46/ MARCH/APRIL 2010 THE RIDER

Ask the O.T.:

By Jessica Malpage, OT Reg. (Ont.) and Kirsten Trenc-Smith OT Reg. (Ont.)

In Therapeutic Riding and Sensory Integration Disorder: part 1, we described what senso- ry integration disorders (SID) are and their characteristics. Children with SID may have trouble interpreting and using environmental stimuli causing them to either over-react, under- react, or display sensory seeking

Therapeutic Riding and Sensory Integration Disorder: Part 2

Ontario Therapeutic Riding Association

President:

ManeLine

behaviors. Other children with SID have trouble receiving stimuli. And others still have difficulty producing and orga- nizing their responses to stimuli resulting in motor control diffi- culties.

Therapeutic riding pro- vides and excellent opportunity to treat SID. The barn, arena, horse and volunteers offer a wide variety of sensory infor- mation including sights, smells,

2010 OnTRA Coming Events

Para Equestrian Canada Clinic

March 27, 2010 • CARD Toronto, On Lorraine Stubbs FEI I, Margaret Murdoch STD M

OnTRA Spring National Gold Show

Sunday March 28, 2010 • Toronto, ON

May 28-30, 2010

Ashburn, ON

Prizelist and registrations forms will be available online. Judges: Lorraine Stubbs, Lynda Southam WindReach International Para-Dressage CPEDI***

For further information: www.equinecanada.ca/para-equestrian 2010 OnTRA Regional PPG & Dressage Competitions

Saturday June 26, 2010 – Southwestern Regional Show

SARI Therapeutic Riding Centre Arva, ON • Judge: Don Barnes

Saturday August 21, 2010 – Northern Regional Show

Northern Lights Therapeutic Riding Centre Val Rita, ON. Judge: M.H. Lessard

2010 OnTRA Provincial PPG & Dressage Championship Gold Show

Saturday September 4, 2010 Sunrise Therapeutic Riding Centre Puslinch, ON • Judge: Leslie Kennedy

JOIN OnTRA today!

Don’t miss out on your free subscription to The Rider! Individual membership just $20.

Membership forms available at: www.ontra.ca

2010 OnTRA MEMBER CENTRES

ASHBURN: The Stables at WindReach Farm - 905-655-5827 BANCROFT: EQUALL - 613 474-1556 BARRIE/ORILLIA: Stonegate Farm - 705-327-7801 BELLEVILLE: Quinte Therapeutic Riding Assn.- 613-395-4472 BRACEBRIDGE: With Care Oke-Cook Family Farm- 705-645-5866 BRAMPTON/CALEDON: Caledon Equestrian School - 905 584-2022 CALEDON EAST: Peace Ranch - 905-584-9156 CARLETON PLACE: Lanark County Therapeutic Riding Program - 613 257-7121 CORNWALL: Brave-Hearts Riding Club - 613-528-1616 CORNWALL: Second Wind Acres - 613-528-1616 DURHAM REGION: Durham Therapeutic Riding Assoc. - 905-668-6680 GREELY/OTTAWA: Therapeutic Riding Assoc. of Ottawa-Carleton - 613-821-1844 GUELPH: Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre - 519-837-0558 HAMILTON: T.E.A.D. - 905-679-8323 INNISFIL: Springland Riding Stable - 705-431-7009 KINGSTON: Happy Heart Hippotherapy (Uniquestri Ltd.) - 613-546-7770 KITCHENER: CODRP / Pride Stables - 519-653-4686 LONDON: SARI Therapeutic Riding - 519-666-1123 MILTON: Windrush Stable Therapeutic Riding Centre - 905-854-6008 NEWMARKET: Horse At Heart Therapeutic Equestrian Centre - 905-898-3201 NIAGARA ON THE LAKE: Red Roof Retreat - 905-684-0235 NORTH AUGUSTA: Touch a Rainbow - 613-926-2116 ORO STATION: Bit by Bit, 212 Line 6 N., RR#1, Oro Station, ON L0L 2E0 OWEN SOUND: G.R.A.C.E. - 519-372-2721 PETERBOROUGH: PARD Therapeutic Riding - 705 742-6441 PETROLIA: Tomlynn Acres Reg. Quarter Horses - 519-882-0958 PLANTAGENET: Willowbank Equestrian Center - 613-673-4875 PORT BURWELL: Jabez Therapy Ranch - 519-874-1168 PORT ELGIN: P.R.A.N.C.E. - 519-832-2522 PORT HOPE: T.R.A.I.N. - 905 372-6191 RIDGEWAY: I CAN-T.E.R. – 905-894-3276 ST. CATHARINES: Horse Alternative Therapeutic Services - 905-704-9820 SAULT STE. MARIE: Therapeutic Ride Algoma - 705 945-8546 SHELBURNE: Traditions Farm Therapeutic Riding Centre - 519-925-1866 STOUFFVILLE: GIDDYUP - 905-642-8001 THUNDER BAY: Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Assoc.- 807-472-5650 TIMMINS: Timmins Therapeutic Riding Assoc. - 705-269-5994 TORONTO: C.A.R.D. - 416-667-8600 TORONTO: Saddle Up for Success - 416-932-1919 WINDSOR: Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Assoc. - 519-969-1261

Please volunteer at a centre near you!

DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that OnTRA is not responsible for the accreditation, actions or activities at any OnTRA Member Centre. OnTRA has no legal or structural authority over any Member Centre as each Centre is autonomous. Be aware that horseback riding can be a dangerous sport therefore you should verify the safety procedures & the certification of the instructors at the therapeutic riding facility of your choice.

Vice President: Treasurer: Secretary: Directors:

www.ontra.ca ManeLine Editor:

touch, sounds, and movements. With plan- ning and deliberate use of various stimuli, therapeutic riding instructors can play a key role in providing the sensory diets these children need.

Viki LaCombe Kirsten Smith Virginia Pohler Pat DiMambro

Jessica Malpage, Bill Thomas, Kelly McGarrell, Megan Vance Kelly McGarrell

Children with sensory modulation dis- orders are under-reactive, over-reactive or sensory seekers. Children who are under- reactive need “alerting” stimuli, while over- reactive children need “calming” stimuli (Kranowitz, 2005). All children with modu- lation difficulties, but especially sensory seekers need “organizing” stimuli (Kra- nowitz, 2005).

Alerting activities cause arousal. In a therapeutic riding setting:

-Use a fast, choppy gaited horse. Ride in dif- ferent positions (i.e. backwards, sideways, prone). Change direction often, and gradual- ly decrease the size of the school figures (i.e. go from a 20 meter circle to a 10 meter circle).

tively to light unexpected touch, so always tell them what you are about to do when touching them and use firm even pressure whenever hands on contact is necessary. -Select a slow smooth gaited horse -Have the child massage their own muscles or those of the horse -Play soft soothing music

disorders need opportunities to experience a multitude of sensory experiences. These children need to learn to tell where there bodies are in space, and to distinguish simi- larities and differences between things they touch, see or hear. To develop these skills in a therapeutic riding lesson:

-Deep pressure and pushing/pulling activi- ties tend to be calming. Purposefully use “deep pressure”, such as having the child ride in a weighted vest, draping a heavy blanket over child’s legs, or participating in grooming activities particularly currying the horse. Push/pull activities could include pulling magnets apart, pushing play dough into a pancake, squeezing a stress ball.

-Provide ample opportunity to play with var- ious textures. For example, stroking differ- ent parts of the horse, or playing with Play Dough and sand, giving the horse a bath, or playing with textured therapy balls. -Play/sing upbeat songs and music. Use noisemakers, and visually interesting toys (shiny, moving/spinning parts) such as rat- tles, pinwheels and light up wands. Make sure the horse has been well introduced to these toys prior to using them with the child. -To increase use of the visual system, use patterns or have the child look for similari- ties. For example have the child create a pat- tern by stringing beads onto a necklace. Play matching games. Hide items around the arena for the child to find. Play “I spy”. - To increase the use of the auditory system play rhyming games and play games such as “Marco Polo”.

Calming activities decrease arousal. In a therapeutic riding setting:

-Create a routine so the child can predict what will happen during the lesson. - Over-reactive children may respond nega-

Organizing activities are activities that help regulate a child’s response to stimuli (Kranowitz, 2005). In the therapeutic riding setting:

-For unknown reasons, push/pull/squeeze/pinch activities help orga- nize these children’s behaviors. Deep pres- sure also does this.

-As above, use deep pressure such as weighted clothing or blankets. Have the child participate in grooming tasks. Have the child massage themselves or their horse. -Pulling activities could include tightening the girth, pulling down stirrups, tearing up paper, pulling on therapy bands. It should never include pulling on reins. While using the reins may be part of a riding lesson, the force of pulling necessary for organizing behaviors is greater than is fair or safe for the horse.

-Pushing activities could include Play Dough play, pushing and pulling Lego blocks together/apart, or giving oneself a hug.

Children with sensory discrimination

Centre Profile: GRACE

GRACE (Georgian Riding Association for Challenged Equestrians) has been serving riders with physical, mental and developmental challenges in the Owen Sound area since 1989. Currently operating out of Wicklen Stables, west of the city, the program is run entirely by volunteers (only barn staff is paid). GRACE has seven CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association) certified volunteer instructors and assis- tants responsible for running the therapeutic riding and driving classes. Other volunteers who groom, tack up and lead the horses and sidewalk with the riders are also essential to the safe operation of the classes. From April to November there are two classes per evening, Monday through Thursday and Friday afternoons. GRACE offers a 10 week spring

session, two four week summer sessions and a 10 week fall ses- sion. Riders come from as far away as Wiarton, Meaford and Sauble Beach. Eight horses serve the 30 - 40 riders attend- ing each session. These mounts have been purchased by or donated to the program. They undergo special training by “horse parents”, usually instruc- tors and assistants, before being integrated into the program. GRACE is always on the look- out for appropriate horses that are sound, calm, patient and dependable. When possible they come to Wicklen Stables for a trial period so that their suitabil- ity for the program can be assessed.

Regular in-house competi- tions and open houses are held at Wicklen Stables. GRACE rid- ers and volunteers also attend demonstrations in the communi-

brought home the silver medal on both occasions.

A highlight in 2009 was a visit to GRACE by Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. David Onley. In fact, GRACE was the first stop on a visit to Owen Sound. Our riders and drivers put on a demonstration of the various aspects of therapeutic riding which was well received by Their Honors. Also in 2009 GRACE received a letter for

nity members and businesses who donate facilities, prizes, expertise, time and labour help make these events successful. New volunteers are always wel- come to help out in the program or with other GRACE activities. For more information, please contact us: GRACE, P.O. Box 992, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K 6H6 Telephone: 519-372- 2721

ty to promote the program and the benefits of therapeutic rid- ing. Unbeaten from 2004 - 2008, GRACE’s Prince Phillip Games team has competed in Toronto, Ashburn, Hamilton and Kitchener on borrowed horses. It took a very strong team from TEAD (Hamilton) in 2009 to put an end to this win- ning streak. Elaine Davidson, a GRACE rider, competed in Para Dressage at the 2008 and 2009 Para Sport Games. Also com- peting on borrowed horses, she

-Play “Simon Says” or do lots of stretching so that the child is encouraged to touch dif- ferent parts of his body.

-Provide various noise makers or textured therapy balls and have the child describe the items to you

-Puzzles, patterns, matching games -Create a “touch and feel box or bag”. Hide various items in a bag or shoebox with a hole cut in the lid. Have the child reach in and describe an item he finds without look- ing at it, have her try to guess what it is. The items in the box could have a theme such as “things you find in the grooming kit”, or “back to school items”.

Children with sensory-based motor problems tend to have trouble with motor planning, sequencing multi-step instruc- tions, bimanual or hand-eye coordination tasks, and may have poor posture. In a thera- peutic riding setting:

-Begin by giving only one instruction at a time, and then gradually increase the num- ber of instructions given in sequence. -Practice hand-eye coordination activities such as threading beads onto a string, throw- ing a ball into a bucket or net, putting a foam sword through or ring.

-Squeezing/pinching activities could include closing zip lock bags or decorating the horse’s mane with clothing pins.

-Riding a horse, asking the child to sit up tall and develop the proper riding alignment (ear-shoulder-hip-ankle), automatically helps develop posture

-Practice bimanual tasks often such as pour- ing activities, tying the reins in a knot, braiding the horse’s mane, clapping, passing and catching games.

-Children with sensory-based motor prob- lems often have difficulty with dressing

Continued on Page 47

congratulations from Bucking- ham Palace for our record of achievements in the Prince Philip Games.

Funding for the program is provided by grants, private and corporate donations, horse boarding fees and nominal rider fees. GRACE fund-raising activities include monthly bin- gos “staffed” largely by board members, an annual Ride-A- Thon and Barn Dance. A dedi- cated group of volunteers, along with the generosity of commu-

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