PERSEVERANCE=Real Heros: Therapy on horseback: "Lindsay Baker takes a ride on Kristov, a Norwegian Fjord horse, on Wednesday. Volunteer handler Diane Kerr assists her."

The gentle plodding of a horse's steps can be powerful relief from the world confined to ramps, concrete, canes and wheels. Jager explained that for riders who can't walk, the muscles normally used for walking are stimulated when riding. The horse's movement challenges the senses and improves balance, and the horse's constant movement works to massage stiff, underused muscles.