In equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) clients work on improving their quality of life by working towards a variety of goals. These could include improving communication skills, setting and maintaining boundaries at work or school, learning healthy coping skills to...
Meet Yusuf, a vibrant three-year-old with a passion for horseback riding! Just seven months ago, Yusuf began his journey at The Shea Center with a diagnosis of autism and speech delay. Since then, his progress in occupational therapy utilizing hippotherapy has been...
This is an account of Dortha Souers' heartwarming journey beginning in January 1984 at the Orange County Riding Center, as The Shea Center was named then, told by her daughter, Cynthia White. "At 61, Mom embraced horseback riding, becoming the oldest individual the...
Learn how Andrew benefits from both physical and occupational therapies at The Shea Center. Andrew became a Shea Center client two years ago. He attends sessions twice a week, once for physical therapy utilizing hippotherapy with therapist Matt Mitchell and once for...
Learn about Abhay's amazing progress and recovery from brain surgery. Eighteen months ago, with no previous symptoms, Abhay, age eight at the time, was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor. Immediately, the family left their home in Las Vegas to rush Abhay to...
Meet Sean. His experiences spanned 20 years in the Marine Corps, from combat in Afghanistan to teaching at the US Naval Academy and managerial roles in auditing. After leaving the service, he faced challenges with processing his emotions and struggled to develop...
Seventeen-year-old Ashlyn first became involved with The Shea Center as a lesson volunteer, a role that led her to see first-hand the transformative impact adaptive riding has on people with disabilities. Diagnosed with dyslexia and learning disabilities in second...
Five-year-old Delphine is a happy little girl who loves to ride Ginger. She looks forward to coming to Shea all week and on riding days, has all her gear on early, and rushes out the door with her helmet ready to go. Delphine loves riding in the arena, on the trail,...
Five-year-old preschooler Bill rides Murray and has been a Shea Center speech therapy client utilizing hippotherapy as a treatment tool for eight months. Bill hit all his milestones as a baby until he was about 18 months old and began to have trouble expressing his...
Written by Ryann Smith Groseclose * This story was orinially shared in the 2023 December issue of Ladera Ranch Neighbors magazine. Meet Dan and Carina Gregersen. This friendly and outgoing couple met through mutual friends in Denmark in 2002. Dan had just graduated...