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Paradise Ranch is dedicated to teaching horseback lessons providing essential therapeutic benefit to children and adults with varying disabilities, with a strong research based focus on children with autism. Horseback riding is great exercise and helps stretch tendons and muscles in a way that cannot be done with other occupational therapy methods. Horseback riding allows for trunk rotation stimulating muscles in the exact same way normal muscular skeletal movement takes place during walking or running. Many disabilities impede children and adults from these typical movements causing the very muscles necessary for walking to become weaker further complicating the disability.
Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) not only offers children and adults with disabilities exercise to strengthen their bodies, but also require patients to follow directions which strengthen cognitive development and communication skills. Learning left from right, how to use their bodies to cue the horse, and how to engage instructor’s directions provides valuable practice that can translate into daily activities to improve people with disabilities’ lives.
Many treatment plans especially those associated with autism are not effective without a holistic approach using any available means to reduce cognitive deficits. Most parents have “tried everything” with little or no improvement “hoping” for a miracle treatment. Equine assisted therapy fits perfectly with already existing treatment plans and truly enhances any existing treatment program. The ease of implementation allows for any child to begin equine-assisted therapy at any stage of therapy progression. Current research supports the claims made in regard to benefits of EAT realized decades ago by therapists and horse people alike. Providing a scientific approach to EAT is a new frontier as industry standards and instructional methods are still developing as new research is completed.
All lessons are done inside a 4000 sq ft climate controlled arena in the NW! At Paradise Ranch you will experience the best equine assisted therapy with all of the creature comforts, at reasonable prices.
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