|
HOME | WHY HORSES? | ADD/ ADHD PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN | OUR HORSES |
|
MEET GAIL LINN | WHAT HORSES TEACH US | THERAPEUTIC RIDING | PROBLEM SOLVING | CONTACT |
|
|
|
THERAPEUTIC RIDING FOR ADD/ADHD CHILDREN Equine Assisted Counseling has a new program working with
ADD/ADHD children and adolescents through therapeutic horseback riding.
Therapeutic riding teaches the skills of focusing, concentrating,
multi-tasking, and sequencing – taking it one step beyond the use of
drugs. HOW CAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING HELP? For years therapeutic riding programs have been a haven for
children with ADD/ADHD. A well-structured riding program can be an extremely
rewarding and motivating treatment for these children. The symptoms of
hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness have often prevented
success in other attempts at organized sports.
In therapeutic riding, however, the working on a one-to-one or
two-to-one basis, along with the novelty inherent with horseback riding,
is a natural medium for these “motor driven children.”
Improvement in riding skills, coupled with a well-trained team of
mental health professionals often lead to success for the first time in
a child’s life. HOW DOES
THERAPEUTIC RIDING WORK? First, the mere challenge of riding a horse takes
concentration and focus. Something
the children learn quickly is that if he/she’s not in control of the
horse, the horse will control them.
Controlling a horse is a rewarding achievement for anyone, but an
ADD/ADHD child feels overwhelming achievement in gaining
control….possible a first in their lives. Secondly, the main focus of the program (besides increasing
riding skills) revolves around challenging, increasingly difficult
obstacle courses that the child must maneuver the horse through.
This takes the skills of focusing, concentration and sequencing
while focusing on two tasks – riding and getting through the obstacle
course. Finally, there is little (if any) rebellion from the child to
complete the tasks presented. Taken
out of the school setting or tutoring, the child is having fun learning
the very same skills he/she may resist in a more formal setting. The success rate of therapeutic riding is high – often
helping turn the “disparaging label of ADD into a child who is Absolutely
Delightfully Driven.”*
*from SRIDES: ADD by Colleen Zanin, MS, OTR
|
|
This drawing was created by an 8 year old client of ours who is
often heard bragging: “I
ride a horse with my counselor, and Morray [the horse], and me…we hold
the record for going in and out of poles only [spreads hands apart] this
far apart!” He does
hold the record and it takes pure focusing, sequencing and willpower on
his part. He should be proud
– we are certainly proud of his progress.
|
 |