A Friend We Didn't Dream Of...

Emylie started going to horse therapy in April. It was our hope that it would help strengthen the muscles in her trunk.

Week 1. It is obvious by her darling little crying face, that she didn't love it or like it, but at least she got ON the horse and went around the arena once. Her sisters enjoyed the extra time Emylie didn't take to get a ride in themselves. Even though the lessons were for Emylie our family enjoyed going together.

Week 2. The second session was a little better than the first. I think she went around the arena a few times. She was more calm until the horse sneezed and sneezed and sneezed! Then the tears came and she signed "all done - all done". Once she was off she was happy to tell Daddy she rode a BIG horse.

Gradually from week to week she became more and more comfortable. She got excited when we told her she was going to horse therapy. She even asked to go see the horses. She rode for the entire session. She got more and more familiar with the sounds the horses made. She grew to love the volunteers, especially Valerie and Cindy. The last few weeks she would get so excited to go show them her painted fingernails. She got stronger.

The last week Emylie went right to Valerie to get on the horse. She was comfortable and relaxed. She even rode on the horse by herself with two volunteers holding her legs. She didn't enjoy touching the horse but did really well. It is so amazing to see all she gained from horse therapy. To learn how amazing these horses are and how they help people. What an amazing program. We feel so fortunate that she has grown to enjoy it and that it is helping her.

Thank you to Cindy for running an amazing program and to Valerie, Andrea and all the other volunteers who have helped Emylie and so many others!