Hippotherapy

We have heard about the restorative value of horses for the penal system and many prisoners given a new outlook on life,  war vets who come home mentally and physically wounded find solace in a horse friend.   What else touches the horse owner with the beautiful ability of our four legged friend?  I am always touched by the dedication of one woman who has put her training as an occupation therapist and love of horses to good use.

Brenda in shaded arena by Horse Fly Net

Brenda Stephens has built a practice of using the warmth and rhythm of a gentle horse to aid in the physical improvement of children with severe physical and neurological ailments. With her training as an occupational therapist she can qualify as a director of what is recognized and termed Hippo therapy.  From the Greek word “hippos” which means horse.  A treatment is recognized which uses the multidimensional movement of the horse to assist challenged children.

After acquiring a piece of land Brenda was able to design a unique facility to accommodate a hippo therapy program as well as accommodate the space for caring for the animals involved in that program.  When parents of a child in need are put in touch with Brenda they schedule a time to visit then bring their child to an appointed time once or twice a week for what is  essentially a horseback riding lesson.  The needs of the child have to be carefully monitored.  One volunteer leads the horse or pony and one or two volunteers walk along side of the rider.  Brenda keeps a continual dialogue with the child challenging them to stretch, reach, and work their body in a way they do not in a wheel chair or walking on the ground in her beautiful shaded arena.  She invents games of basket ball, picking up balls or reaching for the chimes while riding the horses.  These activities with the motion of the moving horse are a new challenge to the body and a joy to the mind. It bring progress and happiness in a way that is heartwarming to the volunteers and the observer.  Brenda is an unsung hero of life.

We salute her and the wonderful horses like Sunny and Casper that work together for a common purpose.

volunteers with a client