Ryan is a cute 6-year-old girl diagnosed with right side hip dysplasia; her hip socket is shallow and the ball at the top of her femur slips out.  Ryan’s hip dysplasia was not diagnosed until age three and a half.  She then underwent three hip surgeries to make repairs.  Each surgery required a spica cast to keep her legs immobile for up to 14 weeks.  Once Ryan was out of her last spica cast, it was another two months before she had enough walking strength to be able to ride at Shea.

Hippotherapy at The Shea Center is the only physical therapy Ryan’s orthopedist will allow because the natural riding position on the horse keeps her legs apart like a spica cast.  Because Ryan has chronic pain, sports activities other than riding are uncomfortable for her.  During Ryan’s year at Shea, her mother, Jillian, has noticed that her daughter’s core strength, balance, and limp have improved, and she can now go up the stairs bending her leg to walk rather than dragging it.

Ryan loves being at Shea, and Jillian explains that not only does Ryan have fun, but riding also relaxes and calms her. On the way home from Shea, Ryan is full of conversation about what she and her horse, Major, did during her physical therapy utilizing hippotherapy treatment.

Jillian says, “We all love coming here; it’s like family.”