 Pediatric patients at a Bergen County Children's Hospital are getting the chance to experience a one-of-a-kind therapy aimed at easing their minds of the burdens of childhood illness. Bioswan's Christy Colletion explains. Kids feeling empowered with the help of pony power. Nine-year-old Ne'shawn Grange couldn't contain his excitement when we asked what he thought of riding a horse as a unique form of therapy. Yeah, I felt really amazing, guys. Grange suffers from the most severe strain of sickle cell anemia and is a patient at Hackensack University Medical Center's Joseph Simzari Children's Hospital. He and eight other pediatric patients are taking part in a four-day program at pony power therapies in Mawa that includes horseback riding. I really feel calm. The four-day program is funded by the Hackensack UMC Foundation. Ne'shawn's mom, Alicia Harvey, says it isn't only beneficial for the children. It's very calming for not even not just the children, the parents. It's a minute to take your mind off of the everyday foolishness. They're not patients. They're not kids with a diagnosis. They are here to learn about horses, literally from the ground up. And the program goes beyond working with horses. Participants also get a chance to take part in other nature-based activities like beekeeping and composting. Child life specialists at Hackensack UMC help identify which pediatric patients would benefit most from the program. Children who have chronic illnesses or life-threatening illnesses don't need to be defined by their disease. And there are opportunities for them to experience a lot of things in life. This week, the program runs until Thursday with another group of patients coming in next week for four days for its last session this year. In Mawa, Kristi Kileshian, Fios.