Re: horses

[Guest guest]

Michele,

I've got all teary reading about how great Aubrie is doing with the horses,

they're just so amazing and now she's in a big bed too... wow...

I'll be happy to upload the file for you, send it away!!!

Mom to Kennedy 3yr old CHARGEr, 11, 10, and wife to Graeme

New Brunswick, Canada

Visit the " Weir homepage " at: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/5716

ICQ #1426476

horses

Aubrie had her first hippotherapy session of the season on Thu. I

haven't had a chance to tell you all about it. You might remember that

our local program runs for 8 weeks in the summer only. It's free and

easily accessible so we are thankful even though it's short. I've been

taking Aubrie for 2 years. At first, she was freaked out by the horses

but enjoyed playing with the leather straps, helmets, etc., petting the

horses, and visiting with the other families. I don't remember if we

ever rode successfully that first year. I kept taking her as a positive

sensory social experience. Last year, we rode together. She was still

hesitant and didn't always ride happily or very long. We still

continued to go faithfully for all the positive benefits she did get

even without riding.

Well, all that diligence paid off. As we prepared to go this year, she

remembered all about it and got very excited to go. When we arrived,

she listened during the orientation meeting. When it was over, she

immediately wanted her helmet on and was ready to ride. She had to wait

for her turn. In the past, we had to be one of the first riders or

she'd lose her patience and interest. This time, she squealed with glee

at the other riders watching them and waiting for her turn. When it was

her turn, she eagerly mounted the horse without me, told the horse to

" walk on " , and sang and talked all the while she rode. After her ride,

we groomed horses. This is a new portion of the therapy this year. She

was very attentive to the explanation of each type of brush and tried

them all out. The newspaper was there covering the program and missed

getting a photo of a rider. So Little Miss Cowgirl Aubrie got ride up

there and rode again. We were just going to set her on the horse for a

photo, but she insisted on another full ride.

It was so wonderful to see how far she's come since the beginning. I

remember the first days when I'd lug the feeding pump there and she'd

end up vomiting from the heat. Now I've got a full-fledged cowgirl on

my hands!!

Our only complication is that her brother has swim meets nearly every

Thu so I will have to miss them in favor of the horses. With it only

being 8 times a year, I can't stand to miss one.

Oh, she's sleeping in her new bed for the first time tonight. I'll try

to email a photo in the next few days. , since the list can't take

attachments, I'll send it to you for posting on the web site, ok?

Thanks!

Michele W

Aubrie's mom (3.5 yrs)