54 disabled residents to receive equine therapy
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact: Tim O'Bayley
PALM SPRINGS, CA – DECEMBER 2, 2009: A grant of more than $40,000 will provide equine therapy for 54 Healthcare District residents with severe disabilities. The “Riding for Recovery” program will provide these residents with ½ hour of full body range of motion therapy on horses once per week through May 2010. The grant, approved in September 2009, furthers the District’s goal of promoting healthy behaviors throughout the District, specifically healthy behaviors among residents with disabilities.
“Equine therapy not only strengthens muscles, loosens stiff joints, and improves body functions, but it also empowers minds,” said Robin Montgomery, Executive Director of Pegasus Riding Academy of Palm Desert. “Pegasus is the only agency in the valley that provides ‘full body range of motion exercise’ for the most severely disabled, and if we didn’t exist, 80% of our clients would receive no physical therapy at all.”
Pegasus clients, who will benefit from the grant, represent a full spectrum of disabilities including wheel chair-bound, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, bi-polar disorder, dementia, stroke victims, and severely challenged.
“Most of the clients at Pegasus would have no other option for this unique kind of therapy, and we are determined at the District not to leave any residents’ health behind,” said Glen Grayman, MD, Board President for Desert Healthcare District. “Pegasus is unique because they utilize specially-trained horses that cycle through a variety of movements that simulate walking. The repetitive patterns have been shown to lead to a marked improvement in the physical functioning of their clients.”
Pegasus Riding Academy is a 27-year old community-based provider of medically approved full body range of motion exercise on horseback, called Equine Therapy. Pegasus serves children and adults of all ages with all types of disabilities. Riders come from a large pool that includes Unified School Districts Special Ed. classes, Desert ARC, The Stroke Recovery Center, Angel View, and referrals from Autism Foundations, ACT for MS, the Braille Institute, and private physicians.
Desert Healthcare District is a government agency, established by the state of California in 1948, to improve and support community health programs within a 457-square mile service area in the Coachella Valley. The District also owns and oversees the lease of Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs.
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O'Bayley, O'Bayley Communications, 760/778-3525 tim@obayley.net or
Donna Craig, Chief Program Officer, Desert Healthcare District, 760/323-6700
