Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach pediatric rehabilitation patient, Hannah, puts her feet in the stirrups
and gets ready to ride Shrimp.
12:58pm | For the first time, pediatric rehabilitation patients from Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach with special needs – including spina bifida, brain injuries, neuromuscular disorders and other conditions – learned how to ride and properly take care of horses with the “Ride Your Horse!” therapeutic riding program at B&B Stables in Cerritos.
Pediatric rehabilitation involves patients in activities like horseback riding, to allow them to take part in events they might not be exposed to because of their physical limitations and to connect with other children and families going through similar experiences. It also helps patients improve their balance and other motor skills.
Working with horses can also help patients learn companionship, responsibility, confidence, leadership, vocational and educational skills. Interacting with animals may even help patients form more meaningful relationships with people. It is a rewarding experience teaching patients trust, loyalty, communication and self-esteem. Therapeutic horseback riding helps patients learn to regain balance and improve motor skills.
“We had a great turnout for our first therapeutic horseback riding event,” says Mariana Sena, recreational therapist at Miller Children’s. “The children loved learning about the horses and parading them through the arena. We are thankful to Darlene and the “Ride Your Horse!” program for giving their time to provide our patients with such a wonderful experience.”
“Ride Your Horse!” founder, Darlene, helps Miller Children’s patient, Adam, find the perfect fitting helmet for his first time riding on a horse.
Miller Children’s patient, Cael, can’t stop smiling while he rides his horse around the arena.
The “Ride Your Horse!” crew and Miller Children’s patients created a special bond after spending an afternoon of therapeutic horseback riding together.