About the
IRONSTONE FARM HAFLINGERS 
In 1995, Dick Donovan
did extensive research on breeds of horses that would be suitable for
"hippotherapy" - or "therapy with the use of the horse".
He chose the Haflinger - a small draft horse that originated in the Austrian
Alps. Today these "Austrian mountain ponies" are bred and used
extensively by the Amish people in this country.
In
1995, Dick Donovan went to the Midwest and purchased 6 young Haflingers
from the Amish and transported them to Ironstone Farm. They were so successful
for the Challenge Unlimited programs that he returned a year later and
bought 7 more. The ponies are characterized by their blond coloring, pretty
features and docile temperaments. They can carry a heavy weight, enabling
therapists to ride together with children who have poor sitting balance,
giving the support needed for people with more severe disability to participate
in hippotherapy. 
The
premise behind hippotherapy is that when an individual with abnormal movement
ability straddles a walking horse, the physical effect within the person
is almost exactly the same as that created by the normal walking movement.
For this purpose, the Haflinger has been invaluable, as they have a naturally
energetic walk that transmits valuable movement to the individual receiving
therapy. Deedee O'Brien, Director of Challenge Unlimited, states "The
Haflingers are amazing. They will play together all day in the paddock,
but when they are put into a therapy session, or a riding lesson, they
are all business. We have a wheelchair ramp to assist in transferring
people from their chair to the horse's back. One Haflinger will actually
lean into the side of the ramp during the transfer."
The Ironstone Farm Haflingers played a role in the Andover 350th parade
in 1998 - Twelve riders from Challenge Unlimited and the Ironstone 4-H
Club rode as a team to commemorate the Andover milestone.
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