Riders

One Heart offers therapy to individuals demonstrating physical, cognitive, mental, or emotional limitations and special needs.

One Heart welcomes all people with disabilities beginning with age two. We work with children and adults who have been born with disorders or diseases, injury victims, children and adults with emoutional disorders, and/or learning disabilities. Many of our students have multiple handicaps.

All students MUST have permission from their doctor to ride. A therapist and certified therapeutic riding instructor evaluate and set goals with every client. The instructor is given information about the student from the individual, parents, teachers, doctors, and therapists.

Typically, clients meet once a week throughout six-week sessions, as offered. A NARHA-certified instructor conducts a class of single or multiple riders who - based on their individual goals and objectives, relevant to capability - warm-up, mount, ride an equine (with or without assistance including a horse leader and up to two assistants walking beside the animal, serving as a facilitator to the instructor and for safety [aka: sidewalker]). A game promoting achievement of the rider's goals is usually included in the lesson. As with other instruction, games incorporate the rider's use of communication skills, riding skills tyler special olympics-riders pg , cognition, physical development, hand/eye coordination, verbalization, horsemanship, mental awareness, vestibular system, and proprioception among other systems which might be underdeveloped. Evaluation of the lesson by the instructor and assistants is conducted immediately following the class.

One Heart instructors are also certified Special Olympics Equestrian coaches. Qualified riders participate in Iowa's Special Olympics Equestrian competition.

Many of our riders are able to participate in this unique therapy through the generous support of sponsors.

We would welcome your support of a One Heart rider. If you would like to participate in improving the therapueutic opportunity and the life quality of a person with disabilities please contact us regarding sponsorship.

-- Kris Lager, Executive Director

We offer different types of therapy:

Motion Therapy
Motion Therapy is a form of therapy conducted by an Occupational or Physical Therapist . The rider is placed in a variety of positions in order to serve the needs of their body. The horse provides warmth and motion. This exercise enhances muscular strength and tone, rider stability, balance, and coordination.

Developmental Therapy
Developmental Therapy offers students a curriculum in occupational-type therapies on the back of the horse. Many times you will see developmental riders sitting backwards on their horse using the rump as a table; rolling out play-clay, working puzzles, using sewing cards and working on manipulative skills.

Sport Therapy
In Sport Therapy each student learns basic horsemanship skills and emphasis is placed on developing and refining physical and cognitive abilities needed to independently control the horse in a variety of situations. Goal setting is done with therapists. Classes are taught by a NARHA-certified instructor.