member  &  Vice Presidentof  Hi.K.E.R. International  Institute
• Director of the occupational therapy sector of  GSATRH.
• Founding member and Vice President of  Hellenic Association of  Hippotherapists and Therapeutic Riding Instructors  (Hel.As.Hi.T.R.I.).
• He has participated in many studies and has presented at conferences, workshops, seminars, on the  subject of therapeutic riding and pediatric rehabilitation.