Yes, sometimes hippos need psychological intervention, too.

Ha ha. Just kidding. Hippotherapy = Therapeutic Horseback Riding. It's helpful for people with mobility issues, as the movement of the horse mimics the movement of walking, and it's also good for children with sensory issues, language problems, balance or hearing discrepancies, among others. Here's a link to the American Hippotherapy Association, if you'd like to read more.

I've thought about signing Little J up for some hippotherapy, as we have a wonderful little therapeutic horseback riding facility near us, but since he doesn't qualify (they don't recognise Sensory Integration Dysfunction as a "disability" and to attend privately it's quite cost-prohibitive) we haven't done it. But a couple of days ago I found a way he can go for free: Little J is about to become a hippotherapy peer rider! My little boy, a role model!

He will be riding next to a fellow 4-year old with cerebral palsy. Apparently he has limited mobility and can't talk very clearly, so Little J will be the model talker.

When I asked Little J if he wanted to ride he said YES! He's only been on a horse a couple of times and he's really loved it. I explained to him that his job was to ride with a little boy who couldn't walk and who had a hard time talking and Little J proclaimed he was excited to teach his friend to ride. I think that with his ADHD seemingly under control he will do just fine, and being a helper at the hippotherapy place will boost his confidence. I told him we were all counting on him...and I think he'll rise to the occasion.

Before hand, I'm wondering how much I should coach him about this little boy's disabilities. I think I will stress how the boy is a lot like Little J except for the fact that he has trouble talking and walking. I think the fact that there will be many trained adults there (in addition to me, the person most untrained in the matter of horses and cerebral palsy that I know!) will help.

I'm very excited about this possibility! Little J will get the benefit of the movement on horseback for himself and he'll make a new friend!