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Chuy has cerebral palsy and when he first gets on his horse his body is tight and twisted. Within minutes of feeling the horse's movement he's able to separate his legs, sit up straighter, and relax his arms and legs. By the end of his therapy he's so relaxed that sometimes he falls asleep. |
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Juan Carlos has nerve damage in his legs which hinders the way he walks and supports himself. His exercises on the horse is helping him to strengthen leg and back muscles.
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Doris, (Down Syndrome) loving and leading her horse, Chocolate. |
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Donnet and Miguel advanced from equine assisted therapy students to independent riders. In December they were promoted to teacher's assistants and now are a great help in teaching younger riders to ride. Here you see them beginning the therapies of Aaron and Carmen.
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Aaron is our youngest independent rider. He loves the different drills we use such as placing hoops on cones while at a walk on his horse.
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Miguel, Rosario, and Angelica learned to ride their horses in the ring but have advanced to riding through the village near the riding center. All three live in a shelter for abused and abandoned children making the time spent with their horses something magical. |
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Rocio's teeny joints are strengthened by stretching to reach objects used during her therapy. |
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Fernando's autism makes him very sensitive to sounds and he usually covers his ears at all times. Using aids that require him to use both hands allows him to remove his hands from his ears. |
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Daniel, (Dandy Walker Syndrome) blowing bubbles. |
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Sofia, (impaired motor skills) riding backward on Lucero. Sofi is five years old and doesn't walk or talk. Since coming to therapies and doing her strengthening exercises she can now walk up stairs with her Mom holding her from behind. She loves to lean down to kiss Lucero and can now pull herself upright to a sitting posiiton. |
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Gabriel, who has severe cerebral palsy, loves playing basketball, can now ride without a backrider. Gabriel lives in a wheelchair so you can imagine how he feels being on a horse doing what other eleven year old boys do from the ground. |
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Emilio, (Asperger Syndrome) was terrified the first time he was put on his horse. After months of patient ground work with his parents and instructors he now rides without any fear and is extremely comfortable on his horse while learning his colors and numbers. |
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