Services
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT) provides skills for the job of living. In pediatrics, key ‘jobs’ include play, environmental exploration, co-regulation, self-regulation, dressing, engagement with others, fine motor skills, feeding, and a variety of other tasks. Occupational therapy can use a variety of techniques to influence neuromuscular, sensorimotor, and regulatory systems that impact movement, attention, and social emotional well being.
OT using Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy does not actually use hippos! Hippotherapy is a specialization in OT, PT, or Speech Therapy that uses equine movement to help clients’ meet their life goals. The horse has rhythmic, consistent, gradable three-dimensional movement. Each horse provides slightly different natural movement. This allows the trained therapist to select an appropriate fitting horse for each client, and change the input to meet each client’s needs.
Adaptive Riding
In adaptive riding lessons the rider is learning horsemanship with a goal of as much independence as possible in the sport of horseback riding. This is best suited for older children / adults or those who do not necessarily need to work directly on therapeutic goals but would still like the muscle, coordination, and confidence building that horseback riding can provide. This is typically completed in small groups.
Occupational Therapy sessions that use equine movement (hippotherapy) and adaptive riding sessions occur at Reining Liberty Ranch in Traverse City. Home based Occupational Therapy is available in Leelanau County / Traverse City. Mileage fees apply.