Special Needs, Special Horses: A Guide to the Benefits of Therapeutic Riding »

Some have had strokes, or have cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, transverse myelitis, or Parkinson's Disease. Others have autism, Down Syndrome, sensory damage from accidents or lingering aftereffects from Shaken Baby Syndrome. They approach the horse, many in wheelchairs or on crutches, get on, and ride. It has the unlikely name of "hippotherapy," and for many, it works. Scott, a long-time volunteer in equine-assisted activities, writes primarily for parents and other caregivers, describing procedures for riding sessions, the instructors and volunteers involved, the horses chosen to provide therapy, and alternative activities such as carriage driving and vaulting. She addresses the physical and emotional benefits she has seen in riders and how riding programs can also serve as outreach to troubled youth, and supplies a number of case studies of riders who have benefited from contact with the noblest of all the four-legged creatures. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR