Great dolphin therapy for Florian

Written by Brigitte Sieberer

Report: 1. Dolphin therapy from 02.07.-13.07.2008 Sieberer Florian

We want to first say thank you to Linda and Barbara for a great therapy with Florian!!

Even if it was a bit difficult for Florian and us at the beginning, the new surroundings, a new therapist and such a big animal in the water-it was a lot to process. After a few days we had gotten comfortable and felt great.

Of course we were all very curious and excited about what was waiting for us in Antalya. We started at 3am and got to the airport very late, had to take a 2 hour bus ride from Dalaman to our hotel and were happy when the journey was over.

The first two days we had time to get used to the climate and the surroundings, which was good but at the same time we could not wait to get started.

On Wednesday at 9:00 it was finally time, we drove with a mini bus to the riding therapy. The whole family came along as we did not know what to expect. After about 45 min of driving we were at the ranch. We were greeted very nicely by Feli and Sali. There were 3 other children with us. A girl that was already there for her second week started with riding and we first talked to Feli.

Florian was second and he immediately had good contact to everyone, since he also goes riding once a week at home, Luca (the horse) was immediately accepted.

I was thrilled by the therapy and realized on the first day that things were done very different to the way at home, and I must say they were better!

E.g. Florian has never played with a ring or a ball on a horse before at home, or gotten a pillow to lay on when he lays on his back… there were just so many small details that I really liked.
It was very hot though, around 40°C and nobody informed us that we had to wait there for 2 hours before we would be driven back to the hotel.

Of course for our second son it was very hot and boring (even though he did get to ride on Luca too at the end). He would have rather stayed at the hotel and gone swimming.

The next times we did it that way, as the busride was already exhausting.

I have mixed feelings towards the riding, as the therapy was wonderful but the drive was torture and each time I was more reluctant to go to the horse ranch.

I was happy that mostly my husband went with Florian. (Thank you!)

At 16:30 we finally got to see Barbara, Linda and Daisy fort he first time. Wow, it was very exciting. What will they do now with our child and the dolphin, we couldn’t get started quick enough and we were almost impatient. And then Florian was not happy as usual, he was even crying and did not want to go to the dolphin. Great. All the efforts and costs and now he did not want to participate. I did think this, but you have to have patience and give your child the time he/she needs to get used to a new situation. Good things take a while!

On the 6. day we finally could start the therapy without crying and we were all very happy about this. From then on, Florian had lots of fun and he looked forward to seeing Daisy. Before he would always say “I don’t want to see the dolphin today“! We saw that Florian was very calm through the therapy and he also enjoyed the hours with Birgit and the Cranio Therapy.

He used both his hands nicely, usually he only uses his right hand, he left hand was relaxed and he could use it. The boy also kicked with his feet very nicely(usually he crosses them a lot when moving them)and could move forwards this way (also thanks to the great life jacket). He really put in a lot of effort, we saw these development in the pool when he was swimming. When he wanted something bad enough he could swim there.
I sometimes also saw that when he pedaled with his feet then his hands would get very spastic and sometimes I got startled.

Florian is getting bigger, is learning a lot more (thank god) but also still cramps up.

During the last dolphin therapy hour Flo was a lazy sock!

He was tired and it was time to fly home again.

The return trip was very exhausting and I was happy to be back in my own bed. Florian needed almost a week to catch up on sleep. Now he is very active and smart.

He talks to his brother like a big kid, he is very active on the floor, I lay him down and tell him he has to crawl to the place he wants to get.

He does it now, before he would cry and say I can’t, maybe I am also just more motivated and think he just has to do it. I am also not always in the same mood. His brother is also a big help with him. I am very proud of both of them.

I hope he continues to develop this way and we will keep in touch with you. We had lots of fun with you and we hope to see you again soon.

We wish you a great Summer and maybe we will see you in the Winter (Skiing?)!

Many greetings,

Florian Sieberer with family from Hopfgarten in Tirol

Report: 1. Dolphin therapy from 02.07.-13.07.2008 Sieberer Florian

We want to first say thank you to Linda and Barbara for a great therapy with Florian!!Even if it was a bit difficult for Florian and us at the beginning, the new surroundings, a new therapist and such a big animal in the water-it was a lot to process. After a few days we had gotten comfortable and felt great.

Of course we were all very curious and excited about what was waiting for us in Antalya. We started at 3am and got to the airport very late, had to take a 2 hour bus ride from Dalaman to our hotel and were happy when the journey was over.

The first two days we had time to get used to the climate and the surroundings, which was good but at the same time we could not wait to get started.

On Wednesday at 9:00 it was finally time, we drove with a mini bus to the riding therapy. The whole family came along as we did not know what to expect. After about 45 min of driving we were at the ranch. We were greeted very nicely by Feli and Sali. There were 3 other children with us. A girl that was already there for her second week started with riding and we first talked to Feli.

Florian was second and he immediately had good contact to everyone, since he also goes riding once a week at home, Luca (the horse) was immediately accepted. I was thrilled by the therapy and realized on the first day that things were done very different to the way at home, and I must say they were better!
E.g. Florian has never played with a ring or a ball on a horse before at home, or gotten a pillow to lay on when he lays on his back… there were just so many small details that I really liked.

It was very hot though, around 40°C and nobody informed us that we had to wait there for 2 hours before we would be driven back to the hotel. Of course for our second son it was very hot and boring (even though he did get to ride on Luca too at the end). He would have rather stayed at the hotel and gone swimming. The next times we did it that way, as the busride was already exhausting. I have mixed feelings towards the riding, as the therapy was wonderful but the drive was torture and each time I was more reluctant to go to the horse ranch. I was happy that mostly my husband went with Florian. (Thank you!)

At 16:30 we finally got to see Barbara, Linda and Daisy fort he first time. Wow, it was very exciting. What will they do now with our child and the dolphin, we couldn’t get started quick enough and we were almost impatient. And then Florian was not happy as usual, he was even crying and did not want to go to the dolphin. Great. All the efforts and costs and now he did not want to participate. I did think this, but you have to have patience and give your child the time he/she needs to get used to a new situation. Good things take a while!On the 6. day we finally could start the therapy without crying and we were all very happy about this. From then on, Florian had lots of fun and he looked forward to seeing Daisy. Before he would always say “I don’t want to see the dolphin today“! We saw that Florian was very calm through the therapy and he also enjoyed the hours with Birgit and the Cranio Therapy.

He used both his hands nicely, usually he only uses his right hand, he left hand was relaxed and he could use it. The boy also kicked with his feet very nicely(usually he crosses them a lot when moving them)and could move forwards this way (also thanks to the great life jacket). He really put in a lot of effort, we saw these development in the pool when he was swimming. When he wanted something bad enough he could swim there.I sometimes also saw that when he pedaled with his feet then his hands would get very spastic and sometimes I got startled.Florian is getting bigger, is learning a lot more (thank god) but also still cramps up.During the last dolphin therapy hour Flo was a „lazy sock“!He was tired and it was time to fly home again.The return trip was very exhausting and I was happy to be back in my own bed. Florian needed almost a week to catch up on sleep. Now he is very active and smart.

He talks to his brother like a big kid, he is very active on the floor, I lay him down and tell him he has to crawl to the place he wants to get.

He does it now, before he would cry and say „I can’t“, maybe I am also just more motivated and think he just has to do it. I am also not always in the same mood. His brother is also a big help with him. I am very proud of both of them.I hope he continues to develop this way and we will keep in touch with you. We had lots of fun with you and we hope to see you again soon.We wish you a great Summer and maybe we will see you in the Winter (Skiing?)!

Many greetings,Florian Sieberer with family from Hopfgarten in Tirol.

For dolphin therapy related questions you can contact family Sieberer via e-mail: