Hi I'm Katrina, wife to Colin, mom to Kristina, Brant, and Owen. This blog was created to keep family and friends updated on the goings on in our lives ... the joys and challenges of raising three children. You will often see me posting about Down syndrome awareness as our son Brant has Down syndrome.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Hippotherapy!
Brant was recently given the opportunity (and the doctor's OK) to participate in Hippotherapy again! (aka Therapeutic Horseback Riding). Hippotherapy is wonderful for developing trunk and core strength which is an area that Brant needs to get stronger. You might recall that Brant tried Hippotherapy a long time ago and never enjoyed it (this was before we knew about his neck anomaly so we think it might have been painful for him but unfortunately the x-rays never showed his neck anomaly and he had been ok'd to ride that time too ... little did we know!) Anyways, this time around he is really enjoying it! He loves "his" horse, Jelly, and is big smiles the whole time! Unfortunately they close for the summer but we are looking forward to starting up again in September! These photos were taken on his last session before summer break and he even got a ribbon :) Oh and Jelly is wearing a funky hairdo with spikeys because it was the last day - that actually freaked Brant out a little at first!
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4 comments:
Hi,
Nice photos and like the horse "do". Just to clarify- hippotherapy is not the same as therapeutic riding. Hippotherapy is a tool used by occupational, physical and speech therapists to work on therapeutic objects such as increasing leg strength to walk further or coordination to manipulate toys. therapeutic riding is teaching riding skills to individuals who have disabilities.
Barbara Smith OTR/L
HORSEOT.COM
HORSEOT.BLOGSPOT.COM
Thanks for clarifying - I guess then that this is true Hippotherapy since it is done with a Physical Therapist and is specifically to strengthen his muscles and help him gain trunk/core strength in the hopes of improving his balance and walking abilities :) I only mentioned Therapeutic Riding because most people say "Hippo-WHAT?" when I tell them Brant is doing Hippotherapy.
Kayla just loves hippotherapy! She's been riding for 3 years now. We ride April - November and then stop in the winter because Kayla hates the cold. We saw huge gains the first year, not so much these past years, but she is still improving.
Still can't get her to sign "walk on" though.
I've searched for a hippotherapy program near me and there isn't one - very disappointing since I've heard great things!
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