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January 1, 2007
“I received a phone call from DJ’s school one day saying he was in trouble for  running in the classroom.” Says DJ’s mom, “I was so happy I almost cried!” Not the response to a disciplinary moment you might expect, but DJ was born with cerebral palsy and was never expected to walk, let alone get in trouble for running. Miracles happen though, sometimes aided by a special animal, in this case a horse.
When DJ was four years old, his mom pushed his wheelchair to a barn that housed the Giant Steps Equestrian Therapy Program in Petaluma, California. Staff and volunteers lifted DJ onto a horse so he could experience freedom of mobility without his wheelchair. Over the next two years, DJ’s muscles were worked effortlessly by the movement of the horse beneath him. DJ became stronger, learned balance, and honed his hand-eye coordination with games played from atop his horse.
Two years later, DJ now walked to the barn, groomed his horse, and held the  lead rope as he walked his horse to the arena.
“When DJ was diagnosed,” says his mom,” I remember feeling so sad that he would never get to kick through leaves in the fall. Because of Equestrian Therapy he can do that now, and it is such a joy to watch.” And with all due respect to DJ’s teachers, everyone is happy that DJ can now get in trouble for running in class.
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