Therapy Program
Apparatus - a ball, hula-hoop, stretch band, pipes, weights, teddies, beanbags, and many other toys are used in various activities and exercises on horseback. The following can be stimulated during a lesson with apparatus: Tactile system, Muscle tone, Balance, Reflexes, Trunk rotation, Eye muscles, Bilateral motor integration, Body image and concept, Discrimination, Crossing of midline, Spatial perception, Speech, Proprioception, Hand eye co-ordination, Fine Motor skills, Praxis, Hemispherical integration, Unbalanced vestibular system.
Boxes - a box of various therapeutic activities set up in accordance with phases of development is used to develop a specific system or skills set namely: 1- M.O.R.E. (speech, sensory integration, eating difficulties) 2- Tactile System (sensory processing disorder and hypersensitivity) 3- Auditory perception and memory (listening skills, understanding and focusing in class, discrimination of sounds) 4- Fine Motor (writing, coloring, cutting etc.) 5- Praxis (idea formation, following instructions, motor planning and co-ordination) 6- Eye muscle co-ordination (copying from black-board, reading, vision) .
7-From constancy (identifying shapes, letters, numbers, reading, dyslexia,algebra, writing). 8-Visual Foreground (3D perception, depth perception, copying from blackboard, spatial relations). 9- Spatial Perception (completing shapes, copying from 3D to 2D, copying 2D to 2D, spatial and body concept, drawing, geometry and trigonometry). .
10-Visual Discrimination (reading, dyslexia, writing, math, discrimination) 11- Visual Sequencing (days, months, seasons, alphabet, counting, formula's, following patterns) 12- Analysis and synthesis (construction, abstract reasoning, visual interpretation, algebra, spelling and word formation) 13- Visual Memory (Left brain and Right brain, short term and long term memory, memory skills) 14- Life skills (identity, strengths and weaknesses, goal setting, healthy living, quality of life) In order to ensure that rider's develop a well-rounded skill-set, a system is worked on for 2-4 weeks depending on progress and needs of the rider and then we rotate to a different stimulation usually alternating between box and apparatus on a monthly basis.
Set-up of lesson
All therapy is done while the horse is walking to harness vestibular stimulation
1.) Horses in middle of ring lined up for riders to get on. 2.) 15 min upper limbs (or work on box). 3.) 5 min lower limbs (or work on box). 4.) 10 min riding: go and stop, sitting trot, rising trot, standing, weaving through drums (once these skills are mastered we start jumping). 5.) Get off, thank horse and helper.
Rides to choose from
Therapy riding - A program of occupational therapy activities developed to be done on horseback. Read more in services.
Intermediate lessons - riders learn to walk, trot and canter with confidence as well as jump in our private training shows.
Tiny tots and beginner lessons - Ideal for nervous adults who want to go over to intermediate lessons or toddlers to gain confidence on the horses back.