Seven-year-old second-grade twins Ellie and Liz have been Shea Center clients for a year. With the onset of the pandemic, the girls began to be anxious about their surroundings by not feeling safe, not wanting to play outside, or being afraid of bugs and so forth. For one girl, the anxiety increases when things don’t seem safe, and for the other girl, when there is competition or the perception of unfairness. One expresses these feelings by not eating, and the other by meltdowns.

Occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy at Shea helps both girls cope with their emotions. Riding horses is calming and helps them sort out and manage their feelings. It also builds their confidence, and they do things on a horse they might not be willing to do otherwise.

The girls have had many other therapies, but their parents, Debbie and Juan, say the occupational therapists at The Shea Center are the best, hands down.

Juan says, “Riding brings calmness to the chaos. At school, they have to conform; at Shea, they can be themselves.”  The family comes to Shea from Anaheim at a busy time of day, but Debbie remarks, “We are delighted and happy to be at Shea. It is worth the time commitment because the girls love riding and look forward to it all week.”