Rocking Horse Rehab
A Pediatric Rehab and Family Wellness Center
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Read on to find out what's happening at Rocking Horse Rehab!
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2019 Favorite Kids' Docs!
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Congratulations to our RHR
therapists who have been voted
NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs 2019
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Sheri Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
Kathy Lutz, LCSW, CADC
Elizabeth Belfiore, MS, CCC-SLP
Thank you to all of our clients who voted! Make sure to check out the magazine when it comes out in December!
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Message of the Month
by Laura Dobias
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The word “Hippotherapy” is derived from the Greek word "hippos", meaning horse. Hippotherapy is therefore therapy that is aided with the help of a horse. Since movements of a horse are similar to the human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking, occupational therapists can use the horses’ movements as a treatment strategy to provide sensory and motor input in order to address impairments in children with conditions such as Autism, Down syndrome, and cerebral palsy. For example, sitting forward astride a horse and performing “stop” and “start” challenges, strengthens balance reactions while working on trunk strengthening. The anticipated outcome is a “happy” child with improved muscle tone and posture after therapy.
Since play is the work of the child, games will often be incorporated within Hippotherapy sessions in order to motivate and engage the whole child through imagination, emotion, and cognition. Activities layered onto Hippotherapy movement create the opportunity to address areas such as strength, fine motor skills, balance, coordination, posture, cognition, visual skills, life skills and sensory regulation. Social skills are also improved through bonding with the horse. Our ponies Tetley and Que Boy love performing therapy and playing the games along with our children. Time flies when you’re having fun, especially during our OT sessions, which usually end with a quick nuzzle from our loving and very social boys.
Therapy in action, disguised as fun… that’s what Hippotherapy is all about at Rocking Horse Rehab!
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Staff Member of the Month
Martha
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Martha has been a program assistant since January. She has learned our horses' personalities and is great leading for our sessions with her gentle manner. She is always ready to share a laugh with her coworkers and volunteers in between sessions. Martha works on our busy Friday's, where she spends a lot of time in the ring with our horses, school groups, and volunteers!
In her spare time, Martha enjoys riding as well as writing for her personal blog.
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Horse of the Month
Maverick
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Maverick, affectionately known as "Mav", is an older horse who spent his younger days as a show horse. Maverick is currently the tallest horse we use, which makes him great for our taller riders! He is known for his friendly personality and his silly antics! He spends his time in between sessions searching for treats in people's pockets. It is hard, maybe even impossible, to not fall in love with Mav!
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Thank you to our grant giver
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RHR is a recipient of a generous grant from the Italian Welfare League, an organization which assists children of Italian descent who are ill or have suffered an emotional trauma. Since 2001, the League has donated more than $1,850,000 to over 1,470 recipients for medical bills, special needs equipment, therapeutic services, transportation, and rehabilitation. Their grant helps us to provide services for children of Italian descent who otherwise would not be able to afford our services.
Their recipients have many different diagnoses, such as brain injuries, autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. For more information on how to receive a grant for our services, please email us at:
carey@rockinghorserehab.com
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Check out our partner:
The Autism Think Tank
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The Autism Think Tank, NJ is designed to provide a multidisciplinary team approach to the identification and treatment of the complicated medical comorbidities of autism. The Autism Think Tank is comprised of leading experts in autism from renowned teaching hospitals including Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital and UCLA.
At the Autism Think Tank, the medical experts collaborate from around the U.S. in a video conference with local physicians and families to develop a cohesive plan of care for individuals with medically complex cases of autism. Medically stabilizing a child facilitates greater outcomes in behavioral, therapeutic and educational interventions. The Autism Think Tank has a global reach as we are serving families internationally with the use of telemedicine.
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Thank you to the following universities and colleges for providing us with wonderful student interns. We are honored to help influence their futures in the health professions as fieldwork educators.
Eastwick College
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Felician College
Kean University
Monmouth University
Montclair State University
New Jersey City University
New York University
Raritan Valley College
Philadelphia University
Queens College
Rutgers Univeristy
Salus University
Seton Hall University
St. Catherine's Univeristy
State College of Pennsylvania
Tauro College
University of Scranton
Villanova University
William Paterson University
To complete an internship at RHR, email:
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Rocking Horse Rehab is now open until
7 pm
during the week!!
Monday-Friday 10am-7pm
and Sundays from 9am-5pm.
SCHOOLS: TO BOOK A FIELD TRIP, CALL US NOW!
To request a client registration packet, email:
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Rocking Horse Rehab is a pediatric rehabilitation and family wellness center located within the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, NJ. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with special needs and their families by offering innovative opportunities for clinical, educational and social development. Our philosophy is to treat the "whole child" using equine assisted therapies with the expertise of our highly specialized staff.
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About our Founder
Sheri A. Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
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Sheri founded Rocking Horse Rehab in September 2001. She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. Sheri oversees program development and daily operations for RHR with the support of a dedicated, professional staff. She is the Executive Director of The Autism Think Tank, NJ, a non-profit, medical videoconferencing team for individuals with medically complex autism. Sheri works directly with the Autism Think Tank families and physicians and manages all fundraising, marketing and family events.
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Stay connected:
Have you seen our fun pictures and videos on Facebook?
Check us out and like our page!
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12-22 Woodland Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052
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