DISCLAIMER
Information disseminated by Autism South Africa is for information purposes only.
The onus rests with the reader to explore and investigate the relevant information and alternatives for each individual.
Information disseminated by Autism South Africa is for information purposes only.
The onus rests with the reader to explore and investigate the relevant information and alternatives for each individual.
Information sent out does not imply that Autism South Africa underwrites or endorses any particular therapy, intervention, method or medication. Autism South Africa assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information provided herein.
Horseback Riding as Therapy for Children and Teens with Asperger's Syndrome
A horse runs swiftly across a field in sunlight, the rider connecting to the horse as if they were one creature, and when they come to the fence, in one motion they seem to stretch forward in the same moment to sail over the fence, landing in a single graceful footfall, then springing away again. We all love such moments of beauty and connection, and wish we could have such oneness of being with others, the moments when the joy of truly living becomes both apparent and paradoxically unconscious. We wish such moments for our children as well; the deepest joy in being human may come in such freeing experiences, when we transcend our consciousness through pure affiliation with life outside ourselves
Horseback riding as a autism therapy
Many of the students who ride at Pegasus Farm, a therapeutic horseback riding facility in northeast Ohio, are autistic. They are also some of our most challenging students. Actually, the handful of students I work with on a regular basis when I’m volunteering are autistic. Because of the nature of their disability, I think they can significantly benefit from time spent with horses.
If you are a parent of a child with autism, the information here will give you an overview of why horseback riding is great therapy. If you are a therapeutic riding volunteer, or considering becoming one, the information below will help you better understand students with autism and how to work with them.
Dad: Horse Riding Helped His Son With Autism
It was a horse named Betsy, after all, that Isaacson credits with helping to heal his son Rowan, who was diagnosed with autism just after his second birthday in 2004. The toddler's uncommunicative, tantrum-ridden state devastated his concerned parents.
"Rowan would have as many as 12 tantrums a day," Isaacson, 42, told ABCNews.com. "Everyone knows what a regular toddler tantrum is, but add a deep distress where the child is just inconsolable and unable to communicate the pain that they're in."
"All you can do is try to hold them and stop them from hurting themselves," Isaacson said of he and his wife Kristin's consistent attempts to soothe their son. "When you see your child suffering like that it tears you to pieces."
Horseback riding and autism
We came back from horseback riding therapy for autism. My daughters respite worker and a little old lady who works at the stable was leading her horse. The horse got spooked and took off running and it ripped the rieigns out of our respite workers hands and out of the little old lady?? hands who was leading the horse but it took longer for her to let go so the horse dragged her a few feet.
I was watching and screaming whoa, not that it did any good but I didn?? know what to do to get the horse to stop. It was very scary and I felt helpless because my daughter was on the horse as it took off running. She was laughing and enjoy the ride until his speed threw her from the horse. I was horrified as I watched her fly through the air. All I have to say is my little girl is one tough cookie.I thought she was going to get back up and say let?? do that again. She didn?? but she didn?? seem very effected by the fact that she had just gotten thrown from the horse but my respite worker was so upset she was crying because she felt it was her fault that my daughter got thrown. When my daughter saw her crying she began crying. So I right away went over to calm our respite worker down while my husband was on the ground with my daugther. I did feel that it was better for all of us to remain calm rather than get upset because it would be harder to find out if my daughter actually got hurt. She appears to be ok. I think she is going to be sore tomorrow but she was not affected much by that whole incident. But I have to say being the one standing on the sidelines watching it, it all looked very scary. We have one more week left of the fall sessions and I don?? know if I am going to go back.
Therapeutic horseback riding
A therapeutic riding program should be administered by a nationally-certified instructor, following assessment of the patient by a qualified therapist with specialized training. In an equine-assisted activity (EAA) program, a certified or specially-trained riding instructor teaches a person with a disability how to ride a horse. However, working with horses can provide more than just riding skills - participants can also learn companionship, responsibility, confidence, leadership, vocational and educational skills, and may offer competition venues in various riding disciplines. Riding a horse provides a unique, sometimes profound, recreational or leisure activity for many. There are many sports in which the disabled can participate in to enhance their lives and attain social and physical fitness (such as the Special Olympic programs, for people with cognitive disabilities). Hundreds of programs (and many organizations) exist worldwide which are dedicated to horseback riding or horse care in the context of a cognitive or other disability.