The horse hopper was developed with early childhood development in mind. The handles are easy to grip and are situated on either side of the horse to improve stability. The horse is built with contoured sides so that the child can relax his/her legs at the position they find most comfortable. The wider base of support lends itself to a feeling of security and stability. Once children begin to feel secure they will start exploring movement. While jumping, the child is actively engaging and strengthening core, abdominal, major leg, and major arm muscles. Many of these muscles are used by the child to sit upright against gravity, focus, learn, play, and interact with others. They are often targeted for strengthening by educators, physical and occupational therapists, and other health professionals, as research has shown that when children are strong in these areas, it becomes easier for them to sit and attend to a variety of physical and cognitive tasks.