Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center

LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER IS A COMMUNITY WHERE HORSES TRANSFORM THE BODIES, MINDS AND SPIRITS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

DURING OUR 42 WEEKS OF REGULAR SESSIONS IN 2023, LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER ("LITTLE BIT") PROVIDED SERVICES TO 473 UNDUPLICATED INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, PLUS 15 PARTICIPANTS OF ALL ABILITIES THROUGH OUR EIGHT, WEEK-LONG SUMMER CAMPS. LITTLE BIT'S STAFF WAS ASSISTED BY 1,213 VOLUNTEERS. PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, AND SPEECH THERAPY UTILIZING EQUINE MOVEMENT ARE OFFERED AT LITTLE BIT. LICENSED THERAPISTS UTILIZE A HORSE AS A TREATMENT TOOL, INCORPORATED INTO THE PATIENT'S PLAN OF CARE, TO REACH FUNCTIONAL GOALS. IN 2023, THERE WERE 3,305 TREATMENT SESSIONS AND 91 EVALUATIONS.ADAPTIVE RIDING FOCUSES ON INCREASING INDIVIDUAL RIDING SKILLS WHILE GAINING THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS. LESSONS ARE TAUGHT BY ONE OF OUR INSTRUCTORS CERTIFIED BY THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP INTERNATIONAL (PATH). PARTICIPANTS SHOW IMPROVED INDEPENDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, CONCENTRATION, VERBAL FLUENCY AND REDUCED ANXIETY. IN 2023, THERE WERE 5,014 ADAPTIVE RIDING LESSONS EQUINE-FACILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EFP) AND EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL) INVOLVE LITTLE BIT PARTNERING WITH LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH THERAPISTS (EFP) AND EDUCATORS (EAL) TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT OUR FACILITY. THERAPISTS AND EDUCATORS WORK HAND IN HAND WITH LITTLE BIT STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY PATH AS EQUINE SPECIALISTS. HORSES ARE UNIQUELY SUITED TO THIS KIND OF THERAPY BECAUSE THEY ARE INTUITIVE AND WILL REACT TO BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND CUES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT MISS, ALLOWING THE THERAPIST OR EDUCATOR TO INTERACT ON A DEEPER LEVEL WITH THEIR PATIENT OR STUDENT AND ADDRESS ISSUES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GO UNNOTICED. IN 2023, EFP SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO NINE CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND 117 INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS OF EAL WERE PROVIDED.

LITTLE BIT HOSTS WORKSHOPS/CERTIFICATIONS FOR PATH AND AMERICAN HIPPOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION (AHA). THESE WORKSHOPS PROVIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO POTENTIAL PATH INSTRUCTORS FOR THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP AND EQUINE SPECIALISTS IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING, AS WELL AS THERAPISTS FOR HIPPOTHERAPY. IN 2023, WE OFFERED A PATH EQUINE SPECIALIST IN MENTAL HEALTH AND LEARNING WORKSHOP & HORSEMANSHIP SKILLS TEST FOR 14 PARTICIPANTS. WE ALSO HOSTED AN AHA HIPPOTHERAPY TREATMENT PRINCIPLES - PART II WORKSHOP FOR 19 PARTICIPANTS.

LITTLE BIT HOSTS MEMORIAL HORSE SHOWS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PARTICIPANTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR RIDING SKILLS. THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY OF OUR PARTICIPANTS TO EARN MERIT-BASED AWARDS AND COMPETE AGAINST THEIR PEERS IN A SPORT THAT THEY TRAIN AND PRACTICE FOR YEAR AROUND. IN 2023, WE HAD 27 VIRTUAL AND 76 IN-PERSON HORSE SHOW PARTICIPANTS OF ALL ABILITIES JUDGED ON A VARIETY OF SKILL LEVELS ON HORSEBACK.