Therapy Horses at SoCal Center Become Local Heroes

The Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano recently received the 2024 Animal Welfare Hero Award from the American Red Cross of Orange County. Dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities, staff members and volunteers at the center work together in horse-related therapy programs that have boasted success stories since being established in 1978. Offering clients from 2-year-olds to seniors who have autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, ADD, ADHD, cancer, strokes and PTSD, The Shea Center combines hippotherapy—”hippos” is Greek for “horse”—with other therapies, such as physical, occupational, speech and mental health, in equestrian riding programs that provide a wide variety of benefits....