TheDenverChannel.com








Family

E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story

Parker's DogBlog -- Chapter 37

Parker Visits The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center

January 29, 2008

So, there I was happily snoozing in a patch of sun on Saturday morning when Marianne jostled me. "Come on, Parker. We're going on a field trip," she informed me. "We're going to go watch Stefanie ride a horse!"

We drove along with Stafanie, her CCI Skilled Companion Alette, and Carol-Ann, Stef's mom. Hours and hours later (well, maybe not, but it seemed like a long time) we arrived at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in Longmont. While we waited for Stefanie to get settled on her horse, I asked Alette some questions.

PARKER: This place smells great! How long have you and Stef been coming here?

ALETTE: A long time! Ever since I became her CCI Skilled Companion, about six years.

PARKER: So what do they do here?

ALETTE: They provide therapeutic riding services, including hippotherapy, to children and adults with disabilities.

PARKER: HUH? I thought hippos were funny-looking animals at the zoo. Is Stefanie going to ride a hippo today?

ALETTE: No, silly puppy. “Hippotherapy” comes from a Greek word “hippos,” which means horse. The animal you're thinking of is a hippopotamus (hippo = horse and potamos = river).

PARKER. Wow, I'm impressed! They teach you all kinds of stuff at CCI College. So hippotherapy means “treatment with the help of a horse?"

ALETTE: Brilliant deduction! Stefanie works with a licensed physical therapist. They work on the characteristics of the horse’s walk and how that movement can help Stefanie with things like balance, rotation, and flexibility.

PARKER: Hey, Stefanie is going outside! Let's go watch. She looks really happy. Why is the horse walking backwards?

ALETTE: That movement helps Stef with balance and working her core muscles. Pretty cool, huh?

PARKER: Yeah, very cool. Maybe if I graduate I'll be matched to someone who goes to a therapeutic riding center, too!

When Stefanie was done, we wandered over to a small corral. Imagine my surprise when Marianne told me the animals inside were horses! I thought all horses were really big, but these were my size, sort of. They were very friendly, and Marianne wanted to take one home with us. (Yeah, John would have been REAL excited about that.) I wanted to go into the corral and play with them, but Marianne said no. One even nibbled on my toes, which tickled. Check out my slide show!

Click this link (www.ctrcinc.org) if you want more information about the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center. It's a very cool place!

Chow for now!

Parker

Questions or comments for Parker? Send them to Call7ForHelp@TheDenverChannel.com.

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence, or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to www.cci.org for details.


Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Tired of diets that don’t work? Let us show you how you can succeed when it comes to losing that unwanted weight. More

The right shrubs can transform your yard into an inviting and beautiful space. Find out which kinds are best for you. More

Whether you know it or not, your financial security is at risk. Find out how you can better protect your assets from identity thieves. More

Watch for the signs of risky driving and what to do if it’s time for your parent to give up the keys. More

Like online video? Then you'll love Now See This.

Links We Like includes a selection of information, tools and resources from our partners and sponsors.

Back To School

In our Back To School guide, find out how to send your student off to college with confidence, make sure your child's backpack isn't too heavy and see how much you remember from your school days. More


Sponsored Links

Moving Center

Click Here! Look to our Moving Center for valuable information such as how to pick movers, how to prepare for your relocation, and how to pack. And get moving quotes from local and interstate movers.