This is it! This is what I've been anticipating all summer long! It's finally here....
Therapeutic Horseback riding! Yeah! I really have been looking forward to this all year. The area in which we live is quite rural. There aren't very many opportunities for "extra extra curriculum activities". Don't get me wrong, we have soccer, baseball, football, dance, gymnastics, karate etc, etc. But for these advanced forms of therapy... it's kind of hit and miss. Crew has been fighting sleep for the past 4 days. He wouldn't take his nap. I tried twice and he cried for an hour both times. Then low and behold, an hour before we needed to leave he finally crashed. I had to wake him to go to therapy. He was still a bit groggy when we plopped him on the horse. The helmet they provided was slightly big. It kept flopping forward, shielding his eyes. He cooperatively held onto the horse and they walked, one volunteer leading the horse and one on each side to keep Crew upright. Around and around they went. Each time they passed me I would call out his name. He couldn't hear me. *frown* After the 4th or 5th round he finally hears my voice. He lifts his head, peering under the helmet...searching the faces.. then he spots me. I snap this picture. Crew lays his head down on the horse and sobs. On sob after another. Tears soak the horses mane. He can't stop crying. It was so sad.. yet kinda cute. I was tempted to whip out my camera again and take a picture of him laying down on the horse (for blogging purposes), but instead I pull him off the horse and try to calm him down. Maybe next week will be better.
This is it! This is what I've been anticipating all summer long! It's finally here.... Therapeutic Horseback riding! Yeah! I really have been looking forward to this all year. The area in which we live is quite rural. There aren't very many opportunities for "extra extra curriculum activities". Don't get me wrong, we have soccer, baseball, football, dance, gymnastics, karate etc, etc. But for these advanced forms of therapy... it's kind of hit and miss. Crew has been fighting sleep for the past 4 days. He wouldn't take his nap. I tried twice and he cried for an hour both times. Then low and behold, an hour before we needed to leave he finally crashed. I had to wake him to go to therapy. He was still a bit groggy when we plopped him on the horse. The helmet they provided was slightly big. It kept flopping forward, shielding his eyes. He cooperatively held onto the horse and they walked, one volunteer leading the horse and one on each side to keep Crew upright. Around and around they went. Each time they passed me I would call out his name. He couldn't hear me. *frown* After the 4th or 5th round he finally hears my voice. He lifts his head, peering under the helmet...searching the faces.. then he spots me. I snap this picture. Crew lays his head down on the horse and sobs. On sob after another. Tears soak the horses mane. He can't stop crying. It was so sad.. yet kinda cute. I was tempted to whip out my camera again and take a picture of him laying down on the horse (for blogging purposes), but instead I pull him off the horse and try to calm him down. Maybe next week will be better. 
I've heard nothing but praise for therapudic horseback riding. I haven't tried it with my son, for a couple of reasons...price, I'm not so sure HE really needs the stress of a big animal, I'm a wimp! But yay for Crew...sad that he was so tired tho! Maybe next time will be better! :)
ReplyDeleteMel, does this mean you buying a horse? J/K. Crew is the cutest on the horsey. Sounds like next time he will be a pro. Oddly enough I took E. on Tuesday. She didn't want to get on because she thought I was leaving her. After a few minutes when she realized what was going on, I think she really liked it. Maybe, I can talk K. into buying her one ----you know all in the name of work and responsibility!!!??? Yeah right. Okay talk to you soon.
ReplyDeleteK.
I have been thinking about trying that with Evan. Let me know hot it goes because to me it looks like lots of fun for the kids. I am a horse nut however and would love to have any excuse to get one lol
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute picture. I hope next week will be better.
ReplyDeleteAwh! I hope he ends up loving it.
ReplyDeleteWhere are you doing it at?
ReplyDeleteE loves hippa therapy!
Hey, have you checked out mypersonalponies.com
*smile* I dare ya.
(I love attack of the mouse, she so reminds me of me.)
what a cool form of therapy. and what a cute picture. thanks for visiting my blog, i'm excited to puruse yours :)
ReplyDeleteOh Mel, What a fantastic picture! I swear our boys ARE twins...did you just say the words "fighting sleep" -- "Groggy" -- "Crying" all in one post?? This has been our week!! I think Jack's trying to give up his nap, yet he crashes hard at times and then is up all night!! Sorry, didn't mean to rant about sleep issues! Anyway, I am calling soon to sign Jack up for hippotherapy and I am anxious to see how Crew does next time! Keep us posted!
ReplyDeleteMel, How fantastic, that you are able to help him with this kind of therapy. I am sorry he got sad. Hope it goes better next time. Have a great day.
ReplyDelete