Hippotherapy with Peter Pan

This morning, Emma made me so proud with how well she did at hippotherapy. She completed her second ride on Peter Pan where she didn't try to get off the majority of the time. She first began hippotherapy at the end of the Spring this year and went three times before SpiritHorse shut down for the summer. Therapy started back up last month and she has gone four times, including today, so far this fall.

Last week, her therapist decided to try to use weights on her ankles to keep her from focusing on trying to pull her legs out of the stirrups - it was a success! For the first time, Emma didn't try to pull her legs up the majority of the therapy session and she spoke for the first time ever while riding. By the end of that ride, she was singing songs and talking like her normal self.

Today we worked with a new therapist as the one we normally work with had to go home due to a cold. The new therapist decided to focus more on short distance unassisted rides (only a few steps) until Emma decided she was tired. At each point, we would stop and take breaks. Emma held on to the handle of her English saddle for the first time this session and was the most engaged she has been since we started hippotherapy! We ended the session after she completed her record setting walk of twenty-one steps before she decided to lay down on Peter Pan's back for a break. I was SO proud of her!!! She was talking during therapy again and did such a great job sitting up so well.

Left to Right: Mom, Emma Lee, and Miss Jill

I am excited because I am starting to see more of her normal happy personality when she is sitting on Peter Pan and less of her uncertainty. Her tolerance to new things is still so impressive to me and it motivates me to push her to do more when I see that combined with her positive attitude. For the first time, I felt she might start enjoying her weekly rides. Perhaps Emma will even see them less as therapy and more as play time with a really big furry friend.