HIPPOTHERAPY

Hippotherapy is a type of therapy that is done on a horse (or a pony named Freckles in Emmalin's case). While the child is riding on the horse there is a physical, occupational, or speech therapist on one side of the child working with them the entire time they are on the horse. There is also a volunteer that is guiding the horse and another volunteer that is on the other side of the horse (opposite of the therapist) holding the child the entire time it's on the horse. Most sessions are an hour. The child is typically 45 minutes on the horse and the other 15 minutes is used for mounting and dismounting the horse. What we are hoping Emmalin will gain from hippotherapy is core strength and head control. These are two areas that are very important for obvious reason. Since Emmalin does not walk yet, the movement from the horse is also very important for Emmalin. Emmalin loves to be moving all the time (her body craves it since she doesn't move very much on her own), so this is a great way for her to be able to get that movement that she needs while doing a little physical therapy.

Emmalin Riding Freckles!  What A Big Girl!

On October, 26th, Emmalin had the amazing opportunity to start Hippotherapy at a wonderful place called Dynamic Strides (in Republic, MO - close to I-44). She does it with a physical therapist on one side named Marge. I am on her other side as her holder and then a lady named Barbie is Emmalin's pony guider. The pony's name is Freckles (and he likes to be fed carrots after our session). Emmalin will get to go to hippotherapy once a week until the end of November and then it will start up again around March, 2011. So far, Emmalin has done pretty well and seems to like it (for the most part). She had her 2nd week last week and she fell asleep after the 3rd lap. I couldn't wake her up for anything, so we just walked her around for 30 minutes and called it good. It was still great for Emmalin's body to get the movement from the horse, even if she was asleep.