Magic
My Breed: Halflinger
My Sex: Gelding
My birthdate: 2007
My height: 14.2 hh
My weight: 845 lbs
I came to LB: June 2018
My history: Competitive driving
In March 2024, Magic received the honor of being named the American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Therapy Horse of the Year!
The AHA defines a “Hippotherapy Horse” as a horse that has been selected, conditioned, and trained to be included in the delivery of therapy sessions that includes equines. Their description of the characteristics of these horses includes excellent quality of movement that is symmetrical, rhythmic, supple, straight, adjustable and with self-carriage. The horse must be sound and well-conditioned with an elevated top line, ability to vary impulsion, halt squarely and stand calmly during transitions during the treatment session. The horse must be able to discern between the communication from the handler and the patient on their back.
The AHA holds a bi-annual conference where horses can be nominated for The Barbara Glasow Horse of the Year Award. This nomination process involves sending in conformation photos, videos of their movement while being led/longlined, and video of them working in a treatment session. In addition, the submission includes a document that outlines more about their work such as information on the type of clients that the horse works with, the number of sessions per week, and totals for the year. The AHA also looks at information on their level of training and how the horse’s movement is used in the therapy sessions. Two personal letters of recommendation are also included in the process. A board of faculty from the AHA review all admissions and vote on a winner.
This year the therapy team nominated two horses, and Magic took home the award!
Magic is a 17-year-old Haflinger gelding that joined Little Bit’s herd in 2018. He works specifically in our therapy program with clients of all ages and diagnoses. Magic demonstrates strong rotational movement with good impulsion and a ratable walk. He can have an extended, ground covering walk that many of our sensory-seeking clients find regulating. Additionally, Magic can also slow and collect into a shorter stride, which he is able to maintain for an entire session; this gives quality, slow input to our clients who like strong impulsion but can’t tolerate as much movement through their pelvis as they are working to find their sitting balance. Magic’s overall big movement in a more compact body frame allows the therapists to provide great input to our smaller clients without overwhelming them with a larger horse. He also has an impulsive trot with good vertical displacement that he can maintain at a slow jogging rate for our clients to enjoy and benefit from.
Magic embraces the therapy horse lifestyle. He is always at the gate waiting to go to work, and he loves his busy caseload and interacting with so many people. Magic allows therapy clients to do position changes and basic vaulting positions, and he goes all over the property – including the track – giving the clients a versatile environment and the therapist a multitude of options for client positioning. Magic’s quirky and silly personality make for many laughs and much comical relief throughout his sessions. His expressive thoughts and body language never leave a question about what he’s feeling! Magic is tolerant of unbalanced clients as they work with their therapist to find midline and build postural stability. In 2023, Magic participated in over 200 hours of work in our therapy sessions. Magic’s quality of movement delivers a high standard of true mounted therapy through movement. He is an exemplary example of the evolution of the role of the horse in the hippotherapy modality.
Some quotes from Magic’s therapy team include: “ My partnership with Magic has allowed me to become a more versatile therapist offering quality therapy services, which is why I advocate for him as the Barbara Glasow Horse of the Year” and “Magic meets the “just right” challenge for many clients, in a way that he shows his emotions just enough for a client to understand and relate to his feelings, and his symmetrical, rate-able movement meets all their sensory needs. With Magic, clients can use their regulation techniques in real time to see how they affect Magic’s emotions, as well as their own. For several clients, working with Magic is the only time they feel safe and motivated to work on difficult skills.”
“We are thankful for our amazing LB team, including the equine department, horse handlers, and therapist that have been a part of Magic’s training team to keep him healthy, fit, and ready to be a therapy horse.”
Congratulations, Magic!
