How horseback riding helps this 3-year-old deal with a rare genetic disorder [Video]

Three-year-old Aria Bruce began therapeutic horseback riding lessons at Wynbrook Equestrian Centre in Vars last summer and has made incredible progress since.

Aria was born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes hypotonia — weakness in the muscles.

Her parents, Janelle and Matt Bruce, decided to try horseback riding therapy for their daughter after physiotherapy proved unsuccessful.

“Aria was uncooperative. You know, you have an hour with the physiotherapist, you have to perform in this hour, and Aria doesn’t do well with performing on command,” Janelle said.

“We were informed that the closer [she] got to the age of three, the likelihood of her walking was diminishing.”

As an equestrian herself, Janelle knows that riding helps build core and muscle strength. The family decided to give it a try.

“We wanted to give her all odds on her side,” she said.

While Aria’s initial lessons last summer proved …