The Shea Center facilities are designed to meet clients’ specific needs by allowing therapists and instructors a private place and proper equipment necessary for client warm up or post ride treatments such as stretching, which prevents contractures, improves range of motion, and mobilizes joints.  Post ride treatments include sitting balance activities, functional transfer training, functional developmental skills, and general balance improvement activities.  Upon completion of the Klein Family Education & Therapy Building, these facility features and services will be significantly expanded.

The Shea Center equestrian facilities are specially designed to serve, with safety and convenience for every client.  Our mounting ramps, for example, are specially designed to provide safety for clients, staff and horses.  Therapists and instructors use tacking and untacking exercises to meet client specific functional goals; i.e., improved coordination, fine motor control, and improved body awareness.  We have purpose built equipment to accommodate these activities.

The Shea Center offers top level hippotherapy administered by licensed therapists providing significant improvements in fine motor control; learning to hold the reins of a moving horse makes it possible to hold a pencil, a hair brush, and a smile.  Teaching clients to extend their arms and reach out while moving through space on the back of a horse transfers directly into them playing with toys or drinking from a cup at home.  Improved sensory input through movements of the horse allows the rider to integrate better body awareness and manifests in simple activities like walking and playing.  Riding provides improved cognitive processing, focus, attention, and sequencing of events.

Achievement is important but so is having fun, in an environment in which one is successful - and completely accepted.  Bonding with a large animal is empowering and fun.  Learning to steer a horse provides the feeling of control and self confidence and self esteem – in a safe and fun environment.

“When I’m at the Shea Center, it’s my time to relax.  I know my child is safe and in the hands of experts.  The Shea staff can handle kids at every level.  It’s a relief.  The place is warm, protected, friendly, and comfortable – like being in the country.”

Our senior therapists provide an initial client evaluation.  They assess client’s needs and establish several medical and/or functional goals.  Based on these findings a client is then assigned to the proper Shea program.  Frequent follow ups and reassessments are conducted in every program.  Therapists, instructors and parents meet to evaluate progress against goals and chart a course for the future.

Rider parents are encouraged to take a full and active role at the center.  We can teach you how to participate in lesson activities as a volunteer or help you find a special place suitable to your interests.  Many opportunities are available.  Our program operates year around.