Las Vegas now has a Delta therapy horse but what does a therapy horse actually do?
Sandy is the proud owner of Gummy
Rygambo (AKA Gummy Bear) is a Delta therapy horse. She is not an equine riding horse thus people do not ride her. So what does she actually do?
She inspires, entertains, provides comfort and the experience of being with a horse. And she loves.
For many of the patients and long-term residents at Boulder City Hospital, visiting with Gummy brings back sense memories. Many had horses throughout their lives while some had never interacted with a full-size horse before. But all were excited to take a field trip to visit with Gummy at her stables.
It was a beautiful day to be outside with the horses
Seven clients were driven to the stables and had a full experience with three horses. Gummy is the only Delta horse, meaning she has been passed the rigorous Delta evaluation and deemed safe to be with the public, thus she the only horse they could physically interact with. But there were other horses they could observe from a distance with demonstrations of riding bareback barrel jumping.
But Gummy was definitely the star because everyone could touch her, feed her and love on her. And she was meant for this work.
Franckie was excited to pet Gummy
Gummy is twenty three years old and so well suited for this new career. Her temperament is solid and steady, her love for people is palpable and her attention to her owner stellar. Gummy’s owner has three Delta Dogs as well and is very comfortable working with the public and has the ability to interact with people while 100% watching over her animal.
One client, who had horses in her life, did not want to go near Gummy or touch or feed her. She sat quietly in her seat watching the others. What was going through her mind? Perhaps it was too sad for her to be near a horse so like those she had loved in her past. Perhaps it brought back too many happy memories and overwhelmed her. But by the end of an hour she stood up and slowly walked towards the front of the fence where we let everyone greet Gummy. She reached out her hand for us to give her the carrot for Gummy and the biggest smile crossed her face. She was ready to meet this exquisite horse and the day was deemed a true success as everyone had now experienced the love of this amazing horse – close up and personal.
The Boulder City Review was there to cover Gummy’s visit for the newspaper and e eryone was so excited to be “interviewed.”
A bareback riding demonstration
Gummy will have many more field trips scheduled to meet her as well as visits to bring her to other locations. Las Vegas’ first Delta therapy horse has her work cut out for her and she is most certainly up to the challenge.
Sandy is the proud owner of Gummy
Rygambo (AKA Gummy Bear) is a Delta therapy horse. She is not an equine riding horse thus people do not ride her. So what does she actually do?
She inspires, entertains, provides comfort and the experience of being with a horse. And she loves.
For many of the patients and long-term residents at Boulder City Hospital, visiting with Gummy brings back sense memories. Many had horses throughout their lives while some had never interacted with a full-size horse before. But all were excited to take a field trip to visit with Gummy at her stables.
It was a beautiful day to be outside with the horses
Seven clients were driven to the stables and had a full experience with three horses. Gummy is the only Delta horse, meaning she has been passed the rigorous Delta evaluation and deemed safe to be with the public, thus she the only horse they could physically interact with. But there were other horses they could observe from a distance with demonstrations of riding bareback barrel jumping.
But Gummy was definitely the star because everyone could touch her, feed her and love on her. And she was meant for this work.
Franckie was excited to pet Gummy
Gummy is twenty three years old and so well suited for this new career. Her temperament is solid and steady, her love for people is palpable and her attention to her owner stellar. Gummy’s owner has three Delta Dogs as well and is very comfortable working with the public and has the ability to interact with people while 100% watching over her animal.
One client, who had horses in her life, did not want to go near Gummy or touch or feed her. She sat quietly in her seat watching the others. What was going through her mind? Perhaps it was too sad for her to be near a horse so like those she had loved in her past. Perhaps it brought back too many happy memories and overwhelmed her. But by the end of an hour she stood up and slowly walked towards the front of the fence where we let everyone greet Gummy. She reached out her hand for us to give her the carrot for Gummy and the biggest smile crossed her face. She was ready to meet this exquisite horse and the day was deemed a true success as everyone had now experienced the love of this amazing horse – close up and personal.
The Boulder City Review was there to cover Gummy’s visit for the newspaper and e eryone was so excited to be “interviewed.”
A bareback riding demonstration
Gummy will have many more field trips scheduled to meet her as well as visits to bring her to other locations. Las Vegas’ first Delta therapy horse has her work cut out for her and she is most certainly up to the challenge.
Six kids, three dogs, immeasurable love
The miracle of touch
How do you measure success when working with young adults who are multiply challenged? In very small steps.
When our therapy program, Love Dog Adventures, was approached by Danville Services to visit with their clients living in a group home in Las Vegas, I knew we had the right animals and handlers.
Danville Services Corp. began as two side-by-side group homes in Riverton, Utah. Today, Danville is active in four states—Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon—where they provide a full range of services for people with disabilities. They offer their clients supervised apartments, supported living arrangements, supported employment and day training services.
Visiting Danville falls under our Response to Intervention program, whereby we harness the power of the pets to bring about cognitive, physical or emotional connection.
The six young adults living in the group home in Las Vegas all experience life through a different set of challenges. Only one is minimally verbal and none are mobile. Most cannot eat food on their own and spend their days sitting or lying down. The staff is extraordinary, respectful, encouraging, proactive and loving.
For our first visit I brought my little Kirby alone. I wanted to determine which other team members would be appropriate for this very unique population. When we first entered the home, to some it could appear very sad. Children and young adults sitting together in a living room and an almost one-to-one ratio of support staff. Nurses milling around tending to every need and talking to the children and understanding their sounds in return.
George showed everyone how gentle a big dog can be
But after just a few brief moments the atmosphere took on another feeling. As one young girl sat with Kirby on his blanket on her lap, she actually turned towards him as if to say “what is this furry thing on my lap?” After a short time she made contact with her hand. Perhaps by mistake. Perhaps by desire. Either way she touched the little dog and the joy on her face was palpable. She sat with Kirby for quite a while and when I reached out to lift him to visit with another child, she reached out to me as if to say “Don’t go – more.”
Izzi did a super job today
Her nurse was astonished that she showed such determined signs of cognitive awareness and was able to communicate her desire for more Kirby.
I then knew this would be a very important partnership for the Love Dogs and brought two more dogs the next time. We brought one of our largest dogs, George, an Old English Sheepdog, to see if the children would be frightened. But George is so calm and steady – his visit was a huge success. He was able to lie down on the floor next to the very low bed of one child and they had their own personal time together. And we had a younger dog, a bit more active and fun loving, Izzi, and one of the young men took such a shine to her. He actually “played” with her and laughed all through their visit.
Each visit will bring about breakthroughs, to be measured in tiny increments but with great joy. A hand reaching out, a smile, a direct look, a desire for “more.”
Six kids, three dogs, an immeasurable amount of love.
The miracle of touch
How do you measure success when working with young adults who are multiply challenged? In very small steps.
When our therapy program, Love Dog Adventures, was approached by Danville Services to visit with their clients living in a group home in Las Vegas, I knew we had the right animals and handlers.
Danville Services Corp. began as two side-by-side group homes in Riverton, Utah. Today, Danville is active in four states—Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon—where they provide a full range of services for people with disabilities. They offer their clients supervised apartments, supported living arrangements, supported employment and day training services.
Visiting Danville falls under our Response to Intervention program, whereby we harness the power of the pets to bring about cognitive, physical or emotional connection.
The six young adults living in the group home in Las Vegas all experience life through a different set of challenges. Only one is minimally verbal and none are mobile. Most cannot eat food on their own and spend their days sitting or lying down. The staff is extraordinary, respectful, encouraging, proactive and loving.
For our first visit I brought my little Kirby alone. I wanted to determine which other team members would be appropriate for this very unique population. When we first entered the home, to some it could appear very sad. Children and young adults sitting together in a living room and an almost one-to-one ratio of support staff. Nurses milling around tending to every need and talking to the children and understanding their sounds in return.
George showed everyone how gentle a big dog can be
But after just a few brief moments the atmosphere took on another feeling. As one young girl sat with Kirby on his blanket on her lap, she actually turned towards him as if to say “what is this furry thing on my lap?” After a short time she made contact with her hand. Perhaps by mistake. Perhaps by desire. Either way she touched the little dog and the joy on her face was palpable. She sat with Kirby for quite a while and when I reached out to lift him to visit with another child, she reached out to me as if to say “Don’t go – more.”
Izzi did a super job today
Her nurse was astonished that she showed such determined signs of cognitive awareness and was able to communicate her desire for more Kirby.
I then knew this would be a very important partnership for the Love Dogs and brought two more dogs the next time. We brought one of our largest dogs, George, an Old English Sheepdog, to see if the children would be frightened. But George is so calm and steady – his visit was a huge success. He was able to lie down on the floor next to the very low bed of one child and they had their own personal time together. And we had a younger dog, a bit more active and fun loving, Izzi, and one of the young men took such a shine to her. He actually “played” with her and laughed all through their visit.
Each visit will bring about breakthroughs, to be measured in tiny increments but with great joy. A hand reaching out, a smile, a direct look, a desire for “more.”
Six kids, three dogs, an immeasurable amount of love.
