Zach's favorite horse is Chaun!    Mick painted DJ after a morning

session of riding

  adult ride for therapy too!

 Abby is 2yrs old. She rode almost every week this winter. She loves Corrina, and would occassionally relax so much she would fall asleep during her session.

Training a horse for therapy riding. We work all winter at riding and serving the community.

 Pine Lake Pastures offers FREE therapy riding to children and adults with special needs. This summer we offered sessions 4 days a week, with about 4-5 families coming out each week. A session lasts about an hour, and siblings are welcome to come and visit the farm while their sister/brother ride in a session.

Riders will be lead around in our small arena by a volunteer. Parents are welcome to walk beside horse or watch outside of arena. WE have volunteers that ride behind young people that can not hold themselves up.

The cost is FREE- we want to be a blessing to the community!

What is Hippotherapy? Hippotherapy is a treatment that uses the multidimensional movement of the horse; from the Greek word "hippos" which means horse. Historically, the therapeutic benefits of the horse were recognized as early as 460 BC. The use of the horse as therapy evolved throughout Europe, the United States and
Canada.

 

Hippotherapy uses activities on the horse that are meaningful to the client. Treatment takes place in a controlled environment where graded sensory input can elicit appropriate adaptive responses from the client. Specific riding skills are not taught (as in therapeutic riding), but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing. This foundation can then be generalized to a wide range of daily activities.

Why the Horse?

 

The horse's walk provides sensory input through movement which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The resultant movement responses in the client are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. The variability of the horse's gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the client, then use this movement in combination with other clinical treatments to achieve desired results. Clients respond enthusiastically to this enjoyable learning experience in a natural setting.

Physically, hippotherapy can improve balance, posture, mobility and function. Hippotherapy may also affect psychological, cognitive, behavioral and communication functions for clients of all ages. Clients who may benefit from hippotherapy can have a variety of diagnoses: examples include Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Developmental Delay, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Autism and Learning or Language Disabilities.

Information taken from American Hippotherapy Association

email cheri@pinelakepastures.com to schedule a visit or to volunteer