These here are some pictures of me back when I was at Special Strides, a non-profit organization to improve the lives of children with developmental disabilities by...riding horses! Yup, therapy can be more than just sitting on a chair with a hot towel on your arm, you could be sitting on a horse while exercising your arm! This is called Therapeutic Riding, also known as Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Facilitated Therapy, and Riding for the Disabled. "It is the use of the horse and equine-oriented activities to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals, including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals."
There are two types, one "Hippotherapy, which is part of an integrated treatment plan that utilizes the motion, emotion and sensory qualities of the horse in a powerful combination to achieve functional therapeutic goals."
Then there is Therapeutic Riding which "is a recreationally based adapted horseback riding program conducted by PATH International certified riding instructors. Participants learn riding and horsemanship skills with the assistance of riding instructors and volunteers who may lead the horse or walk alongside to provide additional safety." With Hippotherapy, you are not necessarily learning how to ride a horse, but are using the horse for your physical advancement.
It is not a very well-known type of therapy, but you guys should definitely look into it. Also, it is more than just physical therapy, they use horses for...
"Psycho-Social purposes
Increased self confidence, self esteem and self control
Mastery of a difficult task
Increased understanding of consequences/cause and effect
Increased desire of responsibility
Improved positive social interactions
Increased desire to take risks"
In this way, one builds a relationship with the horse, connecting emotionally.
I do not remember too much of the riding, though I do remember that I liked it and had fun while improving the range of motion in my arm, as well as my whole body. In the picture,that was the horse I usually rode, Summer. She won me a blue ribbon! First place! I've still got it along with my other one, which may be from another riding place. I haven't ridden in a long time, many years, but I plan to take lessons again this summer at Special Strides! It is really exciting going back, and learning about horses. Also, since I am a junior in high school, I'm trying to explore my options for college, and careers. I am curious about Therapeutic riding, which is an up and coming career that is open for jobs. At Special Strides, they have volunteer programs, which I will be doing also in the summer. I'll be seeing what it would be like to be at the farm, be a walker (walking with the disabled kids on the horse) and a bunch more. With that, I'll probably be posting a lot about my experiences on the farm later on.
I am putting some links to videos more about therapy riding, and that's all for now!
This week I've got mid-terms! So, I may go back and elaborate more on this post, I just really wanted to get it in this week! By fellow Brachioplexasauruses!! ♥
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hl_2l5Wjk Horses Help Heroes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYhJDpXfykE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaCxkaSf1LQ
Also!!
Please check out Ellie's website, she is a Brachioplexasaurus and awesome!
Ellie Erbs is a website aimed at assisting those affected by BPI or Erbs
Palsy and conditions similar to help them overcome everyday challenges they may
face and to show parents and family members that anything is achievable whether
they have one arm, two arms or three. There is information on both Erbs Palsy
and the website creator. A personal blog, those affected by Erbs stories and
help videos which will be added to the website monthly covering topics such as
tying hair back one handed, typing and applying toothpaste to a toothbrush
Here is her website
http://skellingtonelliemons.wix.com/ellieerbspalsy#
http://www.strides.org/physical.html
http://www.specialstrides.com/programs.html
http://www.locustlaneridingcenter.org/services/therapeudic-horseback-riding/
There are two types, one "Hippotherapy, which is part of an integrated treatment plan that utilizes the motion, emotion and sensory qualities of the horse in a powerful combination to achieve functional therapeutic goals."
Then there is Therapeutic Riding which "is a recreationally based adapted horseback riding program conducted by PATH International certified riding instructors. Participants learn riding and horsemanship skills with the assistance of riding instructors and volunteers who may lead the horse or walk alongside to provide additional safety." With Hippotherapy, you are not necessarily learning how to ride a horse, but are using the horse for your physical advancement.
It is not a very well-known type of therapy, but you guys should definitely look into it. Also, it is more than just physical therapy, they use horses for...
"Psycho-Social purposes
Increased self confidence, self esteem and self control
Mastery of a difficult task
Increased understanding of consequences/cause and effect
Increased desire of responsibility
Improved positive social interactions
Increased desire to take risks"
In this way, one builds a relationship with the horse, connecting emotionally.
I do not remember too much of the riding, though I do remember that I liked it and had fun while improving the range of motion in my arm, as well as my whole body. In the picture,that was the horse I usually rode, Summer. She won me a blue ribbon! First place! I've still got it along with my other one, which may be from another riding place. I haven't ridden in a long time, many years, but I plan to take lessons again this summer at Special Strides! It is really exciting going back, and learning about horses. Also, since I am a junior in high school, I'm trying to explore my options for college, and careers. I am curious about Therapeutic riding, which is an up and coming career that is open for jobs. At Special Strides, they have volunteer programs, which I will be doing also in the summer. I'll be seeing what it would be like to be at the farm, be a walker (walking with the disabled kids on the horse) and a bunch more. With that, I'll probably be posting a lot about my experiences on the farm later on.
I am putting some links to videos more about therapy riding, and that's all for now!
This week I've got mid-terms! So, I may go back and elaborate more on this post, I just really wanted to get it in this week! By fellow Brachioplexasauruses!! ♥
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0hl_2l5Wjk Horses Help Heroes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYhJDpXfykE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaCxkaSf1LQ
Also!!
Please check out Ellie's website, she is a Brachioplexasaurus and awesome!
Ellie Erbs is a website aimed at assisting those affected by BPI or Erbs
Palsy and conditions similar to help them overcome everyday challenges they may
face and to show parents and family members that anything is achievable whether
they have one arm, two arms or three. There is information on both Erbs Palsy
and the website creator. A personal blog, those affected by Erbs stories and
help videos which will be added to the website monthly covering topics such as
tying hair back one handed, typing and applying toothpaste to a toothbrush
Here is her website
http://skellingtonelliemons.wix.com/ellieerbspalsy#
http://www.strides.org/physical.html
http://www.specialstrides.com/programs.html
http://www.locustlaneridingcenter.org/services/therapeudic-horseback-riding/