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CountyLineOctober20119andmotivationaswellasbuildrelationshipsandso-cialskills.ChildrenandadultswithautismDownsyndromecerebralpalsyADDADHDvisualandhearingim-therapeuticriding.Askedifatherapeuticridingles-sonisdifferentfromotherlessonssheteachesridinginstructorShannonTollexplainsWestriveforitnottobedifferent.Ourgoalistoteachtheriderhowtocommunicatewiththehorseandridesuccessfully.Iadaptthelessonsasneededforeachstudentbutweregoingforthesameresultintheend.Andtheresultsareimpressive.beentakingtherapeuticrid-inglessonsatWhiteDogFarmsinceMarch2011.Hehadworkedinanotherequine-assistedtherapyprogrampreviouslybutcompleteditsrequirementsandgrad-uated.KristisharesTherewasathreemonthpe-riodbetweenprogramsandthiswasevidentwhenJacksonstartedridingagain.Hiscoremuscleswereweakandhedidnothavethestrengthandstaminahehadbefore.TheworkoutthatJacksongetsev-eryweekisunbelievable.Hesgraduallyregainedhisstrengthandhisbalanceisgreatlyimproved.onlytoridebuttogroomandbeabletocontrolthehorse.WecouldntbehappierwiththeresultsJulieLevan22isautisticandhasbeenridingatWhiteDogFarmforseveralmonthsthoughshehasparticipatedintherapeuticridingoffandonforyears.JuliesfatherBobsayshisdaughterlooksforwardtoherweeklylessonsmorethanmostanyotheractivity.Julielovesthemotionofbeingonhorseback.Shesverycomfortablethere.Andthelessonsaregoodexerciseandsomeoutdoortime.concentration.Shannonagrees.Inthesaddlecommandsatonce.Backonthegroundthisismuchharderforherbutwhatwehopeforisthatthelessonshavesomecarry-overintothestudentsotheractivitiesthattheconcentrationcoordinationmoreapartoftheirdailyexperience.Shannonspassionforhorsesbegan14yearsagowhenshebecamearidingstudentatWhiteDogFarm.Atage16shebeganworkingatthefarmteachinglessonsleadingbirthdaypartiesandhelp-ingwithhorsecamps.WhiteDogFarmownerAnnaHydesaysShannonisafavoriteofparentsandstu-dentsalike.Shannonguidesstudentsindevelopingthesubtleabilitytoreallylistentothehorse.Herteachingstyleisonethatallowsthestudenttobe-comeatruepartnerwiththehorse.ImthrilledthatthroughShannonsnaturalskillsandheradvancedtrainingwereabletooffertherapeuticridingles-sonsinadditiontoourotheractivities.HavingalwaysfeltcalledtoworkwithchildrenwithspecialneedsShannonearnedadegreeinearlychildhoodeducationfromGainesvilleStateCollegewithplanstobringtogetherherloveofteachingwithherpassionforhorses.Shannonbeganaone--sociationofTherapeuticHorsemanshipInternation-barnandconcludedwithafour-dayworkshopinVir---thingIvealwayswantedtodo.AsachildIwasdi-IfitwerentforridinghorsesIdontknowwhereIdbenow.Butmyexperienceasastudentwholearnsdifferentlyhelpsmeasaninstructor.IknowthatifItrytoteachastudentusingaparticularmethodanditdoesntworkIneedtotrysomethingdiffer-ent.IknowtheycandoitIjusthavetodeterminethebestwaytohelpthemlearn.oneofthefavoritelessonhorseslovedforhispatienceandgentlenature.Therapeuticridingstu-dentsrelatewelltoKatobecausehehasspecialseveralyearsKatounderwentsurgeryafewyearsagotohavehisrighteyeremoved.AhorsewithoneeyefacessomechallengesbutKatohasadaptedwithgraceandcourage.Whenstudentsfeelfrus-tratedorstruggletomasteracertainskillithelpsimageandincreaseself-condenceattentionspanpairmentmultiplesclerosisandmorebenetfromKristiPelotssonJacksonhasHehassomuchcondencenowinhisabilitiesnotWeseeotherbenetstoo.RidingreallyhelpsherJuliecanfollowmulti-stepinstructionfourorveandcondencetheyachieveonthehorsebecomeyeartrainingprogramthroughtheProfessionalAsalPATHIntl.whichincludedonlinecoursesandexams40hoursoftrainingataPATHIntl.certiedginiawhereshewasevaluatedandthencertiedasaPATHIntl.instructorin2010.Myeducationdegreeandinstructorcerticationpulltogethereveryagnosedwithdyslexiaandattentiondecitdisorder.In2001Shannonfullledadreamsomanyyounggirlsshareshepurchasedherrsthorse.Katoisneedstoo.Plaguedbyrecurrenteyeinfectionsforanimal.Thatsahugeconfdenceboost.Ridinggivesthemtheopportunitytoconquermorethantheyeverthoughttheycould.Theycancontrolathousand-poundShannonToll