How Hippotherapy Is Helping Improve Individuals with Asd Essay

This paper will inform the parents, educators, and American society of the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for people who have cognitive challenges or loss of limbs and other functions. Therapy can happen on the horse as well as off, depending on the condition of the rider. Not all therapy has to be done on a horse. It can be done on the ground as well, by padding the horse, brushing the horse, leading the horse. Knowing you can conquer being around and taking care of a big horse gives those with challenges a sense of satisfaction and self confidence. Therapeutic horseback riding is wonderful for young people as well as older people with disabilities. Even if they cannot sit up straight, therapy can make it so that any individual can

Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) started before the 1960 's. Equine-assisted therapy is most known for the chance to help physically disabled people recover movement in their limbs. Another big role equine-assisted therapy contributes to therapy is throughout helping kids with autism or any other psychological condition. Specifically, people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit the most from it. Throughout equine-assisted therapy, autistic children can begin to trust, communicate, connect, and bond with

Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” Some might say Churchill was ahead of his time, with the way horse assisted therapy has just recently begun growing in popularity. All over the world therapists and psychologists have been exploring the effect horses have on troubled humans. In their explorations, perhaps with Churchill’s words in mind, they are attempting to find out just how useful an equine aid is in therapeutic treatment of physical and psychological impairments. There are passionate opinions from varying viewpoints, but they all come down to whether or not horse assisted therapy is effective and should be considered a regular practice. The answer to this

“The horse acts as the teacher and unlocks the client. The animal facilitates emotional breakthroughs, and the effect, therapists report, can be magical” (Hayley Sumner).

I was astonished to find out that disabled people can greatly benefit from their therapeutic riding, even when outside of the arena. The idea of someone being with an animal to improve his or her people skills is intriguing. My research suggests that disabled riders may possibly gain better people skills and sensations by being with a horse, rather than talking with a sophisticated human being. In my research, I found that www.sire-htec.org had a great description of how a disabled person would feel on top of a horse. It stated, the horses “rhythmic movements help stiff or spastic muscles to relax, much like rocking soothes a crying baby” (“Benefits”). This information was very helpful when discussing the

Before we jump into the main question, let's jump back to where it all started. Horse therapy dates back to around 600 b.c when the greeks rode horses for therapy. Later, in around 1946 equine therapy then was introduced in Scandinavia. Which then led to the North Americans beginning the handicapped riding which started around 1969. They soon recognized that riding horses or just being

Developing good motor control is a fundamental element of developing necessary life skills. Horse therapy for autistic children allows the participants to use their muscles to control the movement of the horse. Some include grooming activities that improve fine motor skills as well. Communication is developed. The motivating nature of the activities makes them ideal for encouraging communication. The inability to communicate effectively can be extremely frustrating for people on the autism spectrum. Although people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome may not exhibit problems with language, some significant difficulties with communication are apparent when you look at details about Aspergers closely. Equestrian programs for autistic children promote communication. The child is highly motivated to use language and signs to ask to ride, continue riding, and to interact with the animals. The nonverbal interaction between the child and the horse is a building block. The child learns how to control the movements of the horse and the animal provides feedback through its

Walking into the sunlit barn hallway, the musky scent of hay and horse fur overwhelms my senses. I see a chestnut-colored horse stick his head over the wooden stall door to greet me. As I look around, I notice other volunteers getting horses saddled up and ready for the next lesson. Turning around I smile at a young student entering with her mom, ecstatic at the prospect of being able to ride a horse despite being in a wheelchair. Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy, located in Gretna, makes dreams possible. People of all ages have the opportunity to learn how to ride a horse despite their physical or mental disabilities. After volunteering at HETRA for five years, the organization has made significant impacts on my personality, interests, and maturity.

Furthermore, research is demonstrating the promise that equine therapy holds for children with intellectual disabilities. When compared to traditional intervention methods, equine therapy is a bit more cost-effective, meaning more families can afford equine therapy. With this in mind, it shows promise of becoming a standard form of early intervention for individuals with disabilities (Holmes et. al. 120). As the child ages, research is showing more and more support for equine therapy. It was mentioned previously how equine therapy can help a child in the classroom. Research shows that equine therapy can help a child in nearly every aspect of his or her life. Equine therapy proved in one study that it helps children with intellectual disabilities with their balance, thanks to the stimulating movements of the horse (Biery et. al. 1). Motor skills have improved after just a few sessions in equine therapy, whether it be riding or hippotherapy (Snider et. al. 1). In addition, researchers have found that social skills have improved with equine therapy (Bass, Dunchowny & llabre 1266). The reason for the improvement in social skills is because in therapeutic riding lessons, children are given the chance to interact with other individuals who are similar to them. This creates a bond between the students. Individuals in hippotherapy gain social skills because of the interactions they have with a therapist, and the bonds formed with the horse. All of these researchers have

Equine-assisted therapy. The use of equine-assisted therapy has been proposed as a method for facilitating positive sensory experiences for children with autism. A doctoral dissertation by Stickney (2010) finds that “the consistent, rhythmic movement of the horse as well as its warmth, appearance, smell, and furry coat sends an array of sensory signals to the central nervous system, affecting motor, visual, proprioceptive, tactile, and vestibular systems that are necessary for development of motor control” (p. 33). Preliminary research studies indicate that the experience of riding a horse can improve motor function, posture, balance, and reaction time. This can encourage positive sensory experiences, which causes the brain to release chemicals

Riding horses can help build strength in the body, but it can also be used as therapy. A few years ago, Haleigh volunteered at a therapeutic horseback riding business in Clinton, Iowa, called Bright Spot Inc. At Bright Spot, Haleigh and other volunteers, work with many children with different disabilities and help them overcome their problems. Their confidence is built when they ride the horses because they feel like they can do anything. Therapeutic horseback riding has been proven to really help out people with disabilities. Horseback riding can help disabled patients better than any other form of physical therapy. The physical benefits that can be improved form therapeutic horse riding is improved circulation, respiration, balance, body metabolism, and it can help the disabled rider gain agility and strength. Horse riding can also help with the movement of the riders legs and increase coordination in their muscle groups. In one study of therapeutic horseback riding, children with disabilities improve their posture, muscle tone, and weight-bearing abilities (Bliss). After trying therapeutic horseback riding, many patients become more outgoing. Beth Bliss once said that, “Studies show that autistic children often

Therapeutic horse riding is a program that benefits children and adults who have challenges wither is physical or emotional. Some of the program's most common challenges are a variety of special needs relating to cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and autism to stroke recovery and learning disabilities. The program helps increased balance and muscle control, improves concentration and short-term memory, and enhances their confidence and self-esteem. Research into animal-assisted therapy is fairly new; however, even among professionals who believe more research is in order, there is a general consensus that therapy animals can be a highly beneficial addition to treatment programs for children with autism or Asperger's.

“ Therapeutic riding horses also help increase a person’s self-esteem (Nichols 4).” Recreational riding- are people riding a horse that has a trained or certified therapeutic riding instructor (Scott 8). There are so many different hazards when interacting with horses vs. riding horses. Horseback riding is the most dangerous recreational sport. Horseback riding is popular with the therapeutic riding program (Hausberger 5). Horseback riding also helps people with disabilities by improving their balance and coordination (Nichols 11). To make horseback riding more exciting they make up games and activities for the lesson. The client will have to come in for an orientation that way the horse leader can determine which equine therapy the client needs. Most clients that do horseback riding or equine therapy do not like the change of a horse or any change at all. “Hippotherapy” is treatment with help of a horse. Hippotherapy help with both the children and adults with mild Neromusclarskeletsal Dysfunction. Hippotherapy helps improve the functional limitations (Scott 15-16). “ Some horses are trained for vaulting.” Vaulting is a type of therapy, in which the riders stand, kneel, sit, or even lay down while the horse is moving.” Humans get more of a connection while caring for the horse than you can horseback riding (Hayes 9). You are around the horse with content daily which was a great impact on the human and horse interaction (Hausberger 1-2). To do an educational benefit, they play a game with the clients. The client in the book pulls leaves while riding the horse to twist and stretch (Scott 6-7). Miscommunication with the rider and the horse have more consequences with the relationship. The most complex for the rider is to remain calm, alert, and positive at all times through the horse ride. The riders need to have their body and mind in the state of equilibrium state

More research is needed to find if animal-assisted interventions offer substantial and reliable improvements in symptoms in children with ASD. If family has extra resources and finds that these interventions might be beneficial for their child’s symptoms, this has not yet been found to be harmful. However, it might be advisable that social skills interventions are integrated into a child’s therapy before the use of an animal to aid in these interactions is selected. It seems that animal-assisted interventions are promising for improving safety and targeting atypical sensory responsiveness. If a child with autism’s safety cannot be managed in other ways and the family is experiencing substantial burden, a service dog might be a beneficial

We are slowly learning more ways to help children with disabilities or even trust issues. The average techniques taught to teachers and used to teach students does not help every student. The school body is made up of hundreds of pupils, and not one is the same. Equine therapy is now used for speech purposes, learning sessions, and to work with untrusting foster children. The bond and movement of the horses creates significant improvement in their riders area of need.