Hippotherapy...Horseback riding therapy
Some where I read that Horseback Riding Therapy was an amazing way to reach children with special needs. I decided to look into it for Anna. It has been the best decision I have made in regards to her therapy in four years. I found that Hippotherapy was what we needed and I was determined to find a place that really could help Anna grow.
"Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy."...Wikipedia
When we first started, we found a place that would do some therapy and horseback riding, but after just a few short lessons I realized it wasn't what I had envisioned. The young girls there did attempt some therapy, but without being trained as licensed therapists, they really didn't understand how to work with Anna's issues.
The place we are going to now is amazing. I cannot say enough about them. The trainer is incredible at reaching Anna and keeping her concentration. She is able to do physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy while showing proper riding skills. Watching her week after week I am amazed at the progress she has made. She has come so far so quickly. She is independent now and can do many of the skills on her own. She can climb onto her horse, turn around in her saddle, stand upright in her saddle, place cones and rings onto poles as well as catch and throw balls into tubs on the ground. Her pony, Annie, is patient and well trained to listen when Anna hollers "ho" for stop or gives her a little tap with her boots and makes a kiss sound for go.
This therapy she looks forward to week after week. Her favorite part is when she gets rewarded by riding very fast on her horse. What started as slow with the trainer holding her leg is now a full trot with no one holding onto Anna. She has become so strong she can go up and down while riding without holding onto the saddle horn. Here are some photos. They are not great because I am not close by, and I am behind glass. One day I need to bring a photographer with me to take some pictures of her.
"Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. A foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can be generalized to a wide range of daily activities. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment strategy."...Wikipedia
When we first started, we found a place that would do some therapy and horseback riding, but after just a few short lessons I realized it wasn't what I had envisioned. The young girls there did attempt some therapy, but without being trained as licensed therapists, they really didn't understand how to work with Anna's issues.
The place we are going to now is amazing. I cannot say enough about them. The trainer is incredible at reaching Anna and keeping her concentration. She is able to do physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy while showing proper riding skills. Watching her week after week I am amazed at the progress she has made. She has come so far so quickly. She is independent now and can do many of the skills on her own. She can climb onto her horse, turn around in her saddle, stand upright in her saddle, place cones and rings onto poles as well as catch and throw balls into tubs on the ground. Her pony, Annie, is patient and well trained to listen when Anna hollers "ho" for stop or gives her a little tap with her boots and makes a kiss sound for go.
This therapy she looks forward to week after week. Her favorite part is when she gets rewarded by riding very fast on her horse. What started as slow with the trainer holding her leg is now a full trot with no one holding onto Anna. She has become so strong she can go up and down while riding without holding onto the saddle horn. Here are some photos. They are not great because I am not close by, and I am behind glass. One day I need to bring a photographer with me to take some pictures of her.