Horsing Around

The horse: Such an awesome animal. I've always had a fascination with horses. They seem so strong yet gentle. I don't know much about horses. That is the reason why I have never ridden one. Horses catch on to your emotions right away. They can sense your fear, lack of confidence. They respond to how you look at them, where on their bodies you look at them. Yes, such a powerful animal. I've always known that somehow, some day, I would cross paths with horses. Today was the day.

My amazing 2.5 year old began hippotherapy.

Hippotherapy: A form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input. Unlike therapeutic horseback riding (where specific riding skills are taught), the movement of the horse is a means to a treatment goal when utilizing hippotherapy.

I was very much mentally prepared for a meltdown. I was told that the majority of children do so on their first ever ride, due to different smells, people, sounds, the touch and motion of the horse and so on. I'm glad I prepared ahead of time, because this is what took place.

It was a whole different world to him, as it would be for anyone on his or her fist horse ride. I just watched my little guy from behind huge glass windows.
He rode forward, then his therapist (in the grey) switched it up to sideways riding. Henry put his hands over his eyes, but those eyes were peeking out and no tears. He was interested, but not ready to let someone else control him! (Jon and I have NO idea who he gets his stubbornness from! Ha!)

One of our goals for Henry (besides talking more) is to listen and follow directions. Sometimes he just doesn't want to give the reigns over to another person. He wants to be in control, as do all horses.

Finally, his therapist had him ride backwards on his horse. With such a whole different feeling, Henry wasn't too sure about it at first.

But then something clicked. He leaned forward and put his arms around that horse. He hugged him tight...and then came a sense of calm.

Around the arena he rode backwards on Pepsi the horse...just hugging the four legged beauty.

And when his therapist told him to tell the horse ALL DONE, Henry wasn't just quite ready to say his goodbyes.

So a final lap they went, boy and horse.

Henry then got a chance to chat with Pepsi...look him in the eye. And my heart goes out to Pepsi a bit more. The hours and hours of training these horses have so they can work with all kinds of children...makes them that much more special. All of the horses are donated. You know the saying "Daddy's gonna buy you a horse"? Well, one daddy bought his daughter a horse and the daughter wasn't too into it, so Ms. $35 thousand dollar pony (her name is Fairytale Princess) is now one of the therapy horses. (But Pepsi did outstanding...much better horse suited for my boy!)

Once off the horse, Henry even waived goodbye. He then went to play a bit with his therapist. I could hear him calling for me, trying to open the door. I wanted to just go push in the door and grab my baby, but I knew that he was okay. I tried to SHUT IT OUT by focusing on the multi-million home next door--wondering what it looked like on the inside. Trying to vision the room behind every exterior door and window. But then, that door opened and out came my baby. He called for me and I just scooped up my son...and began to cry. It wasn't a pretty cry either. The flood gates opened and I just couldn't stop. I wasn't crying because I was upset with the therapist. I wasn't crying because I don't like to see him cry. Honestly, I don't know why I crying. As I stood there hugging my son, my heart felt like it was going to explode. He just hugged me back. Just a nice long hug saying, "Hi momma. Glad you are here with me." The cool thing about my tears? Every other parent and therapist in there got it. They've been there.

I cannot even tell you how many kisses my little man has gotten today, how many times I've told him how much I love him and how proud I am of him. What I do know is after is very first hippotherapy session, he ate the best lunch he has ever eaten and did the best job behaving while cart riding through Whole Foods.

So, we will go back next Tuesday. The hour ride down, then the hour ride back is worth it. My little man is a true fighter. I have hopes that he will have a lot of progress. And, if he's anything like his momma, an animal, especially a horse, will get him to open up and talk more...anything for a horse. I have hope. And, I'm pretty sure that I won't have to SHUT IT OUT during future therapy sessions, because, quite frankly, that multi-million dollar home isn't at all my style!