About
Hi my name is Patricia Bean. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for stopping by and welcome you to Whispering Horse Therapeutic Riding Center. I'd also like to take a moment to share with you the story behind how Whispering Horse came to be.
I have been around horses all my life. I understand the nature and very unique relationships between horses and humans. Not to mention what it was like as a child or from a child's perspective to be fortunate enough to have had a very special companion.
As an adult and a Physical Education Teacher, I have been teaching children for thirty three years.
In the year of 2000, I was fortunate to develop a very special relationship with a child named Olivia. Olivia had cerebral palsy. Over the next couple of years, I became very close to Olivia. Olivia and I had a common thread she as I, loved horses.
Reflecting back on my own childhood, I remembered what it was like to have a horse.
I thought about it and decided that I would like to buy a horse for Olivia that she could ride when she came to visit me.
The next day I consulted with a Physical Therapist at school regarding my idea and Olivia's condition. In talking with the Physical Therapist she told me about the benefits of Hippotherapy and where to go for training.
It took me no time at all to enroll. This was the beginning to our humble beginnings. Upon completion of the Hippotherapy Training; Whispering Horse opened in the year of 2002.
Today, I have retired from my position as a Physical Education teacher. Currently I am consulting in Adaptive Physical Education on a part time basis while running Whispering Horse.
Whispering Horse has grown from one horse to seven horses and from servicing one individual to forty five individuals in seven years.
Looking back, I never realized the correlation between the two, my love of horses and teaching children the importance of physical activity. This has had a tremendous impact on my life.
This correlation was inspired and brought to life in 2000 by my special relationship with Olivia. Thank you Olivia!
Today, with the aid of our horses, and our staff of volunteers we strive to enhance the physical, emotional and cognitive needs of our clients.
Like Physical Education, Hippotherapy uses activities on the horse that are geared toward meeting the specific needs of each individual.
The horse's body provides sensory input through movement which is variable, rhythmic and repetitive. The variability of the horses gait enables the therapist to grade the degree of sensory input to the client. The therapist then uses this movement in combination with other modalities to achieve desired results.