White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center - Morrison, Illinois

Alice D.

My son, Casein, has been receiving therapeutic horseback riding for the past year (starting at age 6) for his special needs, including Autism. Prior to this therapy, his PT and OT said there was “a limit to what they can do to help him.” Casein isn’t the “neurotypical” child. Casein has Autism, ADHD (combine type), ODD, intellectual disability, a heart defect and many other diagnoses. Casein is very simi-verbal, or at least he used to be. Within the first, two sessions of therapeutic horseback riding he started to talk more; First about the horses, then other things and now he is moderately verbal. I don’t pretend to understand the magic behind my son and therapeutic riding, or why it works. All my family cares about is, “It absolutely does work”.
But it’s not just about the therapeutic horse-back riding that works. The staff that works with WHOA, White Oaks Therapeutic Equestrian Center (all volunteers) have made this an amazing and successful journey for Casein and our family. My sons, many, complicated needs, have made the WHOA organization, part of his NEEDS. All the volunteers are very skilled and you can tell they are highly trained at what they do, but they are also so patient and caring and that means the world to us. We’ve tried to do so many different things to help Casein. When Casein gets on that horse, my 6 year old semi-verbal, very clumsy kiddo becomes so much more, he gets such pride being “one with the horse”. Therapeutic riding keeps Casein in a better mood, relaxes him, allows him to learn responsibility, basic horse care, works on his balance, his talking, his ability to do tasks, I thought he may never do and he always looks forward to the next session. We’ve been able to cut back some of his medication because the effect the horses and volunteers have on Casein are so AMAZING. One thing that also gets me to feel so great about therapeutic horseback riding at WHOA is safety is key for them (as it should be!) It is so Touching, to our family, for the major impact WHOA has on our family. They go above and beyond… I wish we found them sooner!
- Parent

kim M.

I would love to get to ride on a horse

DAVID K.

NICE PEOPLE.

Brenda C.

Jan S.