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Post by YoshsMom on Aug 1, 2004 10:43:55 GMT -5
Has anyone tried hippotherapy? Yosh's EI does it and thinks it would be great for him. It sounds a little weird to me, doing ot,pt, and st on horseback but she says they see a lot of improvement in kids with ds.
If any of you have done tis, please let me know what you think.
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Post by ALLISA on Aug 1, 2004 13:42:01 GMT -5
Hello, Yes. my daughter (now 4 ) does it... We started when she was almost 3... EI covered the cost then... now our insurance doesn't cover it, but the farm we go to has a Yearbook that they put out, and we can turn to friends/family/ businesses to "place ads" and all the money raised goes directly to her lessons. I don't know that I have seen a huge theraputic difference in her.... but she loves it and is very animated when she is up there. When she gets off, I do feel like she has a more grounded, stable walk, versus her typical gait.... if you all can picture that.... but I'm not sure that is a long term difference that stays..... overall.... I recommend hippotherapy.... but if I had to pay for it all out of my pocket.... I wouldn't think the resulsts would be worth the large expense. I'll post a pic of Erin on her horse !
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Post by Becky on Aug 1, 2004 18:20:22 GMT -5
Justin has been going since last year, he goes with his class during the school year. It is free for anyone with a disabilty, so Justin goes in the summer its about 45 min from us but he loves it. So I take him during the summer. Becky
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Post by Deannalee on Aug 1, 2004 20:47:35 GMT -5
This is actually something I have really wanted to do with Justin....once he can sit that is . I have heard some wonderful things not only about hippotherapy, but also dolphin therapy (something I started to look into also but is only in FLA). I want to do whatever I can to assist Justin with his muscle development.....as long as it is covered somehow, or is a reasonable cost. Being a single mom is definitely a dampener when it comes to those pricey extras. I would love to hear about this from others and also find out if anyone in Ohio does it. Great topic. Deanna
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Post by christie on Aug 1, 2004 23:09:12 GMT -5
Chris is now 11 and has done this since he was 5/6 and OMG I can not say enough good things about it ;D ;D ;D Chris when he was 4/5 was very unconfortable with "open spaces" would not for anthing ride a bike We started Chris horse ridiing and BINGO from there he got on the bike and OMG loves to ride ride ride everyday and fast as a demon I miight add, LOLOL ;D And from the riding his balance is GREAT and went on to skiing which takes lots of balance too ;D Speech, let me say, Chirs is very delayed in this area, BUT talks up a storm while riding ;D And for me what I love the most is his self esteem has grown tons OMG if you could only see him up on that horse ;D I know you too are in Jersey, we go to Starlight Farms in Ringwood, where are you looking to go?? CC
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Post by momofrussell on Aug 2, 2004 10:31:30 GMT -5
Russell doesn't do it but I know it can do WONDERS for our kids!!! My SIL does it for kids in SC. I can't picture Russell on a horse yet.. he doesn't seem ready to me.. what do I know though...
I hope Yosh has a BLAST!
A.
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Post by Alice on Aug 2, 2004 10:35:28 GMT -5
My friend's daughter who is autistic had this therapy and my friend was not so sure if it was helping at all. I think what what ever we do for our kids is a big help for them even if it is very little. Many people say that animals help a lot. I would love to have this therapy for Luke, but not sure if we can afford it or if our insurance will cover. I will check it with our therapists. If your therapists recomend that, go for it.
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Post by SuziF on Aug 2, 2004 11:09:09 GMT -5
Meri is on the list to start as soon as we get thru this heart surgery.I'm a big believer in it...I got to know the nurse who runs a local stable thru work with our county fair & 4H~ the self esteem it gives the kids is alone worth it !
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Post by YoshsMom on Aug 2, 2004 18:31:56 GMT -5
Sounds like we should give this a try. I just hope we can get insurance to cover some of it.
Christie, I forget where Yosh's therapist works, but I'm pretty sure its in Bergen County.
Thanks for the input, everyone.
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Post by Cathy on Aug 2, 2004 18:55:38 GMT -5
Katie has been getting Hippotherapy this summer. For one she loves the horsie... and she seems to be adjusting very well. She is so tiny, but is really getting good at holding her balance.
We have only had about three sessions (not counting the pony rides at the local fairs), so its hard to really say how its working, but she enjoys it and it can'thurt, so we keep at it!
Good luck!
Hugs,
Cathy
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Post by DereksMom on Aug 2, 2004 20:15:40 GMT -5
OK...what is Hippotherapy?? Derek does Theraputic Riding during the school year but is it the same. He has incredible balance and agility on the horse.
Hugs
Allison
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Post by christie on Aug 2, 2004 20:21:43 GMT -5
KERRI There is a place that does the riding right here in my town actually BUT we don't go there, we go up in Ringwood. Chris has been going to Starlight Farms for the last 6 years and even thou one has now opened in my town, he loves where he goes. so its worth the drive ;D
Just so you know girl, there also is horse riding in Special Olympics in our area BUT you have to be 8 to start that.
I truly think horse riding for our kids is a SUPER experience for them and although our insurance does not cover it for Chris WE were VERY lucky and a local organization thinks its a great thing for Chris and picks us the cost
If you insurance doesn't cover, you may want to request funds from DDD for this, just a thought
CC
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Post by 1mom39 on Aug 8, 2004 1:33:13 GMT -5
Christine, May I ask a few questions: 1) what is "DDD"? 2) I have asked some parents of special needs kids & no one can recommend a stable to me. What is a good way to go about this? Someone told me to go here to find a good place: narha.org/but in the Richmond area there is not a "premiere" certified center. Thx for your help! Mel (Mom to Faith, 19 months & her 2 older sibs)
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Post by christie on Aug 8, 2004 23:52:45 GMT -5
MEL let me ask, where do you live?? Here in Jersey I can reccomend 3 places that do the horse riding therapy. But it would be up this way, we are northern New Jersey and one in New York, Warwick to be exact. Two in Jersey would be one in Mahwah and one in Ringwood.
DDD stands for Divison of Developement Disabilities part of Sate of New Jersey Department of Human Services. Not sure every state has DDD but we do here in Jersey.
Ooooops I see you are in the Richmond are, Hmmmm can't help you with that area, Sorry...
CC
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