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Lift Makes Horseback Riding Possible For Everyone
There’s no doubt that horseback riding is therapeutic for injured patients or the disabled. The only problem for many riders is getting up on the horse. The SureHands® lift system makes it easier for the rider and volunteers. No manual lifting is required. The rider goes right from a wheelchair to the horse.
  “What makes SureHands unique is the variety of specialized slings,” says Debra Sardella, marketing manager for the N.Y. company.
  Padded cups support the upper body, and strong supports slide under each thigh to support the lower body. This makes it easy to put on and remove the SureHands lift whether the person is on a horse, swimming in a pool or taking care of personal hygiene at home.
  Sardella explains that SureHands lift models include mobile units as well as wall and ceiling lifts to accommodate clients’ needs. Ceiling mounted lifts are commonly used in homes because a track system can allow people to live independently or with the assistance of a caregiver.
  “Caregivers love SureHands because transferring is easier and safer for them and consumers,” she says.
  The ceiling mounts are typically used for horseback therapy programs. The lift has a quiet motor that doesn’t spook horses and is capable of lifting up to 440 lbs. (Larger capacity models are also available).
  SureHands systems have been installed in therapeutic horseback facilities throughout the U.S. Staff at SureHands work with PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) and provide information to help groups when they apply for grants to help pay the cost of the lift system. Costs vary, Sardella says, according to the setup. Anyone interested in learning more about the lift should contact the company, which will have a local dealer contact them for a personal consultation and estimate. Videos on the company’s website show how it works.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, SureHands Lift & Care Systems, 982 County Route 1, Pine Island, N.Y. 10969 (ph 800 724-5305; info@surehands.com; www.surehands.com).



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2014 - Volume #38, Issue #3