I only knew a little bit about Horse Sense from my other TR classes from previous semesters. I never realized how many different ways it can help people with disabilities. For example I thought that using riding as rehabilitation was more geared toward the psychological aspect of helping people, not so much the help of physical rehabilitation. The story that was shared about the girl who had scoliosis, but after riding for a while the scoliosis went away was really surprising to me. I guess I didn't realize how much riding the horse could improve the curvature of the spine. I also found it really interesting that Horse Sense is able to operate based on the fact that it is a non-profit organization. I would imagine that horses are NOT cheap! And to find a horse that is mellow enough but still wants to be active cannot be easy. Plus being open for only part of the year limits the amount of income that they are able to take in. It truly amazes me that they are able to maintain their program through the donations, it just shows how many generous people there are out there. Getting back to the rehabilitation with the horses, I was also unaware of the different activities that one can do while riding to improve muscle tone and posture such as reaching for the ball or putting the ball or object in the basket. Trying to plan programs for all the different populations that use Horse Sense must also be a really big challenge, especially with different age groups and cognitive abilities. Making sure that everyone is capable, enjoying themselves, and getting the help they need must take a lot of creative thinking on the teachers' part.
One of the lived experiences that I found on the Internet pertaining to equine therapy was from a facility called Cooper Canyon Academy. A young woman named Susan went to the facility when she was a teenager to work on her anger issues. She describes the experience as being extremely beneficial as opposed to regular therapy. The people at CCA had this to say about horse therapy.
"horses serve as co-therapists, providing unconditional positive regard, setting firm boundaries, testing student's boundaries and providing students with an opportunity to learn to empathize, nurture, and care for others. Animals don't lie, manipulate, or cheat. They are direct in their communication and they respond to direct and clear communication from others. As students work with the animals, they begin to realize that lying, manipulating and cheating don't work; they begin to form bonds and to expand their horizons beyond themselves."
I found this on http://www.equine-therapy-programs.com/help-for-troubled-girl.html but it was taken from the Cooper Canyon AcademyWebsite.
I found this statement to be so true!! With animals there is no judgement. They accept you as you are which allows one to be completely emotionally vulnerable. As people we are psychologically messy and confusing whereas with animals what you see is what you get. If you show compassion and respect for an animal you will in turn receive the same behavior. It is this type of environment that really allows someone to resolve their issues on their own.
The second story I found was about a boy Rowan Isaacson who has autism. In an interview his father discusses how before working with horses Rowan would not talk, was incontinent, and had tantrums but after working with horses all of this issues to seemed to resolve themselves. Rupert Isaacson, the father, claims that Betsy the horse lowered her head when she first met Rowan which is a very rare thing for a horse to do upon their first encounter with a person. He says they made an instant connection right away. He also claims that research has found that the rhythmic movement of the horse "opens up the learning centers in the brain" and that it also releases the "feel good hormone, oxytocin". Rupert describes autism as the over stimulation of the brain and that being surrounded by nature and calming animals allows for the those stimuli to be repressed. I found this really unique! So check it out! :) http://www.horseboymethod.com/videos/viewvideo/10/horse-boy-method/autism-therapy-on-horseback-the-horse-boy-cnn-dr-sanjay-gupta-talks-with-rupert-isaacson.html
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