My daughter Julia is a nearly 3-year-old child with Multiple Cavernous Angiomas, a very serious medical disorder that has caused her to have three brain hemorrhages and resulting surgeries.

She has been involved in the Child Development Resources early intervention program for two years and has been participating in Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center in Williamsburg, VA since April of 2003.

Julia is being challenged and is growing in every developmental area. And amazingly, for Julia, her hours at Dream Catchers are simply fun.

She is greeted warmly by all of the staff. Sally Derrig has been working as Julia’s primary instructor, so Julia seeks out Sally to give her a big hug. The riding session begins with Julia allowing Sally to put on and adjust her helmet. All of these things address Julia’s need for social development.

The session continues with Julia and Sally working together to groom Blackie, the horse. It is Julia’s responsibility to carry the grooming tool basket, and now that she has some experience, she is allowed to choose the grooming activities. Julia chooses to use every single tool in the basket and Sally aids and supports her choice. Julia is learning self-efficacy, a vocabulary of horse terms, and the rudiments of caring for and respecting an animal. Sally’s assistants saddle Blackie while Julie practices patience.

The riding itself helps Julia with her physical challenges. She is often encouraged to test her balance skills by riding backward on the horse, or by riding without using her hands. She develops leg and torso strength and control as she encourages Blackie to “Trot!”. Julia’s upper body coordination is challenged as she balances a ball on a plastic shovel that she is carrying while she is riding a horse (wow!)

Julie practices focusing and attending skills as she follows Sally’s many directions. Sally is wonderful at placing limits on Julia’s behaviors without seeming punitive. Julia also practices using her words to meet her needs as she commands Blackie to “Whoa” or “Walk.” Higher-level cognitive development is accomplished by exercises that include color naming, letter recognition, and counting. Julia came home recognizing the letter “B” the other week – a new achievement for her.

Already, Julia has formed an enormous attachment to Sally, to Blackie and to the Dream Catchers program. The unconditional acceptance the center staff shows Julia is invaluable for me as her mother.

Written by Connie Lee, mother of 3-year-old Julia.
They live in Williamsburg, VA.