True Friends’ camps have been changing lives for over 60 years, and they’re continuing that tradition at Camp Courage with True Strides, their hippotherapy and therapeutic riding program.

Hippotherapy is occupational or physical therapy that uses horses in the treatment, and helps with developmental and fundamental skills. 

 

Therapeutic riding helps build strength and improves balance, coordination, confidence and self-esteem.

 

True Strides was begun in 2014 with donations from William and Jane Dudley and Janice Sanner that helped build their arena at Camp Courage. Therapist Shari Mangas was hired as the new program’s director.

 

Mangas is an American Hippotherapy Certified Occupational Therapist and PATH Certified Instructor with 30 years of therapy experience. In 2003, she started the nonprofit organization Sharidise Therapeutics Foundation, where she began using equestrian therapy with her clients.

 

After accepting the director position, Mangas moved her horses and clients to Camp Courage, closing her nonprofit organization in order to focus her time and energy into True Strides.

 

“I can’t thank Shari enough for what she’s done,” said Pat Krause, whose daughter, Lauren, attends True Strides. “Without her Lauren wouldn’t be where she is today.”

 

Krause and her husband, John, own Clearwater Rental Center. Their daughter, Lauren, was born after an intrauterine stroke, which affected her vision, speech and right side. She was later diagnosed with epilepsy and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified), a form of autism. 

 

When Lauren was 10 years old, a former co-worker told Krause about Mangas and her organization, and suggested she contact her. At the time, Lauren had stopped progressing with traditional therapy, and Krause was looking for something new.

 

Lauren began therapy with Mangas, but she didn’t really care for it at first.

 

“Shari is a tough personality and stuck with her [Lauren],” said Krause, “Her stubbornness and drive to get kids to do things not in their comfort zone is amazing.”

 

Lauren experienced huge benefits from the program.

 

“She started using her right hand, her right side became stronger, and her eyes started working together better,” said Krause, “She didn’t need Botox as often to help with her spasticity because she gained so much strength.”

 

Lauren, now 20, continues to work with Mangas at True Strides, although currently her therapy is more about social interaction with the other kids in the class. 

 

“Now she’ll play with others rather than be off on her own,” said Krause. “She never did that before.”

 

“Lauren loves the horses and goes right up the ramp as soon as we get there,” she added. “She can’t wait. She always has to be the first one on the horse.”

 

In its two years of existence, True Strides has already worked with 65 clients who have a variety of disorders and injuries such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, autism and developmental delays.

 

“Movement helps develop the brain,” said Mangas. “When riding horses a person’s body moves just like it does when walking or running.”

 

She explained riding builds core strength and shoulder girdle stability, which helps with fine motor development. English saddle riding helps strengthen legs and stretch out heel cords. 

 

“Therapeutic riding builds on their successes as they progress,” she said. “They get to a point where they’re willing to trust and believe in themselves. It’s rewarding for parents as well, as they see the changes in their child.”

 

True Strides held a western BBQ fundraising dinner Sunday that included a therapeutic riding demonstration by clients and staff.

 

For more information on True Strides, visit truestrides.org or email info@truestrides.org. To set up a free initial consultation, contact Shari Mangas at 952-852-0101 ext. 306.