Philanthropic Teen: Its Our Turn to Give Back
Danielle Herb was diagnosed with ADHD at 10 years old. By age 15, she and her mother had started Drop Your Reins, a program integrating horse therapy that has helped hundreds of children with ADHD and Autism cope and manage their symptoms. She has raised money for ADHD, and has created a non-profit company for abused and neglected horses. Now, after an injury, Danielle is in chronic neuropathic pain and was forced to shut down Drop Your Reins. Additionally, her treatments have caused an overwhelming financial burden. Read more about her story below and see how you can help.
Head to Toe: When were you diagnosed with ADHD? How did you treat it?
Danielle: 10 years old. We chose to do alternative things like eliminating foods that were causing symptoms and I worked with my horses.
Head to Toe: How were horses able to help you with your symptoms of ADHD?
Danielle: They helped me learn to manage my energy and focus. They mirrored me and I was able to learn to change things internally to manage my world.
Head to Toe: When did you start your business? How old were you?
Danielle: I first began by working with adults and kids to do things like I was doing at age thirteen and then I used the horses to help work with them to overcome their fears. I created a program called From Fear To Freedom and submitted it to Tiger Woods and Target Foundation and won an award for their Start Something Program helping kids become young entrepreneurs. Then at age 15, I created and started with my mom, Drop Your Reins.
Head to Toe: You started your business at such a young age. Where did you get your business knowledge from?
Danielle: I come from a long line of entrepreneurs in my family. It was natural. I listened to my internal compass and guidance. My mom helped with the websites and coaching the parents which kept me developing and working with the horses and kids.
Head to Toe: How did you become so knowledgeable in treating ADHD and Autism? How did you develop the link between horse therapy and the symptoms of these disorders?
Danielle: I was working with my mom at our private school for ADHD kids called The School WIthout Walls. We opened the doors because of the outcomes I was having personally with my horses and thought the other kids could benefit. I used it as my laboratory. I learned so much during that time. The daily interaction with the kids and observing the horses opened many new opportunities for me to learn and share what I was learning.
Head to Toe: How successful has Drop Your Reins been? / How many children do you help?
Danielle: Unfortunately my mom and I had to stop and take a hiatus due to my health. We have started now that I am more managed, exploring ways to share the information again. In the past I helped hundreds of children that I know of and many more have been impacted because of my work indirectly.
Head to Toe: What do children with ADHD and / or Autism learn from working with horses? Specific skills? Coping strategies? Interventions?
Danielle: Children gained inner strength and confidence, learned how to manage their energy internally, better focus and less distractions, with autism we would help the parents bridge communication gaps and help learn the child's way of communication. Children learn to become accountable for their actions. There is a direct mirroring that takes place that they witness in a non judgmental environment between them and the horse that is life changing for them. As adults we can tell them all we want to to focus and settle down... but until they are shown and guided to experience it internally themselves, it is just words and has no meaning.
Head to Toe: You have also raised a significant amount of money for children with ADHD. How much have you raised? How did you do it? What has the money been used for?
Danielle: I applied for a won a $5000 grant from Tiger Woods and Target Foundations. I applied that money to growing my business by purchasing equipment to use in teaching the children such as a round pen and safety gear.
I have raised other money through crowdfunding and I used the money to help myself and others with CRPS to get to treatments and kind of like a Make A Wish for kids suffering
with CRPS because although most of their dreams have been shattered, they do not qualify for Make A Wish. It is wonderful to bring a smile and let a suffering child know in their darkest hours that someone cares and their is HOPE.
Head to Toe: Drop Your Reins, as well as your work, has become internationally renowned. What is the coolest thing you have been asked to do as a result of your success?
Danielle: Help Kids Radio and TV interviews. Travel to Europe to teach my program. Mentor adults.
Head to Toe: Outside of your work with Drop Your Reins, you also work with neglected and abused horses. Tell us about your non profit.
Danielle: Many horses don't get the kind of love and nurturing that they deserve which creates neglect. They like children do not have rights and are considered property. As a more competitive and controlling culture we have and continue to treat horses with disrespect and break their spirits.
We need to gather a greater understanding of the love, nutrients, and special needs that horses have and work in harmony with them as they are teaching us so much.
I have experienced such tremendous healing with horses in my own journey. Horses offer us so much and I believe we are only just beginning to understand what they can teach us. Horses mirror us and their non-verbal communication is teaching us a different view of ourselves. I use the phrase, "You
Can See The Real You Through A Horses View ".
Head to Toe: You are truly an inspirational person. Where did you get your inspiration from?
Danielle: God working through me. It wasn't me searching or doing. I was following my heart and inner guidance.
Head to Toe: In 2010, you had an accident while riding your horse. What happened?
Danielle: I was helping my sister practice for an event she was to have that weekend and I was riding the horse and showing her what to do. We were practicing for an event called pole in the barrel racing world. I rounded one of the poles at a walking pace and tapped the outside of my knee on the pole where I previously had surgery on it to remove a small calcium deposit back in 2007. It was a light tap. One that should have not caused any discomfort but that was my life changing moment. My leg began burning like it had been set on fire.
Danielle Herb was diagnosed with ADHD at 10 years old. By age 15, she and her mother had started Drop Your Reins, a program integrating horse therapy that has helped hundreds of children with ADHD and Autism cope and manage their symptoms. She has raised money for ADHD, and has created a non-profit company for abused and neglected horses. Now, after an injury, Danielle is in chronic neuropathic pain and was forced to shut down Drop Your Reins. Additionally, her treatments have caused an overwhelming financial burden. Read more about her story below and see how you can help.
Head to Toe: When were you diagnosed with ADHD? How did you treat it?
Danielle: 10 years old. We chose to do alternative things like eliminating foods that were causing symptoms and I worked with my horses.
Head to Toe: How were horses able to help you with your symptoms of ADHD?
Danielle: They helped me learn to manage my energy and focus. They mirrored me and I was able to learn to change things internally to manage my world.
Head to Toe: When did you start your business? How old were you?
Danielle: I first began by working with adults and kids to do things like I was doing at age thirteen and then I used the horses to help work with them to overcome their fears. I created a program called From Fear To Freedom and submitted it to Tiger Woods and Target Foundation and won an award for their Start Something Program helping kids become young entrepreneurs. Then at age 15, I created and started with my mom, Drop Your Reins.
Head to Toe: You started your business at such a young age. Where did you get your business knowledge from?
Danielle: I come from a long line of entrepreneurs in my family. It was natural. I listened to my internal compass and guidance. My mom helped with the websites and coaching the parents which kept me developing and working with the horses and kids.
Head to Toe: How did you become so knowledgeable in treating ADHD and Autism? How did you develop the link between horse therapy and the symptoms of these disorders?
Danielle: I was working with my mom at our private school for ADHD kids called The School WIthout Walls. We opened the doors because of the outcomes I was having personally with my horses and thought the other kids could benefit. I used it as my laboratory. I learned so much during that time. The daily interaction with the kids and observing the horses opened many new opportunities for me to learn and share what I was learning.
Head to Toe: How successful has Drop Your Reins been? / How many children do you help?
Danielle: Unfortunately my mom and I had to stop and take a hiatus due to my health. We have started now that I am more managed, exploring ways to share the information again. In the past I helped hundreds of children that I know of and many more have been impacted because of my work indirectly.
Head to Toe: What do children with ADHD and / or Autism learn from working with horses? Specific skills? Coping strategies? Interventions?
Danielle: Children gained inner strength and confidence, learned how to manage their energy internally, better focus and less distractions, with autism we would help the parents bridge communication gaps and help learn the child's way of communication. Children learn to become accountable for their actions. There is a direct mirroring that takes place that they witness in a non judgmental environment between them and the horse that is life changing for them. As adults we can tell them all we want to to focus and settle down... but until they are shown and guided to experience it internally themselves, it is just words and has no meaning.
Head to Toe: You have also raised a significant amount of money for children with ADHD. How much have you raised? How did you do it? What has the money been used for?
Danielle: I applied for a won a $5000 grant from Tiger Woods and Target Foundations. I applied that money to growing my business by purchasing equipment to use in teaching the children such as a round pen and safety gear.
I have raised other money through crowdfunding and I used the money to help myself and others with CRPS to get to treatments and kind of like a Make A Wish for kids suffering
with CRPS because although most of their dreams have been shattered, they do not qualify for Make A Wish. It is wonderful to bring a smile and let a suffering child know in their darkest hours that someone cares and their is HOPE.
Head to Toe: Drop Your Reins, as well as your work, has become internationally renowned. What is the coolest thing you have been asked to do as a result of your success?
Danielle: Help Kids Radio and TV interviews. Travel to Europe to teach my program. Mentor adults.
Head to Toe: Outside of your work with Drop Your Reins, you also work with neglected and abused horses. Tell us about your non profit.
Danielle: Many horses don't get the kind of love and nurturing that they deserve which creates neglect. They like children do not have rights and are considered property. As a more competitive and controlling culture we have and continue to treat horses with disrespect and break their spirits.
We need to gather a greater understanding of the love, nutrients, and special needs that horses have and work in harmony with them as they are teaching us so much.
I have experienced such tremendous healing with horses in my own journey. Horses offer us so much and I believe we are only just beginning to understand what they can teach us. Horses mirror us and their non-verbal communication is teaching us a different view of ourselves. I use the phrase, "You
Can See The Real You Through A Horses View ".
Head to Toe: You are truly an inspirational person. Where did you get your inspiration from?
Danielle: God working through me. It wasn't me searching or doing. I was following my heart and inner guidance.
Head to Toe: In 2010, you had an accident while riding your horse. What happened?
Danielle: I was helping my sister practice for an event she was to have that weekend and I was riding the horse and showing her what to do. We were practicing for an event called pole in the barrel racing world. I rounded one of the poles at a walking pace and tapped the outside of my knee on the pole where I previously had surgery on it to remove a small calcium deposit back in 2007. It was a light tap. One that should have not caused any discomfort but that was my life changing moment. My leg began burning like it had been set on fire.
Head to Toe: Tell us about Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, EDS - Elders Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia /POTS. What are the symptoms?
Danielle: My original diagnosis is CRPS because I had the color changes and burning neauropathic pain associated with CPRS I have horrific pain 24/7 that I can not escape from. It never goes away. I feel like I have been dowsed in gasoline and lit on fire and there is also a feeling of my bones are being crushed and shattered. Wind or a breeze from the air is too painful at times as well as clothing. I become hyper sensitive and my sympathetic nervous system is in hyper drive. It has affected the mitochondria of my cells and ability to make energy.
The EDS - Elders Danlos affects the breakdown of collagen and connective tissue. My joints hurt and will try to contort out of joint as they spasm. Just walking and doing ordinary tasks can be trying at times.
Through the 5 years I have been dealing with this my body has presented with other symptoms associated with other gene mutations. CRPS is associated with the sympathetic nervous system and causes the ANS -autonomic nervous system to go out of balance. The sympathetic is the part that controls your fight n flight (your get up and go) and your parasympathetic ( your relaxation ) can not keep up. It is like my body gets revved up by something and starts running like an uncontrollable train running loose down a mountain and the brakes ( parasympathetic) can not stop it. This causes the Dysautonomia or POTS which causes me to have seizure like syncope convulsions, dizziness and passing out. It took a lot of time and abuse by the uneducated medical community on my condition to get to a better management of my symptoms. I deal with uncontrollable anxiety when my system is revving and depression when it is crashing.
Head to Toe: How has it impacted your life?
Danielle: My life and my family's lives are impacted daily. I have been abused and mistreated so many times by the medical community because they don't understand my illness and don't listen because of my age. I have been taken away from my mom, handcuffed in a hospital and put under guard and lock down 24/7 and left to scream and burn for days. I have been accused many times of faking it or causing the symptoms to myself which a condition called Munchhausen. My parents have been investigated for child abuse and my mom was investigated by Adult Protection Services along with thinking she was selling my medication. My whole family has PTSD including my 11 year old sister who has been impacted by what she has seen in the medical community and how they have treated all of us when we have sought them out for help to be only abused by them.
My mom, step father and little sister are my support. My mom spends weeks on end with me at Drs appointments and hospital stays. My sister does music therapy to help me with her gift of singing and playing guitar. It helps calm my nerves and distract me when my pain is high. She has had to give us so much. My step father helps advocate. He sits in the ER many days taking off work to hold my hand.
I am a disabled at 20 and most of my life is spent in my bedroom. My friends have faded away because of my limitations. I do what I can on days when I can. I recently for my 20th birthday was able to get my drivers license and I can drive when I am feeling well enough. That was a huge accomplishment.
I take one day at a time and enjoy it when I can. I love to spend time with my horses as they continue to teach me so much and are the source of my greatest joy.
Head to Toe: Are there treatments or medications available?
Danielle: Because pediatric CRPS, EDS and Dysautonomia are so rare and complex, there is not much known and so much of the medical doctors are not taught anything in their schooling so it is hard to find doctors to help. There are specialist who are caring and compassionate who take the time to research and help but most are spread out across the country so I have to travel to them which is so difficult to do both financially and physically.
One treatment for CRPS is Ketamine infusions and still very controversial in most of the medical community and so it is very limited where it is available. In Florida where I live there are only two Drs that are 5 hours away that administer it and one charges $10,000 cash to be seen and the other is $1000 per day treatment. My family does not have the money to pay for the treatments. We try to get them when we can. The infusions have helped in the past when my legs have been locked in muscle spasms and burning so intense.
My bladder and digestive system cause me a lot of problems and it is management with the pain that helps the most.
I use my horses as physical and cognitive therapy. I use many alternative therapies such as aqua or pool therapy, chiropractic to help put my many subluxed joints back in because of EDS, cranial sacral, bio-feedback, massage, music therapy and multi sensory such as light and color.
Head to Toe: What is the long term prognosis?
Danielle: We do not know how this will continue to impact my body and it's different systems. It is a minute or hourly management of what happens in my body as a result of the outside influences like weather and barometric pressure drops, full moon, cold fronts or too hot and even things you
do not think of like solar flares dramatically affect me. I end up in the ER and sometimes the hospital for extended stay to get the pain under control. Too much activity and also sounds and vibrations like riding in a car will cause stress within my body. Internally there are many triggers also. Hormonal fluctuations with my menstrual cycle cause my body to react along with food.
Head to Toe: How has your diagnosis impacted your involvement with Drop Your Reins?
Danielle: I had to put my work with Drop Your Reins on hold for many years. I had to stop because I physically am unable to do much. My energy level is low and my body does not respond well. I try and I end up paying for days. I am getting now to the point of working with kids again and it feels great but very limited I would like to teach adults my program so they can continue my work. I do not have the physical stamina to do it like I used to. I hope people will seek me out who wish to learn this wonderful way to help kids and adults using this methodology.
I have many supporters and fans who continue to hope I can regain it the way I was.. it is a dream but for now I would like to teach this work to a few others who want to learn.
Head to Toe: You have spent so much of your time and energy helping other people. How can people help you?
Danielle: I am in need of long term medical care and many things I use are not covered by medicare. I have a crowdfunding site for anyone wishing to contribute to my care and the continuation of my work. http://www.gofundme.com/DanielleHerb
Spread the word to educate about CRPS by going to www.rsdsa.org and donate for research to be done to find more treatments and answers.
There are children suffering with pain and should not be mistreated by those who are supposed to help. A wonderful group of parents have organized a foundation to advocate for pediatric pain patients and are funding research and Think Tanks to help concerned Doctors find answers. They are also helping advocate for parents whose children are being taken and locked away because of lack of education and awareness.
Donate to www.TCAPP.org
Danielle: My original diagnosis is CRPS because I had the color changes and burning neauropathic pain associated with CPRS I have horrific pain 24/7 that I can not escape from. It never goes away. I feel like I have been dowsed in gasoline and lit on fire and there is also a feeling of my bones are being crushed and shattered. Wind or a breeze from the air is too painful at times as well as clothing. I become hyper sensitive and my sympathetic nervous system is in hyper drive. It has affected the mitochondria of my cells and ability to make energy.
The EDS - Elders Danlos affects the breakdown of collagen and connective tissue. My joints hurt and will try to contort out of joint as they spasm. Just walking and doing ordinary tasks can be trying at times.
Through the 5 years I have been dealing with this my body has presented with other symptoms associated with other gene mutations. CRPS is associated with the sympathetic nervous system and causes the ANS -autonomic nervous system to go out of balance. The sympathetic is the part that controls your fight n flight (your get up and go) and your parasympathetic ( your relaxation ) can not keep up. It is like my body gets revved up by something and starts running like an uncontrollable train running loose down a mountain and the brakes ( parasympathetic) can not stop it. This causes the Dysautonomia or POTS which causes me to have seizure like syncope convulsions, dizziness and passing out. It took a lot of time and abuse by the uneducated medical community on my condition to get to a better management of my symptoms. I deal with uncontrollable anxiety when my system is revving and depression when it is crashing.
Head to Toe: How has it impacted your life?
Danielle: My life and my family's lives are impacted daily. I have been abused and mistreated so many times by the medical community because they don't understand my illness and don't listen because of my age. I have been taken away from my mom, handcuffed in a hospital and put under guard and lock down 24/7 and left to scream and burn for days. I have been accused many times of faking it or causing the symptoms to myself which a condition called Munchhausen. My parents have been investigated for child abuse and my mom was investigated by Adult Protection Services along with thinking she was selling my medication. My whole family has PTSD including my 11 year old sister who has been impacted by what she has seen in the medical community and how they have treated all of us when we have sought them out for help to be only abused by them.
My mom, step father and little sister are my support. My mom spends weeks on end with me at Drs appointments and hospital stays. My sister does music therapy to help me with her gift of singing and playing guitar. It helps calm my nerves and distract me when my pain is high. She has had to give us so much. My step father helps advocate. He sits in the ER many days taking off work to hold my hand.
I am a disabled at 20 and most of my life is spent in my bedroom. My friends have faded away because of my limitations. I do what I can on days when I can. I recently for my 20th birthday was able to get my drivers license and I can drive when I am feeling well enough. That was a huge accomplishment.
I take one day at a time and enjoy it when I can. I love to spend time with my horses as they continue to teach me so much and are the source of my greatest joy.
Head to Toe: Are there treatments or medications available?
Danielle: Because pediatric CRPS, EDS and Dysautonomia are so rare and complex, there is not much known and so much of the medical doctors are not taught anything in their schooling so it is hard to find doctors to help. There are specialist who are caring and compassionate who take the time to research and help but most are spread out across the country so I have to travel to them which is so difficult to do both financially and physically.
One treatment for CRPS is Ketamine infusions and still very controversial in most of the medical community and so it is very limited where it is available. In Florida where I live there are only two Drs that are 5 hours away that administer it and one charges $10,000 cash to be seen and the other is $1000 per day treatment. My family does not have the money to pay for the treatments. We try to get them when we can. The infusions have helped in the past when my legs have been locked in muscle spasms and burning so intense.
My bladder and digestive system cause me a lot of problems and it is management with the pain that helps the most.
I use my horses as physical and cognitive therapy. I use many alternative therapies such as aqua or pool therapy, chiropractic to help put my many subluxed joints back in because of EDS, cranial sacral, bio-feedback, massage, music therapy and multi sensory such as light and color.
Head to Toe: What is the long term prognosis?
Danielle: We do not know how this will continue to impact my body and it's different systems. It is a minute or hourly management of what happens in my body as a result of the outside influences like weather and barometric pressure drops, full moon, cold fronts or too hot and even things you
do not think of like solar flares dramatically affect me. I end up in the ER and sometimes the hospital for extended stay to get the pain under control. Too much activity and also sounds and vibrations like riding in a car will cause stress within my body. Internally there are many triggers also. Hormonal fluctuations with my menstrual cycle cause my body to react along with food.
Head to Toe: How has your diagnosis impacted your involvement with Drop Your Reins?
Danielle: I had to put my work with Drop Your Reins on hold for many years. I had to stop because I physically am unable to do much. My energy level is low and my body does not respond well. I try and I end up paying for days. I am getting now to the point of working with kids again and it feels great but very limited I would like to teach adults my program so they can continue my work. I do not have the physical stamina to do it like I used to. I hope people will seek me out who wish to learn this wonderful way to help kids and adults using this methodology.
I have many supporters and fans who continue to hope I can regain it the way I was.. it is a dream but for now I would like to teach this work to a few others who want to learn.
Head to Toe: You have spent so much of your time and energy helping other people. How can people help you?
Danielle: I am in need of long term medical care and many things I use are not covered by medicare. I have a crowdfunding site for anyone wishing to contribute to my care and the continuation of my work. http://www.gofundme.com/DanielleHerb
Spread the word to educate about CRPS by going to www.rsdsa.org and donate for research to be done to find more treatments and answers.
There are children suffering with pain and should not be mistreated by those who are supposed to help. A wonderful group of parents have organized a foundation to advocate for pediatric pain patients and are funding research and Think Tanks to help concerned Doctors find answers. They are also helping advocate for parents whose children are being taken and locked away because of lack of education and awareness.
Donate to www.TCAPP.org