Strengthening Gait, in Wyoming, provides hippotherapy for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. It began in June when a couple of moms heard a lecture by Deborah Lapinski, an adult with autism, who said she had always communicated better with animals than with people. The children attend two hippotherapy sessions a week, and along with riding the horses, they learn to groom them and talk to them. The kids are also expected to do therapy in addition to the actual riding. For example, they must warm up themselves and their horses prior to riding, they learn balance and sensory integration skills. One mom says, “I just know what it does for kids. Hippotherapy is an absolutely amazing type of therapy for any kid with special needs, but especially those with posture issues and some sensory integration issues.”