Twenty-year-old Megan Shook began riding at The Shea Center when she was five and continued intermittently until the age of 13. Born prematurely, Megan spent her first three months in the NICU, and even as an infant, she showed sensitivity to loud sounds. Diagnosed...
Naomi is a joyful 3-year-old preschooler who has been participating in physical therapy using hippotherapy at The Shea Center for a year. Born with vocal cord paralysis, Naomi was also later diagnosed with Poland syndrome, a condition marked by missing muscles and...
Thirteen-year-old Dylan has been an adaptive riding client at The Shea Center for sixteen months. He is diagnosed with postural scoliosis, low tone, autism, and ADHD. According to his mother, Rebecca, riding at Shea has significantly improved Dylan's core...
Seven-year-old Neil has been participating in physical therapy using hippotherapy as a client at The Shea Center for a year and a half. Neil was born weighing 1.5 pounds and experienced severe bilateral brain bleeds as well as the development of cysts, which led to a...
Dana Butler-Moburg, the CEO of The Shea Center, had a surprising phone conversation recently when she called the Center's computer help line and was connected with technician Stephen Williams. As they waited for Dana's computer to reboot, the conversation turned to...
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...