A look into the day in the life of Tess, one of our program horses, while we are all sheltering in place due to COVID-19. Katy discusses our horses’ dietary needs, grooming, equipment used, riding disciplines, daily exercise and more! Tess is a 21-year-old Lusitano...
Auggie is The Shea Center's 13-year-old Arabian program horse! In this video, Shea Center staff member, Katy Purmort, talks with fellow staff member Dana Green (owner of Arabian horse Whiskey) about the history of this marvelous horse breed.
Why does a speech language pathologist (SLP), incorporate hippotherapy in practice? Equine movement is used to engage sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to promote functional outcomes in the area of communication. Many patients I see who experience...
Hello Shea clients, families and friends! Here is a video by physical therapist, Randi, with an easy daily stretching routine that you can do at home to improve your flexibility and improve your position on the horse. These stretches are also helpful to improve...
In addition to riding in the arenas, some Shea Center clients, depending on their riding ability level, ride on a variety of different trails located behind The Shea Center barn. Instructors have the option to take riders on a path from The Center down to the wood...
There’s a new horse in the barn for The Shea Center’s therapeutic riding program! Now what? Before a potential Shea Center therapy horse candidate even sets hoof on the property, a lot of time and effort goes into assessing whether the horse will be a “fit” for our...
Here is a video by PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Instructor Manager, Alex, with exercises you can do at home to help maintain muscle memory and strength for adaptive riding. This Heels Down exercise is good for balance and stability while riding. 1....
Did you know there are exercises you can do at home to help maintain muscle memory and strength for adaptive riding? Here’s one that is good practice for posting the trot. We call it ‘Wall Posting’: Stand against a smooth wall with the back of your head, your...
A tremendous thank you to all the client families, volunteers, and friends who voted for The Shea Center in The Capistrano Dispatch's People's Choice Horseshoe Awards! In all we won five awards! Gold - Best Local Nonprofit Organization Gold - Best Camp for Kids Silver...
You need me to work in the barn? Great, I’m here! You need me to sidewalk for someone? Great, I’m here! You need me to help with a mount or a dismount? Great, I’m here! You need me to lead for a session? Great, I’m here! Those were the words of our Shea Center...