Horsin’ Around
By Henderson, Nancy; Exceptional Parent Magazine, Vol. 40, No. 5, pp. 22-23Publication Date: May 2010
Article discusses the benefits of horseback riding as therapeutic exercise for a teenager with cerebral palsy. At the urge of a physical therapist, the high school student was introduced at the age of 8 to therapeutic riding on a docile beginner horse to stretch her hamstrings, improve posture and balance, and strengthen her midsection. In addition to the physical benefits, the young woman reports that horseback riding has resulted in increased acceptance from her peers without disabilities, leading to expanded social interaction through their sport. The student also describes an early action to build peer acceptance initiated by her kindergarten teacher who, when her classmates teased her over her walker, made the children draw pictures of their own imagined walking devices, thus turning the walker into something normal and desirable for the children.
Published by: EP Global Communications (Website:http://www.eparent.com)
