Charity event "St. Nicholas for Special Children" that lasted from November 15, 2011 to January 15, 2012 has ended.

The aim of the event was to raise funds for Dzherelo Centre programs by installing boxes for donations in the network of supermarkets "Silpo", "Rukavychka" and stores "KOSMO".

During the event was raised 55 982, 13 UAH.

We are very grateful to everybody who joined this event in support of children and youth of "Dzherelo" Centre.

            Hippotherapy was launched at “Dzherelo” in 1997-1998 and after a break was renewed in 2010 on the base of children and youth sports school “Burevisnyk” on equestrian sports.

            Hippotherapy – is a method of rehabilitation through riding and communicating with a horse. It improves balance, coordination and promotes self-esteem.

              Criteria:

1. CP, hyperkinetic form;
2. CP, spastic tetraparesis (children who can sit independently up to 3-5 seconds);
3. Children who have recently acquired a new physical skill (eg: just begin to walk, keep head etc.), on the recommendation of physical rehabilitation specialist;
4. Children with autism spectrum disorders, particularly if available physical disabilities;
5. Children with controlled behavior (do not create dangerous situations, like ssudden loud cry);
6. Children, who visit the Centre regularly;
7. Children with significant positive changes during the previous course;
8. Children, who visited the course regularly before.

Contraindications: uncontrolled seizures, myopathy, bone fragility, deformation, unstable joints, hemophilia, an allergy to horses, acute infectious disease etc. Involvement into the program for each child is concidered by a rehabilitologist.

 The Organization of Activities

We form the group of 5 children per course that lasts 2 months. Parents provide medical certificate and application. The administration agrees with program coordinator staff involved into the program, provides transport and gives permission to start the program. If necessary the program coordinator maintains examination of the child, cooperates with child’s rehabilotogists and therapists and adjusts the program according to the changes of child’s condition.

Activities are seasonal and are held in autumn and spring in opened or closed arena of  children and youth sports school “Burevisnyk”. Activities last 2-2,5 hour. Horse riding lasts from 5-10 to 25-30 minutes. Program includes not only horse riding to correct the violations of the musculoskeletal system, but also the development of cognitive sphere, fine motor skills involving alternative communication etc. Everything depends on individual tasks determined by the program coordinator for the rehabilitation of each child. At the end of each training most children feed horese with great pleasure.

At the end of each course is conducted the final examination of the child (if needed) and the analysis of the results. Sometimes the results are much better than the results of previous course.

Anastasiya Dobrynina

Coordinator of hippotherapy program