Sierra’s hippotherapy

When I found out about hippotherapy, I was very excited.  Obtaining physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or psychotherapy while on a horse made so much sense.  The sound and rhythm of the horses hooves, the motion forward in space while lumbering from side to side, the connection with the animal, the experience of being out in nature all seemed to be wonderful enhancements to receiving any kind of therapy.  And I couldn’t help but think it would be really fun for someone who did not have fear around the experience.

I started checking into local programs for Sierra, but found that they were too expensive to fit into our budget.  The one I really liked was under a non-profit, but even with a discount for financial need (that we would probably not even qualify for), the cost was out of our price range.   So, I filed this information away in the back of my mind, with the intention of finding a source of funding.

I spoke to a dear friend and her daughters about it.  They were horse people and had traded riding time and riding lessons for work for years.  All of them had become very skilled horse people and the oldest daughter had even gone on to teach riding lessons to children.  They checked out all of their sources, but did not come up with anything.

Several months went by.  One day, someone told me about a fund that was set up by the family of a little girl who had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly to honor her memory.  I wrote down the name and then lost the note in a sea of paperwork on my desk.  A couple more months went by and my sister-in-law’s mother gave me a newspaper article about The Shelby Clark Memorial Fund.  View the article here.  I put the article on my desk, fully intending to apply.  I even googled the name and found Shelby’s obituary and  the website for her memorial fund.  Time passed and with so many things pressing on me, I again, did not inquire.

Then, one day, I was given a flyer about the fund as I was leaving one of Sierra’s occupational and physical therapy appointments.  The therapist encouraged me to apply for funding for Sierra’s hippotherapy.  This was the third time this had been brought to me and it finally clicked.  I applied for funding the next week by e-mail.  I requested funding to a specific program in Walnut Creek, California, a nearby town, called Leaps and Bounds.

This is the response I received from Karen Clark, Shelby’s mother:

“Thank you so much for sharing Sierra’s story and for the application. Your daughter sounds so delightful and we are pleased to be able to help her. Horses were one of Shelby’s very favorite things. We took many trips to the Tilden Park Merry-go-Round, and she would be mesmerized by just looking at pictures of carousels! The irony for us is that I had been in communication with Tineke Jacobsen shortly before Shelby passed away. My husband had taken Shelby out to Leap of Faith for a visit shortly before her fateful operation and, much like Sierra, she cried and fussed when they had to leave; she fell in love with the horses and we were very much looking forward to starting Shelby in hippotherapy. She never had that chance but we are so happy to be able to give Sierra the opportunity.”

I can’t explain the intensity of the feelings I had that morning when I read Karen’s e-mail.  I was so very excited for Sierra, and yet just heartbroken for Shelby and her family.

Sierra went to her hippotherapy session today.  She was so proud as she rode around the arena, surrounded by loving volunteers and therapist on a beautiful, gentle horse.  It was almost surreal to watch.  I am in awe and so grateful that she has been given this gift.