March 2016 – Lundberg Builders, Inc.

Wanted: Heroes on Horses Sponsor

The goal of this type of therapy is to provide Veterans with relaxing and positive experiences to replace traumatic ones. Veterans return from the battlefield with wounds seen and unseen. Many suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), brain injuries, paralysis, or the loss of limb. Physical handicap and emotional withdrawal can prevent veterans – and their families – from “moving on” and living life fully

Instructors, physicians, therapists and volunteers direct the veterans and service members in the development of horseback riding and horse grooming/care skills. For the Wounded Warrior, the result is increased strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, confidence and trust. These activities are proven to promote healing of physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and behavioral disorders (including PTSD).

Whether it’s an aged mare needing love and attention or a healthy stallion that will challenge the veteran mentally and physically, a horse requires a connection with its caretaker and rider. And in forging that attachment, the horse helps re-connect the veteran to his family, community, and world. The horse is innately suited to re-establishing a veteran’s connection to the day-to-day world.

Wanted: Hippotherapy Sponsor

Hippotherapy is the use of horseback riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment. The movement of the horse affects a rider’s posture, balance, coordination, strength and sensorimotor systems.

It is believed that the warmth and shape of the horse as well as its rhythmic, three-dimensional movement along with the rider’s responses to the movement of the horse can improve the flexibility, posture, balance and mobility of the rider.

This program differs from therapeutic horseback riding, because the work is one-on one, and the rider does not direct the horse. Licensed health professionals including physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists guide the rider’s posture and actions while the horse is controlled by assistants at the direction of the therapist.

The horse’s unique walk transfers variable, repetitive and rhythmic movement to the client, which provides sensory input to the brain and nervous system. The resultant responses in the client are similar to human movement patterns of the pelvis while walking. An average horse takes 120 walking steps per minute, allowing 120 chances each minute for a client to experience this unique movement that cannot be replicated by another apparatus or equipment. During a session the therapist, working in conjunction with a specially trained horse handler, can grade or adapt this movement to provide a “just right challenge” for each client. Most clients respond very enthusiastically to hippotherapy treatment and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to engage with the horse in an environment that is much different than a typical therapy clinic.

Who benefits from hippotherapy?

A wide variety of individulas can experience benefits from hippotherapy. Some diagnoses commonly treated by this therapy include:

Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Cerebral Palsy
Closed Head Injury
Developmental Delay
Down Syndrome
Emotional Disorders
Hearing Impairment
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Paralysis
Scoliosis
Spinal Bifida
Traumatic Brain Injury

Custom Sculpture

One of the most striking features of this custom home that we built was its sculptural, serpentine staircase leading to an oval cupola with 360° views.

This fabulous sculpture was just recently created and installed in the center of that staircase by Szabo Works. This breathtaking sculpture was hand-crafted by Michael Szabo of SzaboWorks.

You can check out more of Michaels artwork here: www.szaboworks.com

Tendrils, Stainless Steel, 13′ x 9′ x 7′, 2016