Horse Therapy?

Post Reply New Topic

I grew up around horses and have been riding since I was 3.

It definiately helped with my AS. I could communicate with horses (and most animals) much better than with any person. They were one of my special interests from a very young age and continued to be until I was a teenager. I worked my second casual job exercising racehorses when I was 15 - 18 and also with horses that had issues or behavioural problems for quite a few years. I have a black thoroughbred stallion now who is an absolute handful but he's awesome too.

I second the recommendation on natural horsemanship. Your child will benefit much more if there is an emphasis on listening and understanding the horses. I'd probably take him along a couple of times first, get them to teach him to brush them and tack them up and everything. Then you can move on to some ground work and later on he can ride them while lunging. Lunging is a really good thing to do because he can get a sense of how the horse moves and what it feels like and what to expect without having to worry about directing it and multi-tasking (important for an ASD kid).

Take the time to find the right instructor, that is really important and it can make or break his experience with it, If you can find someone who can work with him like that, I expect he would benefit greatly from it.

Absolutely I recommend horseback riding lessons. I have owned and ridden horses all my life and that is actually my theory of why I didn't get diagnosed till this year when I haven't ridden any horse in over a year. I need horses in my life which is why I chose a job working with the conservation and management of the feral horses on Assateague Island in Maryland.

I worked at an equestrian school for a bit. I only rode twice and I didn't like it very much at all. Or mucking the stalls

But turning them out, bringing them in, feeding them - fun times. They all have their quirks. I felt like I had a connection with them that the trainers and riders didn't have. I guess seeing me meant one of two things: food, or going out to play.

I used to have a horse, and I used to take riding lessons.

I liked it.

(I can ride a horse but can't drive a car. Funny that.)

I was into horse riding ages nine to ten.
I really loved the horses and everything to do with them.

Then one day a horse I was riding in a group class went berserk and the jerk who was leading the class just kept yelling "Whip it! Again!".
After clinging on for dear life for some minutes I managed to get off safely and never looked back.
I blame the teacher though, and I still love horses themselves. Not interested in riding them anymore, is all...

has anyone here mentioned 'Riding for the Disabled' that in the UK was developed for soldiers that came back shell-shocked from the First War, there was nothing else that could get thro to them ......

I also have an autistic and alpha dog here that is a real handful, we have learnt a lot re hierachy, posture, face coupled with eye contact and manner. In fact would help any bullied child to learn how the bullies are basically just full of s**t, so much vacuous posturing ....

I would consider getting a dog instead. Horseback riding lessons can be quite expensive. I fin that my lap dog is much more effective at relieving stress.

I took lessons back when I was 10-12.

The first time I got on the horse he went into a full gallop.
Everyone around me were going crazy and when I got him to stop they were extremely worried.

I thought it was a blast, so I continued.

Now I'm in an 18th century Dragoon unit, I'm dismounted light infantry, but still get to help with the horses.