“T.E.A.D. is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through a unique form of proven therapy with the use of horses”
Since its inception in 1978, T.E.A.D. has provided thousands of individuals young and old with a different approach to their situation. Located in the rolling pastures of
Cassie riding her favorite horse Robin. Born in 1986 he is 23 years old. He is a Paint that stands 15.2 hands high. He has been a therapy horse since 2003 at TEAD and Cassie has ridden him for four years now.
One of the best parts about TEAD is the children make lasting friendships with other children with disabilities. Above is Katie, Ashyln and Cassie stretching their legs before the ride.
Cassie with her riding instructor Pat Bullock and her three best friends at TEAD. Pat is an awesome instuctor who knows Cassie really well. Cassie has progressed this year to no side walker and time with no leader where she steers the horse herself as well as trotting and posting. All thanks to the dedication and hard work of Pat. Thanks for your time, expertise and patience with with Cassie. I wrote this and read it at TEAD's Riding Forward Tours because we whole heartedly beleive in this program and want it to continue to operate as it is our daughters absolute favorite form of therapy.
Our daughter Cassandra developed a brain injury in utero. The right side of her brain was severely damaged. She was born with hydrocephalus a condition where cerebral spinal fluid builds up in the brain. She had numerous brain surgeries as a baby to place a shunt in her brain and drain fluid. She developed lots of life threatening complications and had numerous shunt surgeries. We were told right from the start that she was high risk for cerebral palsy and seizures. Cassie did not sit up at six months and never learned to crawl. Walking took years of rehabilitation with physiotherapy, orthotics, walkers and gait training. When she was very young we heard about TEAD. We filled out the paperwork and had her on the list to ride as soon as she was old enough.
TEAD is a special organization that values children and treats them all with dignity. Cassie has been riding for 5 ½ years now. The TEAD organization has helped her gain pride, self-esteem and confidence. The instructors know each child’s special needs emphasizing their strengths. Cassie loves the instructors so much that each week she runs to hug them. Her favorite horses are Champion and Robin. She is able to talk to the horse. She uses her voice to make these large animals follow her directions. It empowers her and gives her confidence. She has made friends with volunteers who she realizes are special helpers there to help her and make the riding session fun. She has made lasting friendships with other little girls who ride in her club. They all have health problems or disabilities and she is able to talk to them and they socialize and it makes her feel special to have these friends. Sometimes Cassie has had to face hard questions from children at school. The ask her why she walks funny or wears big leg braces or they ask her why she cant climb on play equipment or run fast. She has developed a nice way of talking about her strengths and often tells these children “But I ride horses really well”. She has taken videos of her riding to school for show and tell and the children were so impressed and she felt like a star! She loves the club so much she asked to have her sixth birthday in the clubhouse. She took her friends from school on a tour of the barn. They were so impressed and she was able to confidently tell them all about the program and what it means to her. Sometimes children with a physical disability have trouble doing sports or fitting in with their peers. TEAD has given our daughter confidence and helped her social skills.
Cassie has had to work hard over the years doing physiotherapy. TEAD is a fun way for her to do therapy. It involves using her mind to follow directions and keeping the horse moving which in turn helps retrain her injured brain. It also involves using her weak hand to hold the reigns and lead the horse. She uses her weak legs to walk-on trot and turn. It is full bodywork out for one hour each week. She comes off the horse tired and pleasantly exhilarated. She feels at home in this club and she loves the staff and the horses and other children. Cassie cant wait for this July when she will attend a full week in summer camp and we cant wait to see the things she learns and we really thank the club for helping Cassie live her dreams and build her confidence.
Support this wonderful club. They always need volunteers and it is one of the special places in the world!!
Hi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI just read your newest blog about TEAD. My son-in-law has brain damage and he attends that programme but in the Waterloo area. He, too, loves it very much.
Animals and humans have a special relationship. Hope Cassie can continue this all her life.