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Little Bit Spotlight

Meet Teagan Barnhart

by Little Bit parent Deb Jensen

Read any article on Hippotherapy and most will stress the benefits of early intervention: the sooner a child with disabilities can begin Hippotherapy, the better.

That's certainly the case with Teagan Barnhart, age 4. Teagan first came to Little Bit in September 2002 at the suggestion of her neurologist, Dr. Stephen Glass. With a primary diagnosis of cerebral palsy, Teagan wasn't hitting developmental milestones, her body was “floppy” due to low muscle tone, she was unable to hold her head erect for more than a minute or two, and she couldn't sit up.

Today, Teagan can sit propped up on a couch unassisted, can hold her head up for 30 to 45 minutes or more, is beginning to push against walls and other objects with her legs, and has increased verbalization. Her social skills positively shine and everyone who works with her instantly falls under her charm.

Teri Barnhart, Teagan's mom, recalls, “Dr. Glass felt that Hippotherapy might increase Teagan's muscle tone as well as improve her socialization, even though social skills have always been her strong point.” Sitting behind Teagan, Debra Peet-Walker, Little Bit's Physical Therapist, made the most of every therapy session. Initially, Teagan needed full head and trunk stabilization from Deb when she started in the program.

But just weeks into those first Hippotherapy sessions, Teagan became very ill with foot-and-mouth virus and later developed Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and other complications including dehydration. When she was finally well enough to resume Hippotherapy sessions, she had fallen even further behind and what muscle tone and strength she had was decreased. Teri recalls, “Teagan was so weak. Her body just didn't have the reserves that yours and mine do.”

Upon Teagan's return, Deb put the magic of Hippotherapy, Little Bit, and our 1,200 pound therapists to work. Spencer proved to be a perfect choice for Teagan's therapy horse. After just six weekly rides, Teagan was able to hold her torso straight and tall and mostly needed Deb just for balance. Deb explains, “The primary focus of Teagan's Hippotherapy sessions remains improving trunk and head control and muscle tone but it's clear that Teagan is making equally great strides in the use of her upper extremities to reach, grasp and sign to Spencer and the volunteers. The tactile stimulus of petting Spencer's neck is an exercise in exploration for Teagan, and one that she dives into with intensity.”

“Teagan is just the perfect example of why early intervention with Hippotherapy works,” continues Deb. “Now that Teagan is able to ride consistently, we have seen such ongoing improvement. She's come so far since she first started with me. Even though it looks like we are playing, in therapy we are always working on newly emerging skills, which place great physical effort on the child. As Teagan's trunk control continues to improve, her arms are able to function independently of her body, which allows her to explore the horse, the volunteers and to participate in activities like never before.”

Kathy Alm, Little Bit's Executive Director, notes, “Even staff who aren't often found in the arena are there whenever Teagan is riding. I know I always try to peek in for a few minutes because Teagan's joy is infectious, spreading to staff, volunteers and even to Spencer. She brightens all our days.”

It's truly mutual admiration. Teri Barnhart glows when talking about Little Bit and Teagan, “When I wake Teagan up and tell her we get to go to Little Bit today, her eyes get big and she gets so excited! Even on fussy days when I hesitate about even taking her, once Teagan gets on Spencer, everything turns around and Teagan's great. She loves riding her 'Spencer Doodle' as Deb calls him. At the beginning and end of each session, Deb always gives Teagan plenty of time to pet and nuzzle Spencer's mane and talk to him.”

Teagan's trunk control continues to improve, as does her overall strength. Teri smiles, “But sitting up on the couch is such a big thing! We don't know yet if she will ever walk but we know that being at Little Bit moves us closer.” As with all our riders, hope is something Spencer (and our other horses) provides in abundance to Teagan and her family.

Of course as far as Teagan is concerned, just riding Spencer Doodle is benefit enough! While riding, she approximates the sign for “more,” swinging her hands in a circular motion; Teagan's never quite ready to end her session, especially if it coincides with a Sports Riding class. Teri explains, “Teagan is very social. When she was riding on Tuesdays this fall, she adored seeing the other girls in the class that took place during her therapy time. She just loved being able to 'ride' with them. In fact, whenever the girls would go outside the arena during class, Teagan would actually cry if she didn't get to go along, too.”

Kathy adds, “That kind of socialization whether with our volunteers or other riders in the arena is especially important for our young riders. It's also a great motivating factor in keeping them willing to do everything our staff and volunteers ask of them, particularly in Hippotherapy sessions.”

The Little Bit experience has been positive for the entire Barnhart family according to Teri, “This is the one therapy we look forward to. Sometimes, my husband Steve and I feel overwhelmed by all of Teagan's different therapies but we always feel, we can do Little Bit! Everyone has been so nice to us and especially to Teagan. Teagan's nine-year-old sister Tanah keeps asking 'When do I get to go watch Teagan ride horses?' since Teagan's sessions take place while Tanah is in school.”

Teri continues, “We see Teagan so much stronger because of her Hippotherapy and she loves it so. Honestly, Steve and I sometimes talk about whether there's any therapy we can cut out. But there's no question in our mind, if there was only one therapy we'd do, it would be Little Bit!”

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