Main Sections

Meet Abby the Therapy Horse

photo provided

Tuesday August 13, 2013

People are used to therapy dogs and even cats of all shapes and sizes, but often stop in their tracks when they hear about therapy horses. While they are not as portable as their canine companions, equines are gaining popularity amongst therapy groups as a high interest and wonderful partner in bringing joy and increasing individual progress in physical therapy.  Abby is a twenty-five year old Quarter Horse who truly believes she is more Labrador retriever than horse. Used in handicapped riding for years, Abby has been pulled, prodded, and ridden by people aged six months to seventy plus years. Patient, kind and tuned into people, she takes each person at their worth and seems to connect with them naturally. This summer alone, Abby has made appearances in nursing homes, with children coming home from surgery and with several people whose fear of horses has stopped them from forming a new partnership. Abby‘s conquests run up both sides of Lake Champlain and increase each year. For Abby and all the animals that serve as therapy aides, the pleasure and the joy they bring is above measure.  They change lives one person at a time! When Abby is not out being a friend to people, she resides quietly on her family farm in Waltham.

Printer Friendly

Top

Advertisements

Search our Archives