Male Speaker: Physical therapy can be used to treat people with a wide range of illnesses or injuries. So, most time patients go to a medical office for treatment that one type of physical therapy takes place in a bar.
Female Speaker: It's called Hippotherapy and it uses horses to help patients in some amazing ways. As Nancy these reports helping one little girl, a double amputee take a very first steps.
Janelle Robinson: When you ready, so walk on frosty.
Melody: walk on fast frosty.
Janelle Robinson: Here we go.
Female Speaker: Walking has never been an issue for frosty.
Female Speaker: Alright, so we're going to work today, our new sitting up without me really holding me on. Okay?
Female Speaker: But it's a big deal for four year old Melody a yellow bock.
Melody: I like frosty much.
Female Speaker 1: Do you want to be his best friend?
Melody: Yeah.
Janelle Robinson: And you see he is helping you walk. Yeah.
Female Speaker: Both Melody's legs had to be amputated due to her birth defect. Doctors said she'll be confined to a wheel chair her whole life.
Speaker 1: So, you do all by yourself.
Female Speaker: But Melody's parents are determined to see her walk.
Austin Bach: I really worried Melody have independence.
Female Speaker: They had Melody fitted for prostatic legs and brought to the Shea center for hippotherapy, a type of physical therapy using horses.
Melody: Thank you Frosty.
Janelle Robinson: The unique thing about the therapy horses is three dimensional movement just moves like our pelvis when we are walking. So, the goal is to keep your hands up and play catch.
Female Speaker: Once a week, Melody rides frosty. Got it?
Janelle Robinson: Did you get it?
Melody: Yeah.
Female Speaker: It's disguised as play, but its building up Melody's core strength and balance that's so important in walking.
Janelle Robinson: Here we go. We're going to go all the way down the long side like this.
Female Speaker Melody has been getting therapy for two years now. A month ago something incredible happened. Melody started walking without a walker, without having to hold some ones hand.
Austin Bach: It is a milestone.
Female Speaker: It's not just helping her walk, but helping to her growth.
Jonelle Aiello-Bach: Especially, after she rides on those days in particular she's got a little more attitude, but in a good way, in a confident way.
Host: Steps on the road to independence.
Janelle Robinson: You ready? Say, walk on Frosty.
Melody: Walk on frosty.
Female Speaker: Four legs helping two, find their way.
Jonelle Aiello-Bach: She is going to be a leader in some form in that. She has got a lot of guests to share with the world. Who knows? Maybe that will end up having to do with horses.
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