New Riding Center Offers Specialized Therapy

Monday, August 13th 2007, 9:26 am

By: News On 6

Parents of children with disabilities often seek a specialized kind of therapy called hippotherapy, basically it is therapy on horseback. There are limited facilities in this part of the state, and there is often a long waiting list. The News On 6â€™s Rick Wells reports fortunately, a new riding center has opened in Sand Springs.

Brian Brunner is 6 years old and has cerebral palsy. He's at the American Therapeutic Riding Center in Sand Springs for some horseback riding.

His mom has been looking for a place like this for a long time. When she'd find one, there'd be a waiting list.

"So you wait, and wait, and wait. Then my mom said this place was opening up,â€ said Angie Brunner.

She believes, as do many parents of kids with disabilities, this so called hippotherapy helps.

"Physically for him, it helps every muscle of his body,â€ said Angie Brunner.

The gentle walking movement of the horse mimics our walking movement, exercises the same muscles. The term hippotherapy derives from the Greek word hippos which means horse.

Three and a half-year-old Katie Timmons is at the center to ride too.

Her mom says her cerebral palsy primarily affects her legs and the riding is a tremendous help.

â€œIt's incredible the difference. She gets off the horse and the pattern. Her walking pattern is improved a ton,â€ said Angie Timmons.

The eventual goal is for her to walk on her own.

For more information about the American Therapeutic Riding Center, click here.

Watch the video: Hippotherapy