ParentingOC magazine is conducting their annual Readers' Choice Awards and we would love your support by voting for us. Voting continues through July 10, 2022. You may vote once each day. Please vote for The Shea Center as: Best Special Needs Therapy in the Health,...
A lifelong horsewoman and 35+ year resident of San Juan Capistrano, Susan came to The Shea Center as a lesson volunteer in 2009. Her horsemanship and passion for Shea’s clients quickly led to her certification as a therapeutic riding instructor. Susan’s dedication to...
As the time for The Shea Center’s annual gala draws near, it is an appropriate occasion to bring to light the dedicated commitment to The Shea Center by our gala chair Susie Roof. Her association with the Center began over 29 years ago when she was approached by Shea...
Continuing education plays an important role in The Shea Center staff training. Weekly lessons in horse handling and riding skills keep our herd fit and healthy. Riding also increases the understanding of each horse, which helps our staff maximize therapy treatments...
Chief Philanthropy Officer Agnes McGlone Swanson was raised on Long Island, New York, and moved to Southern California at the age of 14. She attended high school in San Dimas, attended Mt. San Antonio College, and received her degree from California State University,...
Rookie of the Year Patti Reed – Patti has been a wonderful addition to our volunteer team. Trained as both a leader and sidewalker she is hardworking, flexible, connects with clients and is a shining example of a Shea Center volunteer. Patti also assists in the barn...
On the horse stall signs “hands” is part of the description, such as 14.2 hands or 15.4 hands. Horses are measured from the ground to the horse’s withers (at the shoulder blades, about where the mane ends on the back). The hand is a four-base system of measurement. If...
Most horses at The Shea Center wear conventional horseshoes, but there are many shoe types including therapeutic shoes that help distribute a horse’s weight and help with balance issues or arthritis. Although horses typically wear steel horseshoes, special...
Did you know that the “dirt” on the floor of the arenas is actually called “footing” and is a combination of silica sand and GGT Fiber? The footing is much better for a horse’s joints than regular clay soil because it resists compaction from their hooves and the GGT...
After growing up on a farm outside of Wichita, Kansas, Matt Mitchell graduated from Oklahoma Christian University and went on to receive his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California. Matt was drawn to physical therapy as a way to...