Horse Therapy and a long, long month.

[SashaBreeze]

Sorry I haven't been posting for the last few weeks. Our water line that ran water to our house busted and the land lord refused to fix it. We had to live with my mom for a couple of weeks while we found something else and then it has taken FOREVER for the phone company to get dsl going again at our new place.

A is doing great at the new place! The first week was crazy rough and then he fell in love with everything about here. Behind our house is a big fenced in field with 6 or so horses they come to the fence several times a day and LOVE to be petted. I was telling A's O.T. about how crazy he is over the horses and turns out there is a horse therapy facility about 45minutes-1hour from were we live. She really thinks it would benefit him. The catch? Even if we qualify for the scholarship (which is likely) it is still going to cost $125 every other month and that is a pretty long drive to do once a week in addition to regular O.T./Speech, his orthopedic doctor and his endocrinologist. Have any of you had experience with hippotherapy? Was/is it worth it?
Thanks to you all, and I am super happy to be back and in our new place.

[karne]

Not hippotherapy, or therapeutic riding, but we're an equestrian family. I can attest to the benefits of kids having relationships with horses!

[maybemom05]

I was a hippotherapy volunteer ages ago - way before kids! I found it to be beneficial, both to me and to the kid I worked with. (I just walked alongside the horse, didn't do anything "therapeutic", but I did keep the little guy from falling off).

The little guy I worked with was extremely low functioning, but over the years that I worked with him it was clear that he loved, loved, loved riding, and his muscle tone did improve and he gained a better sense of direction.

As for the cost - it is not inexpensive - but if you offer to volunteer, you might get a bit of a discount. It's worth asking.

Good luck!!

[2boyzmama]

My mom volunteers with Proud Riders, which is hippotherapy in her area. It's run through 4H, so the kids only have to pay the 4H fee, which is not only inexpensive, but it's also easily waivable if finances are an issue. Look into your area's 4H maybe. If there isn't an equestrian program already existing, maybe they can start one (with help from you).

[SashaBreeze]

Thank you all for your responses.
We are still trying to decide. I know he would love it. But I just wish I knew if it would "really" benefit him before we invest that much money (we have a very limited income) and extended car trips. It would be on Thursday's and he already has O.T./Speech on those days, so to then turn around for a long car trip and then more therapy... I just kind of dread that car trip, kwim?
He was supposed to have a re-evaluation today but we had a friend over with chicken pox and half the kids were up all night with fevers, so I cancelled. I don't think the medical arts building in our county would appreciate me sharing our pox virus with them. I am going to talk to his O.T. more hopefully this next Tuesday.

[cchrissyy]

is there a chance you could bill medical insurance for this?

[confustication]

I think it's absolutely phenomenal. I've not had a child involved, but have been involved in working with kids in these programs as well as in training horses for them etc.

If you can swing it financially, you should absolutely go for it- especially if balance issues are something you are dealing with.

[SashaBreeze]

Thank you all for the responses. We are still thinking about it. We have until March the 31st to make up our minds. It really is supposed to help a TON with his low tone and vestibular problems so we are leaning heavily towards doing it.

[ShadowLark]

Ooh, I'm jealous! They won't do hippotherapy around here for anyone under the age of four. We still have half a year to wait!