Bay Minette Barn Uses Horses To Help

For five-year-old Max Hoffman, riding a horse every week is more fun than therapy.

“I did a lot of stuff with my horse, like stretch and make my body good,” says Max. He has cerebral palsy on his left side--doctors said he'd never walk; today he runs and jumps with the best of them.

“He's able to walk a lot better,” says Max’s mom Melissa. “He used to have to wear a leg brace everyday all of the time and now he's to the point where he can do without it a lot of the time. He's built up a lot of strength and ability to keep up with the other kids.”

Physical therapist Kristye Chastang founded the Buckaroo Barn more than two years ago. She says a horse mimics normal walking.

“We put them in all kinds of crazy positions on the horse to try and balance on the horse,” says Kristye Chastang. “So it's a great balance training tool.”

Physical therapy can often be very difficult especially working with kids, but when you use horses the idea is to make it more of a game. After time in the barn--the kids are guided along a trail. Therapists support little John Pickard's back and encourage better posture. Through hippo therapy he's taking small steps toward better health.

“I've noticed he's more outgoing he's willing to try things on his own now, rather than depending on us, he's willing to get up and do it himself now,” says mother Katherine Pickard.