Hippotherapy | ADHD Information
I was reading on here the other day about someone whos kid rides as part of therapy...or something to that effect. Its called Hippotherapy...and my God its WONDERFUL for these kids! My mom owns a stable, and she and I have ridden horses our whole lives. I used to train and show as a teen/early twentysomething. Well, there is a woman at my moms barn that has a horse, Ginger...who is the most kid broke animal youve ever seen! Linda...horses owner...lets Mac ride at least once a week. He LOVES IT! Even before he was diagnosed, She noticed how much trouble he would get into (my parents babysite my kdis while im working so theyre there alot), and thgouht it would be good for him to ride. Boy was she right! And im so thankful to her! Shes very good with him too, and he listens to and minds her so well! I watched him ride yesterday, and was GREAT! He really focuses on the riding, the horse and all thats involved. I STRONGLY suggest that ANYONE who can...get their kids some riding lessons! They will thrive on the discipline from it, and what kid doesnt love horses? Find a local barn or stable in your area and get your kids some beginner riding lessons, or if there is an organization in your area for theraputic horse back riding, look into it. You wont be sorry!
Heres a link with a little info
http://www.specialchild.com/archives/ia-008.html
What is hippotherapy supposed to do? I know almost nothing about this.I am a volunteer sidewalker for a hippotherapy stable. I can tell you it is WONDERFUL for the kids! If any of you have the opportunity to do this, I highly recommend at least checking it out. You will be glad you did!That was reccommended by the school psychologist, and I was a little leary. It is good to read this. I will mention it to pdoc.the psychologist wants my aspergers daughter to do this.....we haven't yet....My son has been riding since he was born. We just got him his 1st pony this year, she is a kid broke pony. He liked it at 1st, then he liked it again after he got better and was able to ride with me around the neighborhood. But he can only take an hour or less, and gets frutrated when Gidget does not do what he wants, and he thinks riding is boring. He is not a horse crazed person like me for sure. I can not see Dillon's behavior improving with riding at all????? Guess it does not work for everyone. I do encourage any one who can try it to do so.....many children love riding..........just not mine! (for more than 15 minutes anyway)
Where I volunteer, the preschooler riding the horse is not only riding, but asked to do other things while riding such as reciting the ABCs, giving a hi-5, other things like that--sort of multi-tasking while balancing on the horse. They also ride sideways, backwards, on hands and knees, and standing up, and trotting. These tots don't get to control the horse with reins. They don't even have a saddle. They sit on a blanket--there is a technical name for it but I can't remember what it is. That way they can feel the warmth from the horse. A horse handler holds the horse, the physical/occupational therapist works with the child, and the volunteer walks on the other side of the horse and holds the child steady. All the kids have a different special need. There are autistic kids that walk fine, but aren't very verbal. There are kids that have low muscle tone that are still learning to walk. We had a child who was very oppositional when he came to the horse, but as the session continued, he calmed down. The horses seem to have a calming effect on the kids I've seen so far, and most kiddos think it is super-fun. They don't even realize they're getting a workout and getting stronger!
For older kids, they have therapeutic riding. They don't need sidewalkers for that, so I don't really have any insight other than the child rides alone with a riding instructor (not a OT/PT) walking alongside, and the child follows the instructions given by the instructor. This is done with a saddle and bridle.
I have DIllon do different things while riding too. He rides bareback many times. I taught him bareback so he would develop balance. I started by leading the pony with him riding, and having him reach his arms out, laying back, touching the horses ears, etc.....don't get me wrong, he does like to ride, but I can tell he is not going to be horse crazy like me. He would rather fish with daddy.
I suppose children who where not raised with horses react differently. I have wheeled Dillon out with me to feed every day till he could walk, and he has been riding with me till he could ride on his own.
DillonsMom39006.7907060185Hippotherapy Explained