Agency Details:

LaDawn Quarter Horses Therapeutic Riding and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding program founded in 2002 to serve individuals with disabilities in the State of Maine. The program is dedicated to improving each client’s quality of life by fostering horse and human interaction that facilitates physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Description:
Hippotherapy is a treatment that uses the multidimensional movement of the horse; from the Greek word “hippos” which means horse. Specially trained physical, occupational and speech therapists use this medical treatment for clients who have movement dysfunction. Specific riding skills are not taught, as in therapeutic riding, but rather a foundation is established to improve neurological function and sensory processing. This foundation can then be generalized to a wide range of daily functions. The horse’s walk gently and rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, allowing riders with physical disabilities to show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength. For individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. Horses reach the unreachable and understand the unconditional love desired and needed by their riders. Many children and adults in our community have discovered the joy and healing that takes place in our very special environment. The age ranges of our clients are 3-76, with diagnosis’s like autism, aspergers, turrets, stroke, mental retardation, ADHD, developmental, speech and social delays, Down’s Syndrome, velo-cardio-facial syndrome, oppositional defiant disorder, bipolar, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, anxiety and depression to name a few. These people come from all over including, but not limited to: Kennebunk, York, Saco, Dayton, Biddeford, Sanford, Wells, Kittery, Springvale, N. Berwick, and S. Portland.

History:
Donna Lariviere is the current executive director of Ladawn. She is a graduate from the University of New England with a B.S., and the University of Southern Maine with a Master’s in occupational therapy. Donna holds specialty certifications in Hippotherapy, is a therapeutic riding instructor, and sensory integration specialist. Donna runs all of the daily lessons as well as managing the business aspect of the program as a volunteer and has since its inception. Unable to work strictly as a volunteer, in addition she works a full time job as an occupational therapist at a local nursing home facility. Therapeutic riding serves children and adults with physical and psychological challenges by providing therapy and rehabilitation in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. The medical benefits of therapeutic riding cannot be replaced by ordinary therapy. The discomfort frequently associated with physical therapy is often frightening and overwhelming. The pleasure of riding distracts focus from the discomfort and routine of therapy, enabling the individuals to participate willingly and for much longer periods of time than they could in conventional therapy. Riding augments attention span and concentration while accelerating the development of
spatial awareness and motivation.

Contact person: Donna Lariviere, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO BOX 558 West Kennebunk, ME 04094

Web Site: http://www.ladawntherapeuticridingcenter.com

Last updated on March 2, 2010