A Horse's Rags to Riches Drama

Abused horse finds a new life and new responsibilities at Nature's Place Therapy Services

Natures Place Therapy, Incorporated
A Not-for-profit Corporation
1316 South Blvd. West
Davenport, FL 33837

Telephone: 863/421-0556                     Email: Naturesplace@aol.com
Contact: Deborah Adams, Director, Natures Place Therapy Services Telephone: 863/421-0556
Dr. Theresa Nenezian, donor, at Lake Wales, Telephone: 863-439-8320

A Horses Rags to Riches" Drama. . .

ABBY, A FORMERLY ABUSED HORSE, WILL NOW HELPKIDS AND ADULTS IN THEIR THERAPY PROGRAMS


(PRWEB) August, 2003 -- Abby, a 16-year-old quarter horse that endured severe neglect and abuse before she was rescued in Oct. 2002 by the Polk County, Fla., County Sheriffs Department will have both a new home and new responsibilities at Natures Place Therapy, which is located in a serene, farm-like setting at Davenport, close to Orlando.

Abby will arrive at Natures Place on Sat., Aug. 16, in her rags to riches" drama.

Donated to Natures Place by Dr. Theresa Nenezian, of Gods Helping Hands Therapeutic Riding Center at Lake Wales, Abby was adopted" by Nenezian after the sheriffs found Abby in her dismal condition. Abby was given love, shelter, health services, and other rehabilitations at Lake Wales.

Abbey will now live a rich life at Natures Place working with kids and adults who have impairments and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions.

The gentle, chestnut-colored mare that stands 14 hands tall will help specially trained therapists at Natures Place provide treatments to clients who suffer conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, learning or language disabilities, or traumatic brain injury.

By having Abby donated to us, we can now expand our rehabilitation services to include hippotherapy-the use of a horse in a clients treatments," Deborah Adams, director of Natures Place Therapy said.

We already have a waiting list of 26 clients who can benefit from hippotherapy," she added.

Hippotherapy is so named from the Greek root-word hippos," meaning horse and does not refer to Africas 4,000-pound hippopotamus. Hippotherapy is defined by the American Hippotherapy Association as a term that refers to the use of the movement of a horse as a treatment tool" by physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists.

In hippotherapy, the movement of the horse becomes a treatment tool by therapists to help improve impaired balance, coordination, and communication. Hippotherapy can also help improve poor postural control, and gross motor skills involved in sitting, standing, and walking.

It also provides numerous mental, psychological, and emotional benefits, as well as sensory and educational benefits. The therapeutic benefits of the horse were recognized as early as 460 BC. Eventually, the use of the horse in therapy spread throughout Europe, the United States, and Canada.

We are delighted to welcome Abby to her new home with us," Adams said. The equine-assisted therapy with Abby will be available as soon as a corral and small pole barn are completed. Much of that work will be done by volunteers at our 2nd Annual Old Fashioned Barn Raising that will take place Sat., Aug. 16." She said more volunteers will be welcomed to help.

Natures Place Therapy is a not-for-profit corporation that serves those who live in Lake, Polk, Orange, and Osceola counties. Therapy is provided to any and all who need it, regardless of payment capabilities. Call 863/421-0556 about therapy programs or volunteer opportunities.

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