HEALING HEARTS WITH HORSES By Jantzen Teague Students im·olved in the communication sciences and disorders (CSD) program saw a different side of Lherapy through ,·olunteer \,·ork \\'ith tirrups and Smiles, a local nonprofit organi zation LhaLoffered hippotherapy sen·ice co children from ages two to 18. Hippocherapy utilized hor cs co assist "·ith physical therapy. peech therapy and occupational therapy by ,,·orking to engage children's sensory, neuromocor and cognitive systems. An assistant professor for CSD and a member of the board of directors for Stirrups and mile . Jennifer Fisher, wanted to im·olve students in her field. ·'I wanted [the students] ta see how therapy can be deliYered in the em·ironment of equine therapy," Fisher said. "They\ ·e seen Lherapy be [practiced] in clinics, chools and ho0 pitals, but [therapy] in a barn is totally different." Fi<;her played a significant role in connecring Harding student~with thi s ,·olu nteer opportunity that benefited the students, a \\·ell as Stirrup and Smile. She said 95 percent ofactiYities at tirrups and Smile relied on Yolunteers. By combining the nonprofit' needs with the students' ,·olumeer effort , Fisher saw the potential for a great partner.hip. ·'Currently in the health care world, interprofessional practice is a big deal,'' Fisher said. "[The students] ,rill be working ,,·ith physical therapists and occupational therapist ,,·hen they get out of school, and this giyes them an opportunity to see that." Senior EmilyJ ones said YOlunteering helped her see a glimpse of the type of team life that he would experience as a speech therapist in the future. She also aid hippothcrapy broadened her idea of therapy solely in a clinic etting. "It opened my eyes to the aspect of bringing animals into therapy because of the kids' re pan es,'' J ones aid. '·It's amazing to see those kids out there on hor es. They completely tran form." Senior Kami Adams frlt imilarly about her rnlunteer work at Stirrups and Smile . She said it benefited Harding·s relationship with the community and increased the students' cope of knowledge about therapy, but she said nothing beat the obYious difference in the child when he or she \\·as on a horse. ·'J t·s cool seeing ho\1· we do clinic in the cla sroom , but you can only do so much there." Adams aid. ··On the horse, they really get im·ok ed. T hey actually \\'ant to do what they are cold. and it really does help. You see impro,·ement all acros the boa rd." According to both Adams andJones, no C\rn days looked alike \\'hile they yo]unceered. They \\'Ould be a ·'side-,rnlker" one day, holding the child on the horse as these sion took place, and the next, they would groan 1 the horses or complete typical barn chores. The common denominator for each ,·isiL was seeing the joy and relaxation of the clients a they connected with the horses. The Harding Un iversity Student Sp eech -Language Hearing Association (H u'SSHA) tra veled to Tuba Ci!J, Ari<:_ona, from Feb. 27 to March 4 of 20 16, to work with horses and members of th e communi!J. Members of H USSHA became aware of issues in advancements in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology by working with horses and the therapy they provide to children. I Photo courtesy of Dan Tullos
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