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McWilliams Equestrian Center opens

The McWilliams Equestrian Center held an open house Saturday to present demonstrations designed to explain Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy that they are now offering - two of which were hippo therapy and therapy for soldiers who suffer from PTSD.

Hippo therapy helps provide physical therapy and kinetic skill development for mentally and physically challenged individuals. It is designed with a team of professionals and a therapy horse. It helps clients to develop core body strength and kinetic skills due to symptoms of disorders. Both strength and confidence are enhanced as well.

Shawn McWilliams said he had been approached twice within the last 15 years to do hippo therapy at his ranch.

"When something gets presented to you enough, you get to thinking that the good lord is trying to tell you something," he said. "They came out last Monday (July 18) and we had our first session with Mikey (Michael Christiansen.) And it just took my heart."

McWilliams said Mikey was not feeling well when he first came, but when he left, he was making joyful noises.

"It was touching," he said. "I know that this is a program that Thermopolis could use."

The McWilliams Equestrian Center performed a demonstration with Mikey riding a horse to show the power of hippo therapy.

Mikey's mother Bree Christiansen explained her son's condition and how hippo therapy had helped him.

"My son Michael is 15 years old," she said. "As you can tell, he has some differences and disabilities. He was born and we had no idea that he had problems. He's blind. He can't walk, talk or feed himself. When he was first born, we were told he would not survive three days, but he's a lot tougher than that, obviously."

Christiansen said a physical therapist from the Children's Resource Center told her to seek a hippo therapy program. Mikey then began hippo therapy at the McFadden ranch.

"After we did two sessions at the McFadden ranch, he was tall riding unassisted with just a bolster on his back and two side walkers," she said. "This is just something that's so amazing. We are so grateful to be able to be out here. We had our first session here last week and Michael hadn't been on a horse in three years. The core strength he has gained from this is just amazing."

McWilliams then did a demonstration on a type of therapy for soldiers with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).

Horses are a great tool to demonstrate the human experience for soldiers with PTSD. It provides clients with a chance to explore their own feelings without direct contact with the horse, but it shows clients that given time and a place to explore they can find profound solutions that can last a lifetime.

McWilliams said this therapy was something that came into his heart about four years ago.

"I need to do something to help these people," he said. "PTSD is a tragedy. I have a lot of respect for our veterans. The things they've seen, I can't even imagine."

There are 22 suicides a day and it is uncalled for, McWilliams said.

"It shouldn't be like that," he said. "Soldiers should be able to come home and be proud of what they've done to serve the country. It's just unacceptable."

Four years ago, McWilliams said it came into his heart to do something to help soldiers and veterans with PTSD.

"I've been around horses most of my life and spent a lot of time with them," he said. "It's working through issues with the help of a horse, whether emotional or otherwise."

McWilliams said the sessions for PTSD would last 8-12 weeks.

"We want to provide them with something real," he said. "These horses are real and their issues are real. I'm not a counselor, but I do know what horses have done for me and I believe they can do something for them also."

 

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