Introducing Physical Therapist, Brent Applegate!
Brent Applegate is a physical therapist and horse enthusiast who grew up on a Texas farm, but it wasn't until his preparation for physical therapy school years later that he became reacquainted with horses through the largely unknown world of 'hippotherapy'.
My Heroes, llc.
After
five years of working as a clinical therapist at Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta, he was asked to begin a hippotherapy program for them and hasn’t
looked back since. In 2005 Brent started My Heroes, llc. at Chastain Horse Park
in Atlanta, GA and it is now a staple in the community. My Heroes offers a
number of services including occupational therapy, home based therapy, and
special "diagnosis specific" camps and programs to special needs
riders of all ages.
How Their Equicizer Is Used
Brent
is a big fan of the Equicizer and uses their “Blackjack” extensively throughout
his program. Says Brent, "I use the Equicizer regularly for a variety of
purposes in our clinical sessions. I use it as a stepping stone to getting on a
live horse for patients who are first time horse riders or are just anxious about
riding a horse for the first time. I use it to practice vaulting or other
higher-level transitional movements prior to attempting them on a live horse.
And I use it when I want to ride tandem with a rider so I can be more hands-on
and provide more hands-on stabilization."
In
the fall of 2011, Brent moved his family to the front range of Colorado to
begin a second program at the Equine Center at Colorado State University.
"My first rider in Colorado was a lifelong cowboy who had been in a car
accident and suffered a spinal cord
injury," states Brent. "He was wheelchair-bound and
never thought he would ride a horse again, but after six months of training on
the Equicizer his trunk grew strong enough and he was able to get on horseback
and maintain his balance and posture with no problem at all. That was a very
special day. For all of us."
Most
recently, in the spring of 2017, a third location was opened in Denver,
Colorado at the National Western Stock Show. My Heroes, llc. is working closely
with the Temple Grandin Equine Center and Colorado State University to provide
the service of equine assisted therapy to all in the area. To go along with
their newly opened location, they purchased a second Equicizer - Deputy – who
will aid their equine assisted therapy efforts in the Denver area. 
To
learn more about Brent Applegate and his organization, please visit: http://www.myheroestherapy.com/
by Kayla Jarvinen
At Project R.I.D.E. Inc., we use Stella with new students, fragile students we cannot place into mounted lessons, and students who exceed the weight limit of our horses. We also use her for advanced riding students working on specific riding techniques like a posting trot or two point position. Sometimes the staff even rides Stella on their lunch break for a great core workout.
suggested she start out on Stella. “I knew immediately that I was going to get this beautiful girl on a real horse someday, and I knew exactly where to start. Our Equicizer!” claims Lauren.
A little over a year after Sophia began riding the Equicizer she was ready to try the real thing. She is now riding a horse with support and continuing to work on her strength. Recently, she did something miraculous- Sophia took her first steps in school. This was something her doctors never thought she’d be able to do. If it wasn’t for a combination of things in Sophia’s life, including the Equicizer, she might not have achieved this. Sophia is one of many students who have benefitted from the Equicizer. Stella is so important to our program that a custom tent was made for her lessons which includes a disco ball, so we can dance and listen to music while students ride her. We are so thankful that Project R.I.D.E. Inc., is able to have an Equicizer as an integral part of our program.