Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/674404
t m c » p u l s e | m a y 2 0 1 6 7 "We found there was generalized improvement in the upper extremities with motor function, and in the lower extremities with gait," she added. "All of the participants thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only were they able to get comfortable around the horses, but they were able to enjoy an overall feeling of quality of life." A Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International master instructor, Busacca has been with SIRE for six years, but has been in the profession for over 25 years, even training instructors all over the world. While working with clients, he has seen riding help delay the onset of people's symptoms, particularly in those with Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. For children with cerebral palsy, the idea is to do as many interventions as possible, Busacca said. "The activity of riding helps with fine motor skills," he added. "Riding is a total body system exercise. Every time the horse takes a step, it is felt in the total body—physical, mental and emotional." For example, as the horse walks, it rocks the body back and forth, so the muscles get a constant, natural workout that can't be duplicated by any machinery, Busacca said. People who depend on wheelchairs for mobility aren't using a lot of their muscles, while riding enables them to work those muscles. "Even on a short, 30-minute ride, the rider is going to feel 2,000 to 3,000 steps," he added. "Plus, when you think about someone in a wheelchair, they are con- stantly looking up at people; this is the only time when they can look down at people. That gives them an emo- tional and psychological advantage. It's abstract, but when you spend your life looking up at people, being able to look down from a horse is powerful."