Normally, you can find me in someone’s home, trying to make it better suit their needs. This week though, you could find me in a barn instead! We are visiting the Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Association, also known as HETRA of Omaha/Valley. Created in 1989, HETRA has helped both adults and children with disabilities participate in therapeutic riding activities. You can learn more about them www.hetra.org.
As Edye Godden, OTR/L, the Executive Director explains, Hippotherapy is an exciting and different form of therapy that many people participate in, which not only helps with posture and balance, but helps release tense muscles and provides stimulating social contact. It’s also a very exiting experience that many people who are not fully mobile would otherwise never get to participate in. However, helping people with disabilities onto horses is not always easy. Transfers like this can be hard on the riders, the therapists, the volunteers, and the horses. That’s where we were able to help with a SureHands Lift and Care System.
