Autism Therapy: equine therapy

definition of equine therapy: Therapy that involves individuals interacting with and riding on horses. Specially-trained therapists work with the individual and the horse. Equine therapy may be beneficial to people with a variety of special needs, including children with autism. Equine therapy may be either therapeutic horseback riding or hippotherapy.

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Community Resources Work Together to Help Kids with Special Needs

Jan 27, 2012

Tina Robbins realized just how special her Kalamazoo community was when they stepped up to help her out with her son with autism. Robbins is a single mom and her son Logan is a non-verbal youngster with autism. Robbins explained that Logan has sensory issues, wandering, and self-injurious behavior. As an advocate for her son, she reached out to Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (KCMHSAS) for help. Jeff Patton, CEO of KCMHSAS, explained that Kalamazoo is a caring community and different agencies pooled their resources to help Logan as well as other children with special needs. Western Michigan University provided speech and music therapy. He received his service dog, Denver, from Paws with a Cause. Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center provided equine therapy, while Project Lifesaver made sure that Logan didn’t wander away from home. Tina also gets help; Woods-Edge Learning Center and Family and Children’s Services Respite Program provides respite services, so that she can be re-energized and effective when caring for Logan.

Read original article: Kalamazoo Community Networks Support Children with Disabilities


Rodeo School Also Benefits Kids with Autism

Jan 11, 2012

Along with its rodeo-themed curriculum, the Westwind Rodeo Academy in Alberta Canada offers equine therapy for people with autism. Shellee Shaw, the academy’s director began focusing on kids with disabilities in 2009. She believes that horses and kids with autism are a natural match; there is unconditional love from the animal, full body movement for the child, and reduction of stress. Teachers and therapists who help with the horseback riding talk about the improvements they have seen in children’s confidence and communication. “It probably is the most effective thing that I’ve done with kids,” said Lanny Smith, a counselor at Cardston Elementary School.

Read original article: More than Horseplay: Rodeo School Helps Children with Special Needs


Groups Raising Funds for Equestrian Therapeutic Center

Sep 26, 2011

Sitrin Health Care Center, Upstate Cerebral Palsy and Kelberman Center are fundraising to build an equine therapy center for kids with autism and other developmental and physical delays. These New York organizations will build the center on the Sitrin campus and will employ occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and equine therapists. Studies have found that a horse’s movement mimics that of the human body; this in turn helps build muscle strength in kids who might be weak in those areas. In addition, being in relationship with a horse has been shown to promote calm, relaxation, social integration, and responsibility for people who receive equine therapy.

Read original article: Equestrian Therapeutic Center to be Built on Sitrin Campus


Prancing Hearts and Therapies to Grow On Use Horses to Teach Trust to Children with Special Needs

Feb 10, 2011

Prancing Hearts, which began as equine therapy to help children who had been abused, has joined with Therapies to Grow On to help kids with autism and other developmental delays. Denise Hansen has seen the trust that develops between her horses and children. “I want them to be able to learn to confide in someone. Hopefully, the horse can break down those barriers and help them heal,” Hansen explains. Dana Ehring, a speech therapist who owns Therapies to Grow On, has partnered with Hansen to help kids with autism learn balance, trust, responsibility, and sensory integration while on horseback. They have plans for an equine therapy summer camp that would be free, with donations going to feed the horses.

Read original article: Helping Children Trust


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Therapeutic Riding

Jan 23, 2007 by Anonymous

Therapeutic riding stables can be found by searching this site:  http://www.narha.org/

Therapeutic riding is a recreational, educational or sport activities that is taught by a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor. Hippotherapy is a skilled treatment by a PT, OT or SLP using the movement of the horse.
The term equine therapy is not recognized by NARHA or AHA in the United States.  
See the www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org for more information. Links for evidence based practice are available under \"Research\".

Many therapists have found that children are better able to process sensory information and form social connections after treatment.

Therapeutic riding can be a fabulous multisensorial experience. For further information check out the Web site of Connections Therapeutic Riding Center in Colorado: http://www.connectionstrc.org/.

Children with autism many times respond very positively to music and horse therapies. Point being, "Music & Horse Therapies" can overlap sometimes for added reinforcment.

Familiar songs can be played in both horse and music therapies. Also, it has been noted that music has a calming effect sometimes for children with autism in horse therapy sessions. After working with a young man with autism, I realized the concept of "THE BEAT"(Heart, Hoof & Drum) which is in part about how important movement and music is to children with autism.

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      Just have to note that before horse therapy lessons, one young man with autism always goes on the swings next to the stables efore his therapeutic horse lessons.    Also, at his home,  he enjoys using the treadmill while listening to music and I am trying to get him to use the jogging trampoline, also. “Movement & Music” means so much to most people with autism.  Lastly, “THE BEAT” is not limited to disABILITIES, but also includes the full spectrum of how MUSIC connects with”People & Horses”.

    


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    • Synonyms for equine therapy include: equine assisted learning, equine assisted psychotherapy, equine facilitated learning, equine-assisted learning, equine-assisted psychotherapy, equine-facilitated learning
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