Thera-Tree® eliminates pain at Healing Strides of Virginia
"My first impression of the Thera-tree was 'this is like magic'. I was watching horses that we have had in our barn for years, move with more fluidity. Happier to work, more at ease. Just observing them take a deep breath and sigh while standing with the Thera-Tree on their backs, then hearing from their rider that they felt more fluid and more comfortable. The same observations that I had made."
Last week Tad and Kelly witnessed firsthand the remarkable kindness, generosity, patience and understanding nature of horses towards those they have been asked to help during a visit to Healing Strides of Virginia. This well-respected therapeutic riding center has been offering equine assisted activities and therapies to people with personal challenges in the Roanoke Valley for the past twenty years.
Four wonderful horses in the Healing Strides program wore SmartRideRx technology throughout the morning, first standing in Thera-Trees® and then three of them were ridden by staff members in the latest saddle technology.
Here’s what Carol Young, CEO of the program said about watching the horses:
"My first impression of the Thera-tree was 'this is like magic'. I was watching horses that we have had in our barn for years, move with more fluidity. Happier to work, more at ease. Just observing them take a deep breath and sigh while standing with the Thera-Tree on their backs, then hearing from their rider that they felt more fluid and more comfortable. The same observations that I had made.
This all made me very curious as to what is happening with this Thera-tree, then to see this same 25 year old OTTB, go under the Smartride RX saddle made him look 15 again! The normal creaks and stiffness that takes twenty minutes or more to work out in the warm up, just didn't show up. He had flexibility and smoothness of gait that we hadn't seen in years.”
Then one of the program’s Para II Category 12 riders used the SmartRideRx technology in her lesson and staff members were astounded at the changes in the partnership between horse and rider. The horse’s expression looked happy, thinking, and curious as he moved easily forward for his rider, which facilitated the longest trot she has ever been able to maintain.
Anne Lloyd, instructor, remarked that without having to work so hard to keep the horse going, her student showed that she could work more on the range of her mobility and being centered in the saddle. As though this were not amazing enough, by the end of the ride, the rider astonished everyone when she said that she felt a tingling sensation in the right side of her body, something that has been unheard of since her traumatic brain injury.
This visit has caused us to think even more about how SmartRideRx technology in the Thera-Trees® as well as the saddles might aid similar programs around the country and the world.
At the end of the morning, Carol Young said to Tad:
“Next question, 'let's do research and see what is happening here'. Can't wait to see the results."
Plans are in the works for beginning several formal scientific studies.
To read more about SmartRideRx technology, visit www.tadcoffinsaddles.com and www.thera-tree.com and stay tuned here for more reports of how this exciting new technology is improving lives.
Facebook, Feb 14th, 2019
Leave a comment
Please note, comments must be approved before they are published