When Anna Derkach first heard about hippotherapy, she didn't think much of it.
But after experiencing cerebral palsy as a child, the social work expert in Ukraine decided to try it, and now she runs a hippotherapy center that offers sessions for children with autism and cerebral palsy, as well as for adults with physical disabilities, in the city of Cherkasy, the Telegraph reports.
"After the sessions, children and adults with serious illnesses can feel their bodies and muscles, improve their emotional state, open new feelings, and gain new impressions," Derkach says.
"Riding a horse with a physical disability due to cerebral palsy helped me strengthen my back, develop equilibrium, and train my muscles.
After 10 sessions, one child became more open and showed more emotion and desire."
Derkach's hippotherapy center got a $310,000 sub-grant from the European Union to build an arena and hire three young women, one of whom has a disability.
The business has also seen a threefold increase in services, thanks in part to the cover provided by the new roof.
Derkach says demand for hippotherapy is high, with up to 120 people in Cherkasy needing 10 to 15 sessions twice a year.
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