FEI-Level dressage riders Ann Guptill & Lou Denizard gather donations for second silent auction

The New England dressage community is again teaming up to support NARHA Horses for Heroes, a program that was created to provide equine-assisted activities and  therapies (EAAT) for wounded U.S. military personnel and veterans. In spite of the economic recession, the dressage and equestrian community has been generous again in 2009, with almost $7,500 in goods and services donated this year to be auctioned off during the Northeast Regional Adult Amateur Dressage Championships (NRADC) at Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Gales Ferry, Connecticut on October 10 & 11, 2009.

Ann Guptill, owner of Fox Ledge Farm, and Lou Denizard, owner of Delante Equestrian Center, have asked their colleagues, friends, peers, and students to come together to support Horses for Heroes by donating lessons, training, show entry fees, and other items and services to be sold with  all proceeds going to NARHA. Guptill and Denizard’s requests were met with enthusiastic support, with many prominent riders, trainers, and farms in the area stepped forward and pledged their support.

Guptill said, “I was intrigued by Horses for Heroes when I first read about it last year. The physical and emotional help that horses can give to any injured or disabled person is amazing. Horses give so much of themselves to their riders, it is very fitting that they give to our service personnel who have given their all to serve our country.”

Denizard “I believe in NARHA’s Horses for Heroes because of the good that horses have in them for healing the mind and soul. These soldiers have risked their lives for our country, and many have been severely injured in the process and will have lifelong disabilities. Any and all ways we can give back to support them is very important.”

Last year, with the help of Denizard, the NRADC Silent Auction raised more than  $3,000 for NARHA Horses for Heroes. Denizard is enthusiastic about the program, saying  “I firmly believe in this program because of the good that horses have in them for healing the mind and soul. These soldiers have risked their lives for our country and it is important for all of us to give back to support them.”

Although the recession has certainly impacted many horse show venues and vendors, the NRADC committee hopes that the dressage community will feel good about spending money at the Silent Auction for NARHA Horses for Heroes. In addition to getting good deals on many goods and services, winning bidders often get an opportunity to train with someone who was previously inaccessible to them. Courtney King-Dye, who represented the U.S. in the Beijing Olympics, has supported this effort by donating lessons to the auction. Jayne Marino of Mistover Farms donated $250 in services for the second year in a row, and Ten Broeck Farm’s Phil Silva, who runs a successful equine transportation service, has generously donated transportation from New England to Florida for one horse – a service valued at $1500.

Numerous research studies have shown that individuals who participate in equine-assisted therapies can experience physical, emotional, and mental rewards. Because horseback riding rhythmically moves the rider’s body in a manner similar to a human gait, riders with physical disabilities often show improvement in flexibility, balance and muscle strength.  For individuals with mental or emotional disabilities, the unique relationship formed with the horse can lead to increased confidence, patience and self-esteem. The sense of independence found on horseback benefits all that ride. In addition to the therapeutic benefits, horseback riding also provides recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enjoy the outdoors.

Horses for Heroes was developed specifically to aid wounded military personnel and veterans. The Horses for Heroes Task Force works directly with the U.S. Veterans’ Administration to shape the program to meet the specific needs of soldiers. “Appreciating the power of the horse to change lives is our goal,” said NARHA Past President Dr. Paul Spiers, “and NARHA wants to provide positive change for these very special lives. Our service personnel have fought to preserve our freedom, and, for many, at a very dear cost. We must be certain that if our wounded service personnel and veterans need and want this kind of help, they will get the best NARHA has to offer.”

The Task Force has been developing the program and the pilot methods to be used for educating member instructors and centers interested in starting a program. Currently, Windrush Farm in Boxford, Massachusetts, offers this program in New England. Many NARHA centers have been offering these services to veterans for years, but NARHA’s goal is to expand the program for military personnel, making  the benefits available to a broader scope of individuals.

About NARHA

NARHA was formed in 1969 to promote EAAT for individuals with and without special needs. Nearly 800 NARHA member centers partner equines with NARHA Certified Instructors and various professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists and social workers to physically improve, emotionally empower and socially enhance the lives of individuals with and without special needs.

More than 40,000 children and adults find a sense of independence through involvement with horses at NARHA centers nationwide. These member centers range from small, one-person programs to large operations with several certified instructors and licensed therapists. In addition to therapeutic riding, a center may offer any number of equine assisted activities and therapies including hippotherapy, equine facilitated mental health, carriage driving, interactive vaulting, trail riding, competition, ground work or stable management. Through a wide variety of educational resources, the association helps individuals start and maintain successful equine assisted activity and therapy programs. There are more than 31,000 volunteers, 3,000 instructors, 5,900 therapy horses and thousands of contributors from all over the world helping people at NARHA centers.

2010 Radio Show Episode 55 – WEG Updates & Spotlight Para-Equestrian Report:

• Thank you to our spotlight rider Susan Treabess for the update on her quest to qualify for 2010 World Equestrian Games. Read more about Susan…
• Thank you also to Chrissy Joy for filling us in and giving us the WEG update.
• In an ongoing effort to clean up equestrian sport, Lord Stevens, the former Chief of the Metropolitan Police in London, England, announced recommendations last week to combat doping, and ensure the integrity of it’s Governing Body. Read more…
• The FEI also announced this week that, unless she appeals, German Dressage rider Isabell Werth, will be suspended from all competitions for six months. The punishment stems from a doping incident in which Werth’s horse Whisper, tested positive for a banned substance, at the Wiesbaden CDI in Germany at the end of May. Read more…
• The Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament takes place this Saturday, September 12th, one of the richest team show jumping events in the world. Read more…
• The Rolex Three Day Event will NOT clash with Badminton, as feared earlier this year. The organizers of both events have been able to reach an agreement on dates from next year until 2016. Read more…
• A while ago now, we reported that Kentucky was emulating Northern California’s Napa Valley Wine Country in it’s own style, and creating the Bourbon Trail. Read more…
• We had an exciting Burghley Weekend, and Oli Townend has captured two parts of the Rolex Grand Slam, so no doubt he’ll be over here in Lexington next spring trying to win the third leg and take home the $350,000. bonus to anyone who can win all three in a row.
• We’ll be covering the Driving Test Event that takes place at the beginning of October and talking to our spotlight athlete Mike Mclennan, and the Endurance Test Event, ten days later, on the 14th October. Read more…
• Alltech, the title sponsor of the World Equestrian Games next year, have yet one more thing to boast about. Alltech were recently named one of the top green companies in the world by Inc magazine, the first animal health company to make the list. Read more…
• Please support our sponsors because we would not be here without them:

___________________________

Listen Now, Download or Subscribe:

Television coverage of the World Equestrian Games will be provided by NBC Sports. I’m guessing online streaming will be available also. I’ll post as soon as more information is available.

General Admission tickets will be available for entrance into the Kentucky Horse Park and will include acccess to the tradeshow, exhibits, demonstrations, and pavilions.

2010 Radio Show Episode 39 – Spotlight Para-Equestrian Susan Treabess:

• And the winner of the May 2010 Games Giveaway of the $300.00 worth of Succeed Digestive Conditioning Program was Kellie Fuson of Ann Arbor, MI. Congrats Kellie.
• It is now time to enter to win the June Games Giveaway. Remember you have to re-enter every month:

• The US Show jumping team is gaining ground in Europe. After a disappointing start to the Top League, finishing 7th out of 8 teams in the opening round at La Baule in France, our team of Richard Spooner on Cristallo, Laura Kraut on Cedric, Lauren Hough riding Quick Study, and European rookie Ashlee Bond riding Cadett were victorious in the Nations Cup in Rome.
• The USA’s Catherine Haddad on Cadillac was reserve champion behind Sander Marijnissen of the Netherlands on Moedwil in the Exquis World Dressage Masters Grand Prix Special to Music five star CDI last saturday, May 23rd.

• The Canadian Para Equestrian Team Coach Andrea Taylor has extended her commitment to the team at least until next year’s World Games.
• Here’s some news from the NRHA that’s right up my alley. The National Reining Horse Association recently revolutionized their format of classes and shows to appeal to more entry-level competitors.

My experience with therapeutic riding lessons made it all the more exciting when I discovered a while ago that para equestrian was an international sport! Riders with disabilities  not only compete locally and nationally, but they are included in the Paralympics and the upcoming World Equestrian Games.

Here’s the rundown:

Para Equestrian History

Para Equestrian has been developing as an international sport over the last 25 years, with events held in both dressage and driving. The first dressage competitions for disabled riders were held in Great Britain and Scandinavia in the 1970s. 1987, the first world championships were held in sweden.

Para equestrian was first recognized by the International Paralympic Committee in 1991 and run by the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee before coming under the governship of the FEI (International Equestrian Federation) in 2006. Para Equestrian then joined jumping, eventing, dressage, driving, vaulting, endurance, and reining to become the 8th FEI discipline.

The first Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships was held under the governance of the FEI in 2006, as well as the first ever Combined FEI Dressage and Para Dressage competition in Moorsele, Belgium. Para Dressage has been included in the Paralympics since 1996, and will be in the World Equestrian Games for the first time in 2010.

Para Dressage Riders & Classification

Riders who qualify to compete in Para Dressage must have a measurable physical or visual impairment. They are rated according to their disability profile and classification, receiving a “Grade,” and then are judged against other riders who have been given the same Grade. The Grades are Ia, Ib, II, II, IV with Ia being the most seriously impaired and Grade IV the least. The athlete’s condition can be caused by illness or accident, and common conditions include multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, amputation, paralysis and blindness.

Riders with similar levels of impairment compete against one another. The competition within each Grade is then judged on the skill of that rider on the horse regardless of the rider’s impairment. Due to the lack of change in most disabilities, riders tend to stay in the same grade throughout their riding career, although on occasion athlete’s conditions can improve or deteriorate, thus their grade changes.

Riders who are physically impaired are allowed to carry or wear formally documented and approved compensating aids to compete, while riders who are visually impaired or blind can make use of authorized audio aids.

Rider Classification

Riders who compete in para dressage are classified by their physical disability, not their riding skill. Here’s how classification works according to the FEI:

The competitor’s mobility, strength and coordination are assessed in order to establish their Profile. People with Profiles of similar functional ability level are grouped into four competition Grades. The competition test for each Grade is compatible with the functional ability of people with the same potential.

All equestrian competitors should be classified within six to twelve months before competing. Once a rider’s Profile and Grade are assigned, no change may be made to their classification unless there are significant changes in their impairment.

Visit the FEI site for details on para equestrian classification and grades or download this PDF of the para-eq-classification-manual.

Para Dressage Tests

Para dressage riders are classified into groups Grades 1-4, with 1 being the most disabled (typically wheelchair-bound, and 4 being the least). Test for Grades 1-2 are walk and trot only, though Grade 2 riders may canter a 2-meter circle in their freestyle. Grade 3 is walk, trot, canter and may perform shoulder in, half pass, and one flying change during the freestyle. Grade 4 can go as high as using Prix St. George movements.

Para Dressage at the 2010 World Equestrian Games

Para Dressage is included for the first time in the World Equestrian Games coming up in Lexington, Kentucky in 2010.

Qualifications for the World Equestrian Games Para Dressage vary by country, but the FEI requires that rider must receive a score of 60% or better at one three star competition. Beyond that, countries have their own qualification rules by which riders are short-listed and then chosen for the team by a selection committee.

Riders competing at the World Equestrian Games have the opportunity to earn individual and team medals. Riders who compete on national teams and as individuals will ride three total tests, while those who are competing individually ride in two. There is a team test round, an individual test round, and a freestyle round.

If the teams at WEG are organized like the teams for the 2008 Paralymics in Hong Kong, they will consist of 3-4 members, one of which must be a Grade 1 or 2.

Each grade has it’s own set of individual placings and medals. Team scores are combined.

2010 WEG Para Dressage Competition Schedule

Tue, Oct 5, 2010:  Individual Team Tests
Wed, Oct 6, 2010: Individual Championship Tests
Thu, Oct 7, 2010: Individual Championship Tests
Fri, Oct 8, 2010: Individual Freestyle Tests

All tests will be held in the covered arena.

Additonal Resources

• FEI Para Equestrian
• United States Equestrian Para Equestrian
• World Equestrian Games Para Equestrian News
• World Equestrian Games Coverage On Regarding Horses

All About The Disciplines

• Para Dressage
• Eventing
• Combined Driving
• Jumping
• Dressage
• Reining
• Endurance
• Vaulting

Thanks to the 2010 Radio Show for picking up this press release and bringing it to my attention. As you may or may not know, I’m a huge proponent of therapeutic riding for physical, mental, and emotional issues. I’ve seen the huge benefits first hand through volunteering at a NARHA accredited center. And I love that there are international para-dressage competitions for disabled riders.

Para-dressage is also one of the eight disciplines included in the upcoming 2010 World Equestrian Games.

If you or someone you know are a disabled rider, don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn about opportunities for national and international competition.

USEF To Host Para-Equestrian Training Session

Press Release: February 02, 2009

Lexington, KY – The USEF will be hosting a Para-Equestrian Dressage Training Session March 18-19 2009 in Woodinville, WA. The Training Session is designed to help riders who have various disabilities learn more about competing in Dressage at a National or International Level and will be hosted by the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center.

US Assistant Coach, Sharon Schneidman, will be conducting the Training Session. Sharon has earned a USDF Gold Medal, has a winning resume at the FEI levels both in the saddle and as a coach. She served as the Assistant Coach for the US Para-Equestrian Team at the 2008 Paralympics and 2007 FEI Para-Equestrian World Championships. Riders will also have the opportunity to get a National Classification from Steve McKenzie MS, PT.

Para-Equestrian provides riders with all kinds of disabilities the chance to compete in dressage competitions at every level, from local shows to the Paralympic Games. Para-Equestrian Dressage will be included, for the first time, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games which will be held in Lexington, KY in September of 2010. Training Sessions like this are a valuable tool to help identify new athletes, work with existing elite athletes, educate trainers on Para-Equestrian Sport Programs and to raise awareness of the Para-Equestrian program in the US.

Please contact Pam Lane for an appointment for classification or to sign up for the training session at plane@usef.org or at 908.326.1153.

The New England dressage community showed their patriotism at the Mystic Valley Fall Dressage Show and Northeast Regional Adult Amateur Championships (NRADC) in October by supporting a silent auction to benefit NARHA’s Horses for Heroes program (NH4H). The auction raised more than $3,000 for the charity, which provides equine-enabled therapies to wounded U.S. soldiers and veterans.

The auction was held on the show grounds at Mystic Valley Hunt club, which was also hosting the Mystic Fall Dressage Show and the NRADC. Despite strong winds and cold, the bidders showed their intrepid New England spirit and opened their wallets for this cause.

NEDA member Lou Denizard rallied support for the auction because he believes in the organization and the power that horses have to change lives. “I am disappointed that I could not personally attend the auction. Although the weather was not conducive to a larger turnout for the show and auction, I am extremely grateful that those who did attend supported NH4H.” Denizard thanks all the volunteers who gave their time to run the auction, and everyone who donated items and services – small and large – because they helped raise a significant amount of money for NH4H. 100% of the proceeds from the auction went to the charity.

In addition to raising money to support NARHA’s efforts with the fledgling Horse for Heroes program, the auction also brought attention to this cause, which NARHA hopes will help with future fundraising efforts.

Paul A. Spiers, Ph.D, chairman of the NH4H program and former NARHA president, made the following comments on the event, “The equestrian community has been very supportive of the NH4H program. The NRADC group at Mystic Valley, however, went above and beyond, just as our veterans have, and made their support real and very tangible. The unsolicited donation of the proceeds from their silent auction to NH4H was a wonderful gesture, one that honors our injured soldiers. The NRADC equestrians are leading the way in showing how grass roots support can be developed for NH4H.  These funds will go directly to helping coordinate our program nationally, to expand the program’s outreach to our deserving war wounded, whether that wound be physical or psychological, and will help us begin to insure that all veterans who want and need equine assisted therapies, will receive them. I only hope others can be inspired by this group’s generosity.”

More than 50 items or services were donated to the auction, including lessons from prominent instructors and trainers, luxury seat tickets to the Boston Bruins, a $500 trailer service from Yered Trailers, $250 gift certificate to Mistover Farms, and a trip for one horse from New England to Florida from Phil Silva’s Equine Valet Service, valued between $1100 and $1500.

Puerto Rican Dressage Star Luis Denizard Solicits Help for NARHA’s Horses for Heroes

Organization Aids Soldiers Wounded Iraqi and Afganistan
FEI-level rider Luis Denizard traveled to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2007 and competed as Puerto Rico’s sole dressage representative. It was his first international competition, and he found he had an amazing following of people ready to support him in any way they could. Students, former employers, and fellow trainers rallied together to help raise the money needed to cover the high costs of travel.

This summer, he is hoping that same group will rally around him again, but this time it isn’t his own dressage career he has in mind. Denizard is asking his peers, friends, and acquaintances to come together to support “NARHA Horses for Heroes,” an organization that helps wounded veterans through equine assisted activities and therapies (EAAT). Many of the program participants have lost limbs fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and riding horses helps their bodies learn to be mobile again. Working with the horses also helps with the depression that many of U.S. soldiers deal with after going through these traumatic experiences. NARHA Horses for Heroes is a program being developed by the NARHA, which was formed in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association.

Because of how strongly he believes in giving back, Denizard is making a plea to his fellow riders, trainers, and friends, asking them to donate their time and talents to Horses for Heroes. He is donating a week of training at his facility to be auctioned off at the Northeast Regional Adult Amateur Dressage Championships in October during the Silent Auction. All proceeds from the Silent Auction, to be held October 18 & 19, 2008 at Mystic Valley Hunt Club, will go to Horses For Heroes.

While en route to Beijing, Courtney King-Dye emailed from her Blackberry and pledged her support for this event – donating two lessons with her to be auctioned off at the event.

Denizard says, “I believe in NARHA’s Horses for Heroes because of the good that horses have in them for healing the mind and soul. That they help the soldiers improve motor skill functions is icing on the cake. These soldiers have risked their lives for our country and our morals. Many have been severely injured and will have lifelong disabilities. Any and all ways we can give back to support them is very important.”
“Horses have had such a profound impact on my life, and they saved me from many of the pitfalls of growing up in an inner-city environment,” says Denizard. “I firmly believe in horses’ ability to change people’s lives in a positive way.” When he found out about Horses for Heroes, he was drawn to the cause. As a rider for Puerto Rico and a U.S. citizen, he is appreciative of the sacrifices that others have made to provide him opportunities for growth and success. Remaining grateful, he has tried to be alert to opportunities to give back to others.

Denizard started riding Paige Finnegan’s Karola 1 last January, with aspirations of going to Beijing to compete in the Olympic Games. He knew that it would be a difficult task to deliver an Olympic-caliber performance in such a short span of time. Denizard put in his best effort, but ultimately did not meet the requirements in the spring to achieve his certificate of capability with the mare, with whom he had only been riding for a matter of months. His sponsors have stood by him, realizing that success doesn’t just mean winning competitions.

Renee Isler of Westford, MA is one of Denizard’s sponsors, and she provided him with funds that enabled him to compete as he made a bid to represent Puerto Rico at the Olympic Games. Isler says, ” Lou is a hard worker, and what I want our Young Riders to see is that it’s this determination and perseverance that’s important, not just the ribbons and accolades.” Isler is a longtime supporter of the U.S. Young Riders in dressage. Isler chooses riders to sponsor based largely on their work ethic and talent. She donated funds that enabled Courtney King-Dye (who, incidentally, was a student of Denizard’s while she was a child) to travel to the 2008 World Cup Finals in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, in March 2008. Isler again sponsored King-Dye when she went to the Olympic selection trials in June. Of Denizard, King-Dye says, “Lou was my first real trainer, and I am so thankful for that because he gave me such great training basics. He also exemplified the integrity and ethics that all horse people should have. I have so many memories of these sudden epiphanies in my lessons with him that were really the foundation of training a horse but were completely magical to me in the moment. I feel extremely lucky to have had my start with such a wonderful person and trainer.”

Isler has also been a premier sponsor at major east coast shows and the annual Wellington Junior/Young Rider Clinic organized by Dr. Cetty Weiss in Florida and the Palm Beach Derby. She has worked with the Dressage Foundation for two years and established the “Renee Isler Dressage Support Fund,” which provides grants for Young Riders accepted to the USDF FEI JR/YR Clinics.

Isler explains that she appreciates a solid work ethic. She grew up wanting to ride but was not able to be around horses because her family did not have the financial means to provide her lessons. Because of her background, establishing a fund that enables deserving riders to continue their education is very important to her. Denizard is also a self-made horseman who cleaned stalls and swept aisles for years for the privilege of riding and being around horses. He says he was told to “pick up a broom” when he first started hanging around a stable as a teen, and he hasn’t put the broom back down since then.

October 2008 will be a busy month for Denizard. Before the Silent Auction, he is moving his training center to Treasure Coast Farm in Palm City, Florida. This new facility, owned by Tom Mikes, boasts a hurricane-ready barn, two full-sized outdoor dressage arenas, and an insulated indoor arena. Treasure Coast Farm also has large pastures and a galloping track on its lush 25 acres. Leaving the cold New England winters will not be difficult, but leaving his clients and friends to build a new business is a daunting task.

With his competitive sights set on the World Equestrian Games and the Central American Games in 2010, training out of Mike’s world-class facility and being with many of the top dressage riders and trainers year round will increase Denizard’s exposure and build him into a stronger international competitor. The move will also allow Denizard to be closer to Puerto Rico where he teaches and plans to build more business.

If you would like to donate to the silent auction or have questions, fill out the donation form or email Jen at jkoppy@comcast.net. Also, feel free to post this article on your blog if you’d like to help spread the word!

There are two main roles for volunteers in a therapeutic riding class. You’re either a “leader” who leads the horse and helps control her movement. Or you’re a sidewalker who keeps a hand on a student who can’t balance well on his own. In addition, Randy will give the student a specific task such as an obstacle course or specific focus such as turning the horse. As volunteers, we sometimes help coach the students, reminding them how to turn, getting them into two-point, or getting verbal responses for go and whoa.

Some students have low comprehension, so it’s difficult to get the correct response. Some have difficulty physically with balance and position, but can comprehend the adjustments we ask them to make. Some are low on comprehension and balance, so they have a sidewalker.

Then there’s my buddy R, an incredibly sweet and happy young man with Down’s Syndrome.

He’s lost 80 percent of his hearing. And not only does he not hear very well, his comprehension isn’t very high. And characteristic of Down’s Syndrome, his arms and legs are on the short side, which contributes significantly to his poor balance.

R isn’t so unbalanced that he needs a sidewalker, but he’s just enough to make me nervous. I have to watch him like a hawk because he has a bad habit of sticking his legs out in front of him, sending his upper body backward.

R is incredibly enthusiastic and very eager to please. But most of the time he doesn’t seem to understand “sit up tall” or “lean forward” or “don’t lean back” whether I ask him verbally or by physically demonstrating the action. And I’m not sure if it’s because he can’t hear me, or he’s not sure what I’m asking of him,  or a combination of both.

First we had trouble getting his stirrups the right length. Then the saddle assigned to his horse was too small for him. Now, we’ve done everything we can to adjust the tack and try different horses, so the problem is trying to get R in a good position (and stay there). We need him to sit more towards the front of the saddle and sit up so his legs aren’t thrown forward and his upper body thrown back. We really need him to grip with his legs to get him to balance, but we’re not sure we’re ever going to be able to be successful in that endeavor.

So how do I help R to be a safe, balanced, happy rider when I can’t communicate very well with him?

I’m sure there’s some way to help him understand what we’re asking. I just have to find it.

Many of the students who ride at Pegasus Farm, a therapeutic horseback riding facility in northeast Ohio, are autistic. They are also some of our most challenging students. Actually, the handful of students I work with on a regular basis when I’m volunteering are autistic. Because of the nature of their disability, I think they can significantly benefit from time spent with horses.

If you are a parent of a child with autism, the information here will give you an overview of why horseback riding is great therapy. If you are a therapeutic riding volunteer, or considering becoming one, the information below will help you better understand students with autism and how to work with them.

Symptoms of Autism
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically begins to show itself in a child’s first three years. This neurological disorder inhibits the development of social interaction and communication skills.

Autism symptoms vary highly from person to person, but usually include a combination of the following traits:

• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
• Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
• Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
• Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
• Preference to being alone; aloof manner
• Tantrums
• Difficulty in mixing with others
• Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
• Little or no eye contact
• Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
• Sustained odd play
• Spinning objects
• Obsessive attachment to objects
• Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
• No real fears of danger
• Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
• Uneven gross/fine motor skills
• Non responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range.

High-functioning autism generally refers to individuals with clear autistic traits who also demonstrate strong verbal, social, academic, and life skills. Low-functioning autism generally refers to individuals who show autism symptoms including little to no verbal, social, or academic skills.

While autism is not curable, it is treatable. With careful treatment on the autistic person’s terms, symptoms can lessen over time.

Using Horses For Autism Treatment
Riding horses addresses several key symptoms affiliated with autism:

• communication and social skills
• lowered sensory skills
• motor skills
• response to verbal cues and external stimuli.

Riding horses is much more than just a physical experience. While the movement of the horse is great for improving circulation, muscle control, and coordination, there is also a very profound bond that riders–healthy and disabled–develop with their mounts. Horses are companion animals. They look to their riders for direction and love. They are attuned to the smallest movement, attitude, and emotion; a rider cannot hide anything from a horse. Horses can tell if you are angry, nervous, happy, excited, tense, or relaxed and they respond accordingly. They aren’t demanding. They want to understand you and for you to understand them. Because of the love and trust they give, their fine-tuned responses, and desire to please, they are extremely effective in creating a bond with autistic riders that encourages communication and interaction.

Autistic riders learn to communicate verbally and physically with their horse, and they can see the immediate result of their communication when the horse reacts. They learn to focus on something outside themselves, an important step for austistic people. They also learn to communicate and interact with other people as they work with instructors and volunteers who are leading the horse or walking beside them. They learn to respond to verbal cues from the instructor as they complete specific tasks. Plus, riding horses is good exercise and a whole lot of fun.

Most importantly, kids and adults with autism learn to connect with horses, building a trusting relationship that is fun, rewarding, and life-changing.

Hippotherapy vs. Therapeutic Riding Programs
Hippotherapy and therapeutic riding differ primarily in practice and cost.

Hippotherapy is performed by a licensed physical or occupational therapist and has very specific physical tasks and goals. It is therapy using the horse as a living tool. It is very expensive (can run $150-200 per session), like any therapy, and is sometimes covered by medical insurance.

Therapeutic riding, also known as equine-assisted activites, on the other hand is more like riding lessons for physically and mentally disabled as well as kids and adults with behavioral or emotional issues. Cost is significantly less (generally $15-30 per session), and most centers make it available through sponsorship if families can’t afford to pay. Equine-assisted activities are taught by riding instructors with the help of volunteers who lead the horses and sidewalk next to the riders to ensure their safety. Therapeutic riding students learn to ride horses using verbal and physical cues like any other rider. Lessons are often taught in groups, which helps students to make friends and build confidence.

The North American Riding For the Handicapped Association is the country’s governing body for therapeutic riding. It provides accreditation for facilities and certification for instructors. Be sure to consult their list of accredited facilities and instructors before signing up for lessons.

Success Stories
In my time volunteering at Pegasus Farm, I’ve worked with several autistic students with varying symptoms and degrees of verbal communication and understanding.

T has been riding at Pegasus for nearly 25 years. She has decent verbal skills–when she chooses to use them. In working with her, I’ve seen her throw tantrums by violently throwing down the reins, displaying an aloof manner, avoiding eye contact, and showing no response to instruction. Over the last several months, T has thrown fewer and fewer tantrums, she looks at me more when I’m leading her horse and asking her to communicate with her horse, she smiles more, she answers my questions more frequently, and she responds to my instructions more often. We often rotate volunteers, but I’ve worked with T consistently for a few months now and I think that consistency is helping her to respond more and come out of her shell.

A is a low-functioning autism student. She doesn’t speak other than to occassionally repeat a word or phrase I’ve said. She sings to herself, and constantly shakes her head from side to side. She infrequently makes eye contact. I worked with her pretty consistently for several months. In that time, she learned to use the verbal cues “walk on” and “whoa” to ask her horse to go and stop. She only uses these words when echoing what I’ve said. I tell A “tell him walk on” and she parrots right back “tell him walk on.” But, after getting her to respond consistently, it became apparent that she was learning what those words actually meant. We would ask her horse to “whoa,” and immediately and without any prompting she would say “tell him walk on.” She had learned to associate the words with the response of the horse. A is very very happy when she’s on a horse and constantly smiles.

In working with both T and A, I’ve learned that I need to be extra-patient, very consistent, and relatively firm. They needed to learn to respect me before they’d look at or listen to me. I have to be creative. What works one week isn’t always effective the next. Most importantly, don’t give up! Keep asking them to do something, even if they only do it once every ten times. Even one response is a triumph.

Resources
About Autism

• Autism Research Institute
• Autism Society of America
• Autism Speaks

About Therapeutic Riding

• North American Riding for the Handicapped Association: NARHA is the governing body in for therapeutic riding. They provide training and certification for instructors and facilities as well as various resources. Visit their site to learn more or to find a certified instructor or accredited facility in your area (select your state and click go for all premiere accredited facilities and registered instructors).
• Therapeutic riding articles on Equisearch.com
• U.S. Equestrian Paralympics news
• Official FEI Para-Equestrian Site

My personal experiences as a therapeutic riding volunteer and other related information

• Therapeutic Riding Articles On Regardinghorses.com