Reaching Out of Base of Support ROOBOS

I worked with a 2 year old today who just loved my squeaky ball. I can't show his face because I didn't have permission, but you can just imagine how much fun he was having reaching to touch the ball and hearing the squeak. this is a great way to have fun, working on reach, balance, following directions and postural control and he even signed to keep going more.....

Hippotherapy diver

I like this "diving" move that promotes biilateral integration and postural control.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHmP2YMKPSQ

Sword Activity to Develop Visual Motor Skills and Bilateral Coordination during Hippotherapy

I bought this sword at the dollar store. They are sold in different lengths so you can purchase and adapt according to the child's needs. I cut rectangular pieces that fit over the sword tip so that it can be used like a ring stack. I try to have the children orient the shapes to fit easily over the sword with the longer sides matching, although as you will see in this video they mananged to get some shapes on even when not correctly positioned. (this can be fixed by having shapes with smaller openings....but then it would require greater motor control)

I placed the shapes inside the pocket that I sewed on top a towel so that they have to pull them out. First I introduce this activity with the towel in front of them, then to make it more challenging I place the towel behind the child so that he or she needs to reach behind to pull the shapes out of the pocket. Swords are fun toys since kids are familiar with them from watching movies and they seem to motivate more than the usual ring stack does-and they get to practice using both hands together.

Horses Like Vibration too!

I use a lot of vibrating toys with my hippotherapy kids, especially the kids on the autism spectrum who seem to find vibration relaxing. The sound attracts their attention, helping them to focus and the input makes ordinary activities more exciting. Here is a video of Maria Hurley, my hipoptherapy partner giving her horse some vibration in preparation for hippotherapy work.

I use the Princess Wand which vibrates as a ring stack. 

Jumping Cow

I really appreciate having access to horses after seeing this cow!