| Sunrise EquiTherapy | Rider Testimonials - Eric Ludwig | ||
I am writing to provide you some insight into therapeutic horseback riding and what it has provided my son, Eric Ludwig. Eric Ludwig is eleven years old and is challenged by cerebral palsy,
blindness, seizures and mental delays. Eric will never be able to run and
play like typical children, but therapeutic horseback riding has given him
the opportunity to experience the movements similar to walking. While Eric
is on horseback his disabilities can fade away and he can enjoy the
interaction with the horse while getting the benefit of physical therapy.
It has also been an enjoyable experience for Eric, unlike some of the
therapy he must endure. On horseback, Eric is able to stretch his legs in
a way that is not comparable to traditional physical therapy. Eric works
on learning new skills, such as vocalization, while at the same time he is
stretching and strengthening his muscles. The rhythm of riding the horse
helps him relax his body and work on improving his balance and
coordination. The warmth of the horses body is beneficial as it warms
Eric's muscles allowing even more stretching than is comparable to physical
therapy on a mat. This can help Eric avoid surgeries for muscle releases
or hip repairs. |
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As a parent it is so heartwarming to watch Eric be able to participate in therapeutic horseback riding. As Eric has gotten older (and bigger) it has limited the physical activities I can help him enjoy. It is very difficult to help him enjoy the movements he so loves. I can no longer hold him upright and help him "jump" and swing thru the air. Watching him on horseback helps heal my heart. This past spring was the first opportunity Eric has had to participate in therapeutic horseback riding. It has also coincidentally been a very good summer in terms of Eric's skill building. Eric returned to school with better balance and endurance. He is able to sit with better posture and less prompts. He is able to take steps with his walker with much less assistance because his legs are not as tight as previously. I believe much of this is due to the benefits of his participation in Sunrise. The benefits continued well beyond the time Eric spent on horseback. He was able to work on improving his posture and taking steps with greater results because his muscles were not so tight. Eric had the opportunity to experience weight shifting and balance, similar to that when walking, while he was on horseback. I feel so fortunate that Eric had the opportunity to participate in Sunrise this past Spring. Unfortunately, due to Eric's health, he is unable to tolerate extreme heat. Therefore, he was unable to participate in Sunrise through the summer. I look forward to the day when Sunrise has its own facility so that Eric can participate year round. Thank you for your consideration in supporting Sunrise. Your support can make a huge difference in the lives of so many children and their families. Sincerely, Andrea Ludwig |
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