One year ago, Michaela Lee, 10, couldn't walk without a walker and leg braces. Her muscles have strengthened after months of therapeutic horseback riding therapy. Now she can walk on her own.
"It's not a fight anymore. It's not a fight against her legs and her body. It's just she kind of can do it on command and she has the muscle now to be able to do it," said Michaela's mom, Bobbie Lee.
Michaela has Cerebral Palsy, an incurable condition that limits movement and effects speech. She started therapy at the Therapeutic Riding Academy of Knoxville (TRAK) in 2009. At that time, she needed a walker or wheelchair to get around, and had to wear leg braces for support.
Now, a year later, she walks around on her own, and has ditched those braces and other walking aids.
"Her balance has improved 100 percent in the last year," said Lee.
Michaela rides an 18-year old horse named Bob during her hour-long weekly riding lessons. She stretches, practices verbal commands, and hand-eye coordinating during each session.
TRAK Founder and Director Stacie Hirsch paired Michaela up with Bob because his demeanor matched the therapy Michaela needs.
"He moves really slowly back and forth and mimics the walking of a person, and that pulls and relaxes, slowly relaxes those muscles," said Hirsch.
TRAK is looking for volunteers to help with therapy sessions. For more information check out TRAK's website.
TRAK is a certified North American Handicapped Association (NARHA) center.
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