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Shining Moon
Equine Curative
Interactions for Clients with Disabilities
 This
is a controlled and specialized program for clients with
disabilities that allows for clients to participate in a community
outing that is safe and promotes peer interaction.
Our horses are all either Tennessee Walking Horses or Peruvian Pasos
which are naturally gaited horses. Their gait is very smooth,
not jarring. The temperament of our horses is also extremely
condusive to individuals who have disabilities.
This program would be beneficial for many Community or Provincial
Social Service Programs that support adults, children, or seniors
with developmental disabilities - such as brain injuries, spinal
chord injuries, visual or speech impairment, attention deficit
disorder, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, spina
bifida, and stroke experience awareness and achievement that help
build their confidence, patience, and self-esteem.
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For many clients with physical disabilities the companionship of a
horse offers them opportunities to experience a new kind of
mobility, especially important if they have limited range of motion,
have been confined to a wheel chair or any other disabilities that
limit freedom of movement.
Connection with another living being is important if the client has
had trouble or limited opportunities of making friends with kids
their own age, mostly because a relationship with a horse is a
non-judgmental back and forth collaborative experience.
In
the case of non-verbal children they are encouraged to use words to
tell the horse what to do. Once a child begins to use the
appropriate words, including the horse's name, they gain confidence,
which leads to further speech development.
If
horseback riding is included in the program the experience provides
the rider with a gentle rhythm similar to the human gait; this often
helps improve muscle strength, flexibility and balance along with
awareness and achievements that help build their confidence,
patience, and self-esteem.
Other Equine Assisted Healing Programs
Professional Development and Team Building Programs
Learn about the facilitator for this program |
