Yes, REAL horses!

I mentioned Kanyon getting to start his therapeutic riding/hippo therapy in a previous post and had several people comment/ask/email about if I meant actual horses. Yes! How cool is that? I didn't know much about his stuff before our PT started telling us about it, so it was kinda hard for me to believe too. Friday he had his first ride. He did so good! He got on and within the first minutes, he was leaning forward patting the horse's neck! He was a little dazed and kinda taking in the surroundings, but he was calm and enjoyed it. As far as "what do they do?" I don't really know. I'm not in the arena, I'm sitting on a bench watching so I can't always see up close. Basically the riding strengthens his core/trunk helps him shift weight, bear weight, and balance. It just uses muscles and stuff that he otherwise wouldn't use. They position him differently throughout the ride and they obviously have a reason for it....probably to make him bear weight and use the exact muscles they want him to. They're smart, I'm not. I just watch! I am just so glad there are things like this. I know he doesn't totally appreciate the whole "I'm riding a horse!" thing, but it is a change of scenery and kind of a distraction from the fact that he's working. Whereas during regular therapy, he's VERY aware of the fact that he's working and he shows his dislike! I think especially for older kids, they're just so excited to be on a horse that they don't even know it it helping them! It is an incredible facility and it just opens my eyes to how aware other people are of how they can use things/hobbies they have to help other people.

Here are the pics of the little rider. Notice the riding helmets are a little better than the pokemon lookin' helmet we "practiced" with.


His horse's name was Hope, this was the very first steps of the ride.

I know this is little, but look close and you'll see he's sideways. He was so good that they let him trick ride!

Then he took it to the next level of trick riding and turned backwards. He laughed when the horse started walking and he was backwards!

Then he just laid down! Who knows why, I guess he just felt really close to Ms. Hope and decided to give her a hug. Or maybe he was tired.

After like 30-40 min. he got off and got to pet her. Of course he had to use his left hand. Therapy never ends!

Here are a few videos. This first one is just him on the first lap around the arena. I love it because towards the end another little girl goes cruising in front of him and she's backwards, it just made me laugh. One second I thought he looked tiny up on the big horse then the next I thought he looked like such a big boy sitting up there. It was about the cutest thing in the world. I couldn't stop smiling!



Here he is sideways.


And backwards!

Watch out PRCA!!!! Hand this boy a rope and he may be in the NFR 2030!