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Monday 10am - 6pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Friday 10am - 5pm

Big Stride Therapy

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United States
Duluth, GA
Big Stride Therapy

Big Stride Therapy provides Occupational Therapy Services to the pediatric population.

Big Stride Therapy specializes in providing occupational therapy for special children using the movement of the horse and equestrian activities during our occupational therapy sessions. Using hand chosen therapy horses, dedicated volunteers, and the loving support of families, we achieve incredible results with our very special children. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement as part of an integrated intervention program to achieve functional outcomes. Equine movement provides multidimensional movement, which is variable, rhythmic, and repetitive. The horse provides a dynamic base of support, making it an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength and endurance, addressing weight bearing, and motor planning. Equine movement offers well-modulated sensory input to vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile and visual channels. During gait transitions, the patient must perform subtle adjustments in the trunk to maintain a stable position. When a patient is sitting forward astride the horse, the horse's walking gait imparts movement responses remarkably similar to normal human gait. The effects of equine movement on postural control, sensory systems, and motor planning can be used to facilitate coordination and timing, grading of responses, respiratory control, sensory integration skills, and attention all skills. Specially trained therapy professionals evaluate each potential patient on an individual basis to determine the appropriateness of including hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. The therapy professional works closely with the horse professional to manipulate various aspects of the horse's movement, position, management style, equipment and types of activities to generate effective remediation protocols and to promote functional outcomes. Hippotherapy as a Treatment Strategy:
[General indications for hippotherapy]
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Developmental Delay
- Genetic Syndromes
- Learning Disabilities
- Sensory Integration Disorder
- Speech-Language Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury/Stroke

Impairments:
- Abnormal muscle tone
- Impaired balance responses
- Impaired coordination
- Impaired communication
- Impaired sensorimotor function
- Postural asymmetry
- Poor postural control
- Decreased mobility
- Limbic system dysfunction related to arousal and attention skills.

09/04/2025

Change is a part of life and clients come and go but there are some that stick in your heart. You miss them when they grow up and move on. Happy 21st Birthday Lizzy. Wishing you the world of horses and happiness!!🐎

08/24/2025

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED.
Big Stride Therapy is seeking volunteers to assist with their hippotherapy program.
Seeking leaders and sidewalkers. No experience necessary. Training will be provided. Just a wish to have fun with kids and horses and help make a difference.
Check us out at www.bigstridetherapy.com

For those with an interest in therapy, we also offer pre OT/PT shadow hours, high school internships for healthcare tracks, and work based learning.

Contact us today to assist with Hippotherapy at Fairhope Stables in Duluth.

For more information or to set up a meet and greet, contact bernie@bigstridetherapy.com, or text 678-665-2926

Hippotherapy is an occupational or physical therapy session using the movement of the horse. It is an excellent tool for increasing trunk strength and control, balance, building overall postural strength & endurance, addressing weight bearing, and motor planning.
Big Stride Therapy offers Occupational Therapy in Hippotherapy on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Fairhope Stables.

08/18/2025

When your whole family is learning to share your passion for horses, so they can help you grow a better business.

08/15/2025

MONTEGO!! We love our smaller cute peppy boy. Look how handsome he is. Montego is a quarterhorse and arabian cross with the calm demeanor we love in our therapy horses.
, # occupational therapy

08/14/2025

Spotlight on our Therapy Team
Caroline is a trusted member of our therapy team. Caroline is an older gal who loves all attention and affection and will put her head in your lap for kisses. She has formed a strong bond with Lucy, with whom she occasionally engages in lively discussions!

07/31/2025

Welcome CHARLIE! Come meet Big Stride Therapy’s newest horse addition to the therapy team.
Charlie was given his new name by the Stegall Family. They are generously sponsoring his care and upkeep while he gets the training he needs to be a fantastic therapy horse. Charlie has already taken to Luke’s calm and sweet personality. Come meet Charlie and the rest of the therapy horses at Fairhope Stables.

07/07/2025

Sometimes it feels good and calming to just relax and breathe with the horse.

07/05/2025

Welcome Carly Warbington to the BIg Stride Therapy Team.
Contact us to secure one of the new openings for Occupational Therapy in Hippotherapy.

Carly Warbington, OTR/L, is an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist who recently joined the Big Stride Therapy team. She earned her Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy from Augusta University in 2025, with clinical experiences in pediatrics and neurological rehabilitation settings. Her passion for creative and research-based treatment approaches led her to hippotherapy. Carly has completed the American Hippotherapy Association Principles Part I coursework and plans to pursue advanced certifications to enhance her services.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July!

06/12/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHmPmxLJ4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/24/2025

Among our therapy horses, Lucy stands out as a gorgeous black quarterhorse with years of experience in pediatric therapy. Lucy has a relaxed attitude and calm nature that we love.

05/21/2025

Focus on our therapy horses.
TIMMY.
Timmy is a favorite with adults and children alike. He is a calm sweet bay arabian cross in his 20’s. Timmy has a magnificent thick mane and long flowing tail He has the smoothest trot and takes care of his riders.

Address

Duluth, GA

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 5pm

Website

http://bigstridetherapy.com/

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