Help on Hooves

03/12/2026

🟣🟢🟡Have a bag of Mardi Gras beads left from all the parades last month?

Check out this post for ways to use them for purposeful play! 👇

03/07/2026

Today we’re out at the Birth to Five: Help Me Thrive event from 9–11 AM at the Santa Rosa Auditorium, and we would love for you to stop by and see us!

Come visit the Help on Hooves table to learn more about how occupational therapy and equine movement can support children’s development.
We’re also handing out free goodies, so bring the kids and come say hello.

This event is a great opportunity for families to connect with local resources that support early childhood development, and we’re excited to be part of it this morning.

Stop by, meet us, grab some free stuff, and learn more about what we do. We hope to see you here! 🐴💙

03/07/2026

Just a shape sorter… or is it? 😉

🔴Today we used a simple shape sorter during our hippotherapy session — but we made it a little more challenging.

Our rider had to:
✨ Reach across their body to grab a shape
✨ Bring it back to the middle
✨ Turn it the right way
✨ Match it to the correct spot

All while the horse was moving! 🐴

When they reach across their body and use both hands, they’re building bilateral coordination, basically teaching both sides of the brain and body to work as a team. 🤲

This teamwork shows up later in activities like writing, dressing, and playground skills. 📝

And because the horse is moving, they’re also working on balance, core strength, and body awareness without even realizing it. 💪🏻

🔵Want to work on bilateral coordination at home?

Here are some activities to try‼️

✨ Stringing beads
✨ Rolling out playdough with a rolling pin
✨ Tearing paper for crafts
✨ Clapping games or pat-a-cake
✨ Catching and throwing a ball
✨ Building with blocks or Legos
✨ Using tongs to pick up small toys or snacks

03/07/2026

Did you miss us at EDEN? Come see us tomorrow in Milton for the Birth to Five: Help Me Thrive!! We can’t wait to see you there!

🎪Our Birth to Age Five: Help Me Thrive Event (Hosted by SRCDS for ALL Families) is TOMORROW, March 7!🎉

🌟 Stop by the Santa Rosa Auditorium (4530 Spikes Way in Milton) from 9:00-11:30 for free food, resources, and fun to help your child succeed before they head to kindergarten!! 🌟

We hope to see you there!

03/03/2026

🏐Ready… set… CATCH! (On a horse, of course 😉🐴)

🙌🏼 Check out this rockstar working on coordination, balance, and focus all at once during her session!

🌟Tossing and catching while on the horse challenges core strength and postural control, requiring active trunk engagement to maintain an upright position. 💪🏻

👀Adding the ball brings in visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, timing, and motor planning — all while sustaining balance and body awareness.

👏🏼Throwing and catching also supports bilateral coordination and upper extremity strength, which are foundational for skills like dressing, feeding, handwriting, and play. ✏️🧩

✨Purposeful play like this builds functional skills in a motivating and meaningful way.
✔️ Stronger upright posture�✔️ Improved coordination and timing�✔️ Increased body awareness�✔️ Greater engagement through purposeful activity

We are SO proud of our friend!🩵

02/28/2026

🐴 Thankful for Northwest FL Expo for Disabilities and Exceptional Needs (EDEN) for putting on a great event! We had a blast today making new friends, petting horses, tossing bean bags and stacking rings! Can’t wait for the next one! ✨

02/28/2026

⭐️Setup at Northwest FL Expo for Disabilities and Exceptional Needs (EDEN) from 10am-2pm! 🐴

02/23/2026

⭐️Check it out! It’s scientifically proven that our friends on the spectrum make greater progress if their occupational therapy includes horses! 🐴

Research matters because one well-designed study can change practice, improve welfare, and transform lives. Funding research fuels that ripple effect.

02/18/2026

⭐️Ever notice a kiddo who slouches at the table, gets tired quickly, or struggles to stay steady while moving?

Strong core muscles and body control play a big role in helping kids sit up tall, move safely, and keep up during everyday activities like eating, playing, and completing schoolwork. 🍽️🛝📚

🐴In hippotherapy, the horse’s gentle movement makes working on these skills fun and natural. You might see a rider practicing things like starting and stopping the horse or weaving between poles, all while learning how to adjust their body as the movement changes. 🤩

🤲Playing “Simon Says” is also a fun way to challenge balance! When kids lift their hands to play, their core has to step up and do the work — helping build stronger posture and better body control without relying on holding on. ✨

These fun activities help build strength, balance, and body awareness that carry over into daily routines for both at home and in the classroom. 🎒💪📓

02/14/2026

Ellie says, post session pets are her favorite 💕🐴

09/09/2025

🐴 A horse’s body temperature is about 1-5 degrees warmer than that of a human, primarily in the neck/mane and quarters.

🌡️This extra warmth can promote an overall sense of relaxation, aid in stretching muscles, increase the riders plasticity, and reduce spasticity.

💪🏻Not all activities are appropriate for every client, but, lying on the back of a horse during therapy may be particularly effective for children diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy or hyperactivity!