Four-year-old Jane loves being on a horse. She has been a Shea Center client for 1.5 years and currently rides Murray, sometimes getting so engaged that she cries when it’s time to dismount.

Jane has a rare genetic condition called ALG13-CDG, which appears in infancy and is characterized by early-onset epilepsy and global developmental delays. She communicates with her parents by kissing cards with specific words on them to share her needs and wants.

Riding at Shea has opened a new sensory world for Jane and supported her overall development. The movement of her horse, Murray, has strengthened her core, helping her sit up straighter and even move from lying on her back to doing a sit-up to get her mother’s attention. Although Jane rarely uses her hands and typically explores toys with her mouth, she enjoys reaching out to pet Murray. She cannot yet stand independently, but her physical therapist notes, “Jane continues to make progress during her physical therapy sessions utilizing hippotherapy at The Shea Center. She loves the movement that her horse Murray provides and is showing great improvement in her core strength, sitting balance, and ability to move—creeping, standing at a support surface, and even beginning to take steps.”

The increased strength gained through riding appears to help keep Jane’s seizures to a minimum. Her mother, Sheryl, believes Jane understands more than she can express, and Jane’s excitement is evident when it’s time to ride.

For the family, Shea is therapeutic for everyone. Jane benefits from horseback riding; her brothers enjoy being outside alongside her and the horses; and her parents appreciate the calm, welcoming, pastoral environment that nurtures them all.