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A
therapy horse in Cotati was selected as Region
11 Horse of the Year for California, Nevada and
Hawaii by The North American Riding for the Handicapped
Association, Inc. (NARHA). The horse, named Allie, is
used in a hippotherapy program run by Renaissance Healing
& Learning Center, which has facilities located
on Derby Lane on the west side of Cotati. Hippotherapy
is treatment of humans with the help of a horse.
Allie
was nominated for the Award by one of her riders, Ana
Berlowitz of Berkeley, who has Cerebral Palsy, and rides
Allie as part of her therapy. “Allie understands
people with disabilities, and is very gentle and affectionate
with me and other clients,” said Ana Berlowitz.
Ana has created a 3 minute video telling Allie’s
story.
Allie’s Story:
In
1995, Allie was abandoned at the Santa Rosa Fairgrounds
in Northern California. She was
one of 6 horses rescued from the track. She then spent
a winter up to her knees in a muddy rain-soaked pasture.
By the spring, she was emaciated and afraid of her own
shadow. But she was obviously sweet and kind. When Allie
arrived at Renaissance Healing & Learning Center,
she was nursed back to health, and fed a specialized
diet to help her gain 300 pounds. Renaissance’s
Director Fran Judd, PT retrained her to become a therapy
horse utilizing Linda Tellington-Jones techniques. Allie,
being a “people-pleaser,” learned very quickly.
Fran’s
daughter Sarah has Developmental Disabilities and experienced
Hippotherapy for the first time atop Allie in June of
2000. Over the years, Allie has participated in healing
many of Renaissance’s patients.
“We
are grateful to know that we were able to save an unloved
thoroughbred, and watch her
develop into a vital part of our program. Our patients
are able to do more because of their therapy, and their
relationship with Allie,” said RHLC Director Fran
Judd.
Allie
will compete for National Horse of the Year at the National
NARHA conference in New Orleans in November.
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