When Rosie Jane was just three years old, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and underwent 27 months of chemotherapy. Although she has been off treatment for four years, the effects of chemotherapy and spinal procedures have left her with...
Eleven-year-old Hutton has been coming to The Shea Center for eight months, making steady progress in physical therapy utilizing hippotherapy. She especially enjoys riding Alik and the friendly banter she shares with her physical therapist, Caitlin “Cat” Wands, and...
For 30 years, The Shea Center has been a constant source of connection, support, and friendship for one longtime client Melissa Piccinati. Although she first came to Shea at age 14, her journey with horses began much earlier. "I have been riding horses since I was 5...
After serving six years and completing three deployments to Kuwait and Afghanistan, Travis Mossbarger left the Air Force 13 years ago. At first, the transition to civilian life seemed smooth. He enrolled in college, where he earned a degree in web and graphic design...
Belle came to The Shea Center on an equine therapy scholarship from the Brynn Wheeler Foundation. As Belle prepares to enter her senior year of high school, she stays busy with theater, creating YouTube videos, and frequent trips to Disneyland. She hopes to become a...
Through his story, Rob reveals how his military experience led him to The Shea Center—and a new sense of purpose. "I'm a retired disabled veteran who served 26 years in the military, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. My time in service—especially combat...
Seventeen-year-old Emma began riding at The Shea Center last December, and from the start, something clicked. After struggling to progress in previous therapeutic riding programs, she quickly found connection and momentum, especially with her horse, Warrior. Each...
Eleven-year-old Shea Center client Ella is currently in her second round of therapy at the Center. She first rode in 2016 and 2017, when she was just four years old, and quickly fell in love with horses—especially her therapy partners, Rushmore and Alik. After several...
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...
Six-year-old Savva survived a brain stroke in utero, resulting in diagnoses of hemiplegic cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a speech impairment. While these challenges are part of his journey, they have never defined who he is. Savva is a joyful, adventurous, and...