Making a Difference: Horse Therapy

daughter nor fire officials had any idea who the rescuer was! some parents who have children with special needs have few places to go for help and rehabilitation… but thanks to one woman, a facility exists in santa cruz county that’s offering more than just a helping hand. here’s this morning’s making a difference story. *trt:outcue::*–pkg–jennifer kurz/ caeden’s mom 3:48 “to see him struggle and fight so much adversity is incredibly frustrating for me…”it’s been an uphill battle for jennifer and her three year old son caeden. jennifer kurz/ caeden’s mom 9:14 “he loves to learn and tries so hard. he has to work a lot harder than many kids his age.”caeden was born with a genetic development disability and has trouble expressing himself. until he came to monterey bay horsemanship & therapeutic center in la selva beach. natpop: “caeden say go.. puh… good job caeden.”35: “it’s definitely helped, caeden is communicating more in regards to gestures and expressive language…”but the center wouldn’t be what it is for caeden or the other 250 special needs children that visit each month, without co founder anne pearson.anne’s son was born with cerebral palsy, cortical blindness and was non verbal.with little resources, anne turned to horse therapy.anne pearson/ co- founder monterey bay horsemanship & therapeutic center :56 “i use to sit timmy on the horse and i found he loved it. he was developing strength.”after years of therapy, timmy, who was partially paralyzed started to walk on his own. “what makes therapeutic riding so effective, it this muscle along the horses back, known as the leader muscle. it stimulates the spinal cord aiding or replaces what’s missing due to the disability.” (anne pearson/ co-founder monterey bay horsemanship & therapeutic center 4:31 “the para-sympathetic nerve is stimulated in some way at the base of the spine and that produces these amazing results of healing.”wanting to share her experience with others; anne and her partner gail wright developed the center using funds from santa cruz county, grants, donations and volunteers.anne pearson/ co- founder monterey bay horsemanship & therapeutic center :24 “it’s become our mission to develop a place that has meaning and purpose where they’re engaged, social and feel like they belong.” a place that’s making a difference so kids facing adversity can find solace and healing in the form of unconditional love.mmnc5 if you’d like to learn how you can help volunteer or donate to the center, visit our website at k-i-o-n- right-now.com we’d also like to hear from you, if you