Horseback riding/hippotherapy/PT is going ok. Kind of. From now on I am just going to refer to it as horse back riding or HBR. We try not to call it therapy or anything like that to Av. Play up the fun of it and down play the therapy part. Anyway she LOVES the horses. So excited to go yesterday and ride one. Her therapist Becky told us that Av was going to ride first and then play in the center. That got Av even more excited. She got on Mickey again and was stone faced most of it but I did catch at least 2 huge smiles. They walked around the arena again and then walked outside for a bit. The ground outside is just more uneven so it works different muscles. Plus they went up and down this hill that Av either has to lean back or lean forward depending on the way they are going. Then they had her sit on the horse backwards. You could tell that was harder and after a few minutes Becky asked if Av’s arms were tired. They were so she was turned around forward. Then they stopped at a basketball goal and played a little ball. They would make Av reach in all different directions (switching up arms) to get the ball and then shoot the goal. I was worried she would throw a fit and not do it (she does not like throwing activities) but she did great and made most of the baskets. When they took her off the horse she just stood there for a minute and you could see her little legs quivering. I don’t think Av had ever felt her muscle so tired like that. She was not convinced she could walk. Becky encouraged her to walk and get treats for Mickey. She walked right inside, got 2 treats for Mickey, put them in the bucket and came outside all by herself. Cute stuff!!!! Inside though was a different story. Becky had set up a small obstacle course for Av. There was this plastic tubing that Becky wanted Av to walk through but not step on, then a step like thing (up 2 small steps, down 2 small steps), then walk on a balance beam like thing on the floor, then walk up a ramp and jump off of it. I know Av can do all of it (maybe not the whole balance beam) by herself but she refused. She cried and cried. Then Becky wanted Av to climb this ladder type thing and slide down. Av cried and cried again. Right then the phone rang and Becky left to get it. While Becky was gone I got Av to climb the ladder. Becky saw it luckily and said “Avery I knew you could do it.” It is so so so so so hard when she is looking at you crying and saying she wants to leave. Makes me sad but then it also is hard because you feel like no matter how you handle it with your child the therapist is judging your parenting style. Like, she’s too soft on her, too hard on her, trying to bribe your child (heaven forbid), why wouldn’t your child listen to you, why wouldn’t she just do it. The whole time that’s all that’s going through my mind. I think Becky was pretty frustrated with us yesterday. The HBR I know is so good for her so we will continue to go. Av will get used to it and it will go better soon. I just know it!
