LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
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Mission Statement
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center is a community where horses transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of people with disabilities. Our purpose is to help children and adults with disabilities build skills for independence, improve daily functioning, and overcome physical, emotional, and cognitive health challenges.
About This Cause
SERVING THE GREATER SEATTLE REGION SINCE 1976 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 1976, Little Bit was founded by Margaret Dunlap, who discovered that riding slowed the progression of her multiple sclerosis symptoms. From our beginning with five riders and one horse, and a rented stable, Little Bit has evolved into a highly professional program that is perceived as a model for other centers in its field. Little Bit is a national and regional leader in equine-assisted services for children and adults with disabilities. Little Bit provides equine-assisted services using evidence-based practices, clinical reasoning, and the horse’s movement to engage sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes for children and adults with disabilities. Equine-assisted services can be transformative for persons with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. ----Our mission videos and both audio and written stories are posted at www.littlebit.org/blog ----Our Annual Report and Financials are posted at www.littlebit.org/reports ----Our accreditations are found at the bottom of our home page at www.littlebit.org and in our Annual Report. WHO WE SERVE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 2023, Little Bit served nearly 500 participants across our Therapy, Adaptive Riding, Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy, Equine-Assisted Learning, inclusive Summer Day Camps, and Horsemanship programs. Sixty-three percent of clients in Therapy and Adaptive Riding combined are under the age of 18. Nearly 100 diagnoses are represented, with 68 percent of clients having more than one diagnosis. The most frequently seen diagnoses include: autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and attention deficit disorders. In 2024, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center Therapy and Adaptive Riding fees for individuals are less than 35 percent of the actual cost to provide these programs. Donations make up the difference. Your gift today helps keep program fees as low as possible. Thank you! DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- With help from our herd of over 30 specially selected and trained horses, passionate and highly qualified staff, and over 1,200 dedicated volunteers, participants are better equipped to meet life’s challenges and can look forward to brighter futures. Our primary programs include: 1. THERAPY (physical, occupational, or speech-language therapy) involves the horse as a part of the treatment strategy led by a licensed therapist. Being on horseback helps achieve optimal spinal alignment and works core muscles for patients. The movement of the horse provides a three-dimensional pattern similar to the action of the human pelvis during normal, upright movement. This movement on horseback offers significant potential for improved hip development and walking, among other benefits, because the horse takes an average of 1,500 to 2,500 steps during a 30-minute weekly treatment, which leads to significantly higher repetitions than can be achieved in a clinical setting alone. LEARN MORE at www.littlebit.org/blog/celeste. 2. ADAPTIVE RIDING focuses on increasing riding skills while gaining therapeutic benefits. The individualized lesson plans consider the rider's physical, emotional, and mental strengths and limitations. Riders attend weekly lessons led by an instructor certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International, with support from one to three volunteers per rider. LEARN MORE at www.littlebit.org/blog/magnus. 3. EQUINE-FACIILITATED PSYCHOTHERAPY involves partnerships with local mental health professionals to provide services at our facility, working closely with equine specialists certified by PATH International. Horses are uniquely suited to this kind of therapy because they are intuitive and will react to behavior patterns and cues that people might miss, allowing the therapists and participants to interact on a deeper level and address issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. LEARN MORE at www.littlebit.org/blog/efp. 4. EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING provides the opportunity for clients who are not interested or not appropriate in mounted activities to grow their skills with their equine partners on the ground. These sessions are conducted by instructors or equine professionals certified by PATH International to further the participant’s individual interests. Some examples include liberty work, equine management, team building, leadership development, and more. LEARN MORE at www.littlebit.org/blog/cancer-lifeline. THANK YOU FOR MAKING A GIFT TO LITTLE BIT THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER! CONTACT US AND FOLLOW ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any questions, please contact us at littlebit@littlebit.org or (425) 882-1554. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/little-bit-therapeutic-riding-center Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlebit_trc/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LittleBitTherapeuticRidingCenter/