For the developmentally disabled, a stay at the J. D. McCarty Center may never fully restore their speech. It may never totally rehabilitate their motor skills, or completely repair their physical bodies. But quite often, through their stay here, something much more valuable can be renewed: Their hope. Their inner feelings of accomplishment. And their very human sense of self-worth; the kind that -- somehow, and in some small way - can make living their often difficult lives a whole lot less difficult.

Since 1948, the J. D. McCarty Center has been delivering much needed physical, psychological and emotional healing to developmentally disabled children and young adults. And now we're on the threshold of a dream: The establishment and operation of our very own Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding Center, to be constructed on our new, 80-acre campus.

As another vital resource for reaching out to those with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities, these therapeutic activities do much more than simply develop strength, balance and muscular coordination. Riding a horse has often been the catalyst for the physical and emotional "breakthrough" many patients and their families have long been waiting. Its provided the hope each of them needs to sustain both the mind and body.

Daily, the J. D. McCarty Center is changing perceptions and changing lives. And with the continued support of dedicated therapy professionals, generous public assistance, plus the private donations of caring and concerned individuals, the transforming magic of equine-assisted therapy will continue to improve the quality of rehabilitative services for persons with developmental disabilities as it elevates their quality of life.

Therapeutic Riding is Nothing New…

The ancient Greeks put injured warriors on horseback to improve their health and well being. The English used therapeutic riding as a part of their rehab program for injured soldiers during World War I. In 1875, physicians in France studied hippotherapy for the first time. Hippotherapy combines therapeutic riding with traditional therapy. Later, this therapy technique was introduced in Germany where it gained further refinement.

During the 1930's hippotherapy became a formal therapy practice when it was used in Germany following a worldwide polio epidemic.

Therapeutic riding was introduced to the United States in the early 1960's. Hippotherapy has been used in the U. S. since the late 1970's.

The results of placing a person with disabilities on the back of a horse have been the same since the time of the ancient Greeks. The rider gains muscle strength, balance, improved hip and knee range of motion, improved sensory processing, self confidence, self esteem, improved circulation, a feeling of independence and accomplishment.

A Simple Equation: A Child Plus A Horse Equals Magic

And if that child happens to be a child with disabilities, the magic is twice as amazing. Children develop a bond with a horse that is magical because of what the horse does for them. For the first time in many of their lives, they're not looking up to see people. They're looking down from on top of a horse. Their view is no longer obstructed by peoples' belt buckles. The horse elevates them - literally and figuratively - providing a view from above the people standing around them. The horse gives them an almost unlimited freedom to move about.

The J. D. McCarty Center
How You Can Help Us

The J. D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities in Norman, Oklahoma, is a pediatric rehabilitation hospital. For more than 50 years we have been providing care to children with severe, chronic disabilities that are attributable to mental or physical impairment or a combination of both. We treat children from birth to 21 years of age.

In October 2004, we moved into a new, state-of-the-art replacement facility being built on an 80-acre campus approximately two miles north and one mile east of our present location.

One of the next projects on the drawing board for this site is the construction of a prototype facility for hippotherapy and therapeutic riding. The addition of an equine assisted therapy center is a natural progression for the unique and specialized therapy services that the J. D. McCarty Center already provides.

Who Benefits

Therapy, with the use of a horse, is suitable for a variety of neuromotor-involved persons, including persons with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, post head injury, post stroke and various developmental disabilities.

For children with mental retardation, learning and other cognitive disabilities, riding can improve their concentration and attention span. The horse, particularly in hippotherapy, provides strong, multi-sensory input via visual, auditory, tactile, and samatosensory and vestibular pathways.

There are many medical explanations regarding the benefits of therapy using a horse, but to the children and adults who receive the therapy and their parents and families the benefits are truly magical.

The Layout

In 1996, Gralla Architects, an international provider of equine architectural and planning services from Lexington, Oklahoma, were commissioned by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) to design the prototypical hippotherapy and therapeutic riding facility. The design we plan to build is the basic design that was accepted by NARHA as the prototype, with modifications to meet our specific needs.

This 21,625 square foot facility will include a six stall barn, feed room, tack rooms, a vet check/wash stand and grooming area, storage areas, two mounting ramps, multipurpose classroom/therapy room, offices and a 60 by 120 foot indoor arena.

The indoor arena will be climate controlled for the benefit of our patients. A special flooring material will be used in the arena to minimize the dust.

The entire building is designed to take advantage of low cost construction methods and to eliminate long term maintenance costs.

Our Vision…

Is to become a nationally recognized, NARHA accredited, state-of-the-art provider of equine assisted therapy and rehabilitation to children and adults with developmental disabilities.

And to provide education programs for individuals in the field of equine assisted therapy while we conduct research to validate and continuously improve the quality of equine assisted therapy.

A Simple Equation: A Child Plus A Horse Equal Magic…and a whole lot more

Thousands of people around the country benefit in significant, magical ways when they are exposed to a horse used as a therapy tool. However to make the magic happen at the J. D. McCarty Center, we're going to need your help.

There is a real need for a conveniently located, quality hippotherapy and therapeutic riding facility in central Oklahoma.

We have the vision and the staff to make it happen. All we need is your help, your support, to bring our vision to reality.