KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasHorses Help Special Needs Kids With Healing Process

Horses Help Special Needs Kids With Healing Process

Some children with special needs are getting a chance to spend time with champion riders and their horses at an equestrian event in Las Vegas this week. The Eye on Health team spoke with one parent who believes that horseback riding has been beneficial in getting her child back on her feet.

Henderson resident Debra Bynum says her 6-year-old daughter, Callie started walking on her own months ago. She believes that a local horseback riding program called Spirit Therapies has helped.

Debra said, "They have her do therapy on the horseback. She'll sit forward, backward, sideways. And she reaches. It's for the upper torso."

"Nevada Joe" is a mustang and he's among the horses chosen to give these children a gentle and up close western encounter. The kids are escorted around the South Point casino's equestrian arena by highly experienced riders with the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.

Among the children is 11-year-old Joshua from Las Vegas. His grandmother, Verna Castro says Joshua has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk or talk. She says that horseback therapy seems to be making a difference.

"But now we've been doing the horseback riding and I can already see a difference," Verna said.

Laurie Willmott is the program director of Spirit Therapies in Las Vegas. The children who participate in their programs have challenges ranging from Down syndrome and muscular dystrophy to spinal cord injuries and emotional distress.

Laurie Willmott explained, "A lot of the kids don't get out of the classroom or therapy room. And they're out into the element with the horses. They get to smell them, touch them. They just come out of their little shell. They just blossom."

Spirit Therapies is a non-profit volunteer program.

You can email your comments to the Eye on Health team:
Anchor Paula Francis or Medical Producer Rick Andrews