Re: Hippotherapy (horseback therapy)

[Guest guest]

Not much familial support here either. Not for lack of caring...more

lack of being able to get it. Stay strong, feel supported and know

that there is so much hope. There really is. I see it everyday in my

home and I hear it in the stories on this board and the people I see

in person dealing with this. Owen is a very lucky boy. Keep doing

what makes you feel good...it helps tremendously and you deserve

happiness!

>

> Hi all...

> Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed. We

> live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o. has

> been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now today

> Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe therapist

> who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much of what

> we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful that

Owen

> could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any of you

> who either know about it or want to look into it.

>

> For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for me!

It's

> just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love what

they

> do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're going

thru

> as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports on our

> kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that makes us

feel

> good and gives us hope!

>

> With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your posts. I

> don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY who

can

> relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly don't know

> how parents walk this road without some level of support.

>

> Pearson

> mom of Owen, 33 months

>

[Guest guest]

wrote...

>

> Hi all...

> Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed. We

> live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o. has

> been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now today

> Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session.

__________________________________________________________________

Hi ... My name is Gisele and my daughter (10 yrs) just started

Hippotherapy a few months ago here in NC. My daughter rides at

Shining Hope Farms in Mount Holly, NC. To see her balance and do

exercises on horse back is a glorious sight to see! This week my

daughter played 'musical horses'. There were 3 riders and 2 areas

blocked off. When the music stopped they tried to direct their horses

into one of the 2 spots which for my daughter who struggles with

laterality- was quite a feat. What type of exercises do they do on

your end?

Thanks for posting...I too am a new Hippotherapy fan!

Gisele

[Guest guest]

A lot of special kids here in NY go for Hippotherapy. I have not tried

it yet and have heard of its wonderful benefits. The drawback here is

its expensive for 1/2 hour sessions. Some Therapeutic Riding places

here charge $75 for 1/2 hour. So most moms do less than five sessions

because of the cost. I have a friend who got a Scholarship for this

same place and other riding places that charge $30 for 1/2 hour. Its

just the money runs out fast for extra therapies on the side. I have

gotten more careful about doing extra curricular activities. We did

music therapy last spring and may try the horse therapy this year.

just to keep her challenged.

>

[Guest guest]

I just got information about a program we have locally as well. I hope it is

something we can afford and will work out for our daughter (she is 7.) I will

update you when I get more information on our rates and program.

Barbara

[ ] Hippotherapy (horseback therapy)

Hi all...

Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed. We

live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o. has

been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now today

Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe therapist

who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much of what

we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful that Owen

could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any of you

who either know about it or want to look into it.

For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for me! It's

just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love what they

do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're going thru

as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports on our

kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that makes us feel

good and gives us hope!

With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your posts. I

don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY who can

relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly don't know

how parents walk this road without some level of support.

Pearson

mom of Owen, 33 months

[Guest guest]

Thank you, dear Liz!

>

> Not much familial support here either. Not for lack of

caring...more

> lack of being able to get it. Stay strong, feel supported and know

> that there is so much hope. There really is. I see it everyday in

my

> home and I hear it in the stories on this board and the people I

see

> in person dealing with this. Owen is a very lucky boy. Keep doing

> what makes you feel good...it helps tremendously and you deserve

> happiness!

>

[Guest guest]

-

We are actually looking into Hippotherapy for my 3 1/2 yr old son. I am

convinced that it would benefit him greatly. There's a local woman who is a

qualified SLP who also does hippotherapy at the same time-- so we feel that it

would be nabbing two birds with one therapy session, so to speak. I'm just

waiting for warmer weather since we're in Northern NJ and it's FREEZING here!

lol

for what it's worth-- we not only have no family/friends who would be able

to understand much of what we deal with on a day to day basis, but they're not

even interested bin TRYING to understand. Sad-- but true

becky

**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.

(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/

2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

[Guest guest]

Hi , Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been considering this for

my dd, (global apraxia). She will be 3 in March and I wasn't sure if she was

too young. She is in other therapy and we do NACD, but I think she would really

enjoy this....like big bro goes to tennis lessons and soccer and she goes

horseback riding...

I'm assuming the therapist is cetrified. That means you were able to go

through insurance...right?

:-) tara in NJ

>

> I just got information about a program we have locally as well. I hope it is

something we can afford and will work out for our daughter (she is 7.) I will

update you when I get more information on our rates and program.

>

> Barbara

> [ ] Hippotherapy (horseback therapy)

>

>

> Hi all...

> Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed. We

> live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o. has

> been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now today

> Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe therapist

> who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much of what

> we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful that Owen

> could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any of you

> who either know about it or want to look into it.

>

> For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for me! It's

> just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love what they

> do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're going thru

> as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports on our

> kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that makes us feel

> good and gives us hope!

>

> With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your posts. I

> don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY who can

> relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly don't know

> how parents walk this road without some level of support.

>

> Pearson

> mom of Owen, 33 months

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2008 6:52:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

jscott@... writes:

If it were accessible or I could afford it, I absolutely would have my kid

riding. I wouldn't do hippotherapy for him, just plain ordinary horse back

riding....

Well, with the added benefit of Speech Therapy while the woman is doing

Hippotherapy-- I think the combined two will be great! I can't wait til warmer

weather

becky

**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.

(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/

2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara,

did hippotherapy at the Mercer County Equestrian Center with

a certified PT. It should be covered by insurance, but for various

reasons I won't bore you with, ours was not covered. We found it to

be a very effective therapy especially for low truncal tone. She

doesn't work on the speech directly, as an SLP who does hippotherapy

might, but it was still great for us. There availability is

extremely limited (at the time it was only Monday and Wednesday

mornings.) If you search the archives, you might find some old posts

by me on this subject. My memory is fading...

in NJ

> >

> > I just got information about a program we have locally as well.

I hope it is something we can afford and will work out for our

daughter (she is 7.) I will update you when I get more information

on our rates and program.

> >

> > Barbara

> > [ ] Hippotherapy (horseback therapy)

> >

> >

> > Hi all...

> > Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed.

We

> > live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> > outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o.

has

> > been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now

today

> > Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe

therapist

> > who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much of

what

> > we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful that

Owen

> > could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any of

you

> > who either know about it or want to look into it.

> >

> > For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for me!

It's

> > just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love

what they

> > do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're going

thru

> > as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports on

our

> > kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that makes

us feel

> > good and gives us hope!

> >

> > With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your posts. I

> > don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY

who can

> > relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly don't

know

> > how parents walk this road without some level of support.

> >

> > Pearson

> > mom of Owen, 33 months

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara and ,

Actually we aren't getting insurance coverage for the hippotherapy

only because we're on an HMO ...we might if we were on a PPO as the

hippotherapy does have an insurance billing code and is a recognized

form of therapy. In hindsight, for us, it's been good Owen has had

an HMO as he has racked up well over $100,000 in medical/hospital

expenses from his first year of light. (Along with adenoids taken

out last summer, AND 2 days at the hospital for EEG testing.)

Anyway, we're looking at maybe switching to a PPO as some of what

we'd want to do going forward may have better coverage (such as the

hippotherapy.) I'm spending $113 per week for my 2 boys to have

horseback therapy. AND, on another note, it occurred to me that any

of you reading my post and the fact that we live in " The O.C. " may

appear that we're living the high life here in So. Cal.!!!! Rest

assured, we are not and I can totally relate to what many of you have

expressed in terms of picking and choosing the interventions and

therapies due to limited funds. Ugh! We're basically totally going

into debt.

I'll be provocative here and throw out something else for those of

you with low-toned kids..... And I know this may best be posted on

another discussion group (so forgive me in advance for anyone who may

take issue with this).... an intensive therapy with a Therasuit

(developed in Europe and now brought over here to the States.) If

you are interested, search online. 3 weeks of intensive therapy at

15 hours per week. I view it basically as a " fast forward " thru

years of therapy at once or twice a week for OT/PT. But it's

$5,000 !!!! Yes, you read that right.

Pearson

> > >

> > > I just got information about a program we have locally as

well.

> I hope it is something we can afford and will work out for our

> daughter (she is 7.) I will update you when I get more information

> on our rates and program.

> > >

> > > Barbara

> > > [ ] Hippotherapy (horseback

therapy)

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi all...

> > > Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been discussed.

> We

> > > live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> > > outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6 y.o.

> has

> > > been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now

> today

> > > Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe

> therapist

> > > who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much of

> what

> > > we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful

that

> Owen

> > > could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any

of

> you

> > > who either know about it or want to look into it.

> > >

> > > For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for

me!

> It's

> > > just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love

> what they

> > > do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're

going

> thru

> > > as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports on

> our

> > > kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that makes

> us feel

> > > good and gives us hope!

> > >

> > > With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your posts.

I

> > > don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR FAMILY

> who can

> > > relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly don't

> know

> > > how parents walk this road without some level of support.

> > >

> > > Pearson

> > > mom of Owen, 33 months

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Horse back riding of ANY kind (specialized therapy or just hopping on the back

of a horse and learning to ride) is supposed to be one of the most beneficial

things that one can do to improve overall muscle tone. Horse back riding works

practically every muscle group in the body as well as proprioception and

balance. It is absolutely one of the best activities for a person with global

dyspraxia.....

If it were accessible or I could afford it, I absolutely would have my kid

riding. I wouldn't do hippotherapy for him, just plain ordinary horse back

riding.... every day if I had the extra money to lease a horse!

When I was a kid I used to ride daily. Life was different back then and riding

was not so difficult to do here in Edmonton. My horse was indeed my best

friend. I used to actually sleep on the back of my pony in his stall! Head on

his rear with my legs crossed at the knees over his neck..... life was

certainly great.

I actually loaned out my first pony to a disabled riding program when I was

about 11 years old..... he was a gentle boy and had no trouble walking patiently

through the large wheel chair ramps and quietly waiting for the kids with

cerebral palsy or spinal injuries to board his back.

Little did I know at the time that my own boy would benefit from such a program!

Janice

Mother of Mark, 13

[sPAM]Re: [ ] Hippotherapy (horseback therapy)

-

We are actually looking into Hippotherapy for my 3 1/2 yr old son. I am

convinced that it would benefit him greatly. There's a local woman who is a

qualified SLP who also does hippotherapy at the same time-- so we feel that it

would be nabbing two birds with one therapy session, so to speak. I'm just

waiting for warmer weather since we're in Northern NJ and it's FREEZING here!

lol

for what it's worth-- we not only have no family/friends who would be able

to understand much of what we deal with on a day to day basis, but they're not

even interested bin TRYING to understand. Sad-- but true

becky

**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.

(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/

2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)

[Guest guest]

My daughter did Hippotherapy at Starlight Farms in Northern NJ. Their program

offers both speech and OT hippotherapy. My daughter saw an excellent speech

therapist there. We really liked the program and definitely noticed an increase

in her speech. (Also, while she was focusing on speech, the riding aspect was

beneficial to her tone/trunk strength). We did the program for about 2 years

and ultimately stopped because of scheduling issues with her classes at school

(but also because she had made good progress). In short, I'd recommend it.

---------------------------------

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Lord have mercy! $5,000 is a lot -- I'd want a money-back

guarantee.

Janice, I agree that horseback riding is tremendous for tone, but I

disagree that hippotherapy isn't special. They start and stop A LOT,

they go in figure eights, they have them ride forward, backward, and

sideways -- it is different. I am not well versed on the lingo, but

I believe that all that is to provide additional, gentle input to

work the proprioceptive sense. (Or is it vestibular -- I get those

two confused still, after all these years.) Also, my son was three,

which is too young around here for riding lessons. And they had

three or four people with him -- one leading the horse, one on each

side for safety, and the PT directing the action. (Sometimes she was

one of the side people, if there weren't enough volunteers that

day.) I felt very secure with so many adults out there with him.

(He fell off the horse once, because some idiot started a leaf blower

right next to the ring. Not even a little boo boo, and he got right

back on the horse, as the cliche goes.)

And of course, best of all, some insurance companies will cover it

because it is a legitimate therapy. Not so riding lessons.

That said, for older kids and for others with no hippotherapy

options, any riding is going to have tremendous benefit.

> > > >

> > > > I just got information about a program we have locally as

> well.

> > I hope it is something we can afford and will work out for our

> > daughter (she is 7.) I will update you when I get more

information

> > on our rates and program.

> > > >

> > > > Barbara

> > > > [ ] Hippotherapy (horseback

> therapy)

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Hi all...

> > > > Since I'm new here not sure if this topic has been

discussed.

> > We

> > > > live in South Orange County, Calif., and happen to have an

> > > > outstanding therapeutic riding center in the area. My 6

y.o.

> > has

> > > > been going for therapeutic riding since last summer and now

> > today

> > > > Owen (33 months) had his first hippotherapy session. THe

> > therapist

> > > > who evaluated him and got him on the horse, confirmed much

of

> > what

> > > > we've been putting together ourselves. But she was hopeful

> that

> > Owen

> > > > could make good progress. Just throwing it out there to any

> of

> > you

> > > > who either know about it or want to look into it.

> > > >

> > > > For me, perhaps as much if not more, it's " therapeutic " for

> me!

> > It's

> > > > just a feel-good place (non-profit) full of people who love

> > what they

> > > > do to help special needs kids. With all the " stuff " we're

> going

> > thru

> > > > as moms (all the appointments, therapies, progress reports

on

> > our

> > > > kids, etc.) sometimes we need to just be somewhere that

makes

> > us feel

> > > > good and gives us hope!

> > > >

> > > > With appreciation for you all. I've been enjoying your

posts.

> I

> > > > don't know about any of you, but I have NO FRIENDS OR

FAMILY

> > who can

> > > > relate to anything we're going thru on Owen. I honestly

don't

> > know

> > > > how parents walk this road without some level of support.

> > > >

> > > > Pearson

> > > > mom of Owen, 33 months

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

If insurance won't cover hippotherapy it you could probably at least

put some flex plan money aside to get it deducted if this is

something one is pursuing.

> >

> > Hi Tara and ,

> > Actually we aren't getting insurance coverage for the

hippotherapy

> > only because we're on an HMO ...we might if we were on a PPO as

the

> > hippotherapy does have an insurance billing code and is a

> recognized

> > form of therapy. In hindsight, for us, it's been good Owen has

had

> > an HMO as he has racked up well over $100,000 in medical/hospital

> > expenses from his first year of light. (Along with adenoids

taken

> > out last summer, AND 2 days at the hospital for EEG testing.)

> > Anyway, we're looking at maybe switching to a PPO as some of what

> > we'd want to do going forward may have better coverage (such as

the

> > hippotherapy.) I'm spending $113 per week for my 2 boys to have

> > horseback therapy. AND, on another note, it occurred to me that

> any

> > of you reading my post and the fact that we live in " The O.C. "

may

> > appear that we're living the high life here in So. Cal.!!!! Rest

> > assured, we are not and I can totally relate to what many of you

> have

> > expressed in terms of picking and choosing the interventions and

> > therapies due to limited funds. Ugh! We're basically totally

> going

> > into debt.

> >

> > I'll be provocative here and throw out something else for those

of

> > you with low-toned kids..... And I know this may best be posted

on

> > another discussion group (so forgive me in advance for anyone who

> may

> > take issue with this).... an intensive therapy with a Therasuit

> > (developed in Europe and now brought over here to the States.)

If

> > you are interested, search online. 3 weeks of intensive therapy

at

> > 15 hours per week. I view it basically as a " fast forward " thru

> > years of therapy at once or twice a week for OT/PT. But it's

> > $5,000 !!!! Yes, you read that right.

> >

> > Pearson

[Guest guest]

In talking to the insurance company and the horse stable that does the

Hippotherapy- there are two different kinds. One is Hippotherapy and

one is Theraputic riding. One has a PT along for the ride. I got so

confused about knowing which to go with- I gave up. The insurance

company said there's only one they'd cover and thats only with a

script!! The place someone listed here in northern NJ has these two

types. I looked there since it would not be a far ride for me. The

other option for me is a Theraputic Riding Stable in Warwick NY. So

ask your insurance if they'd cover Therapeutic Riding as opposed to

Hippotherapy- they might say yes to that!

---