Gerhart is the owner of Pony Talk Speech Therapy in Exeter Township, a company providing speech therapy services to children 3 through 10. Known as hippotherapy, this blend of riding and socializing uses animals to instill a sense of confidence and inspire communication.
"Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy," said Gerhart, a Birdsboro woman who holds a master's degree in speech language pathology. "It's using the movement of the horse to meet whatever goals you have. It's great for kids who also need core strengthening or have sensory issues. It's kind of working on everything at on time."
Gerhart's love for horses dates back to the Devon Horse Show and lessons she began taking as a 9-year-old. In college, she volunteered with Shady Hollow Assisted Riding, which provides assisted riding for individuals with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges at its Birdsboro facility. Once Gerhart opened her own clinical practice, she wanted to call on her own life-changing experiences to enhance her speech services.
She found a way to do it when her daughter, then 2, caught the horse bug. Gerhart met the owner of Windswept Acres at Stonetown. She began leasing one horse, and soon found more could be available for therapy services. In 2010, she started offering hippotherapy (hippos is Greek for horse) and has since grown to 13 clients. She offers lessons when the weather cooperates, usually April through October.
Her stable includes Dancer, a gentle, 32-year-old female who is great with young or small children. Oliver is a 9-year-old pony Gerhart describes as bomb-proof: he tolerates all kinds of behaviors, even an autistic client who tries to grab his feet. Then there is Rocky, a medium-sized male pony, still capable of jumping but well-suited for older children.
Some extra help
Joe Joe Geloso of Spring Township had his first lessons on Oliver this spring, after spending the last couple of years receiving early-intervention speech services in a traditional school setting. That laid the groundwork for improved speech, but because of his Down syndrome, Joe Joe's mother said he still needed a little bit of extra help.
Following a spinal X-ray to clear Joe Joe physically, Nicole Geloso took her 4-year-old to the farm.
"He was a little hesitant," she recalled. "But once he got on (Oliver's) back, he was a different kid."
During a 30-minute session, Geloso said her son now talks nonstop, moving from gibberish to more intelligible speech needed to complete the horseback games Gerhart creates. They might find pieces of Mr. Potato Head hidden around the ring, with Joe Joe giving directions or describing what he finds. Or they might read one of Joe Joe's favorite books "Brown Bear, Brown Bear," with Joe Joe supplying some of the key words in the story. Another game uses cut-up pool noodles turned into beads, which students collect and string onto a jump rope "necklace."
The children ride bareback and wear a helmet, accompanied by Gerhart and a volunteer who helps control the horse and stays alert for possible falls.
"I've seen such huge improvements just from this summer," Geloso said. "I definitely see the carryover at school."
Gerhart said being on the horse is a distraction, but a good one, for kids typically pushed to focus on speech while in a clinical setting. And for those who need work concentrating, both the horse's movement and activities on a busy farm provide a real-world scenario.
"A lot of them really don't think they're doing therapy," she said. "It adds a fun element. I love seeing the different ways the children respond."
Out of the box
Jenn Eidle was looking for something more out of the box for her daughter, Madeline. The 10-year-old Boyertown girl has autism and needs continued speech therapy to develop social skills. Scavenger hunts with age-appropriate prizes, creating stories and directing the horses are some of Madeline's favorite activities at Windswept Acres. Having a conversation with Gerhart and the horse of the day is what's required if she wants to have fun.
"She realized, if I say 'walk,' this giant beast will walk," Eidle said. " It's very interactive. Rachel comes up with ideas that I haven't seen a speech therapist come up with before."
Madeline has been with Pony Talk for three years, and will probably age out of the program by spring. The petite Gerhart generally caps her riders at age 10, because she wants to be able to catch them if they fall. Though that hasn't happened, she said she worries she couldn't protect a larger child.
For Eidle, who hopes to continue hippotherapy in some form, the last there years have been a catalyst for change. Madeline has always enjoyed horses and recently won a blue ribbon during a horse show at Shady Hollow. And this school year, she announced to her mother that she signed herself up for fifth-grade chorus.
Seeing children makes strides, whether going from nonverbal to verbal or expressing pleasure at time in the ring, is what keeps Gerhart in the ring for many evening and weekend sessions.
"To see them complete an activity that they wouldn't do a few weeks ago, it's incredible," Gerhart said. "It's definitely a big confidence builder. They learn they don't need to be afraid to talk to other people."
(Source: readingeagle.com)
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