Horses helping emotionally and mentally disabled...

[Laya]

I'm doing a research paper on horses that assist in therapy for mentally and emotionally challenged teens. I'm having some difficulty with this task. Does anybody know of any sites, books, magazines, or associations that could help me? Thansk for any replies.

Laya

[Anna A]

Laya,

I'm afraid I don't know any sites but you might want to try searching for the Paralympics pages and then refine the search to riding. I remember seeing a wonderful article on a disabled lady who won the dressage in the last Paralympics.

Hope this helps.

Anna

[Elaine]

There is a association called NARHA aka The North American Riding For Handicapped Association. I am not sure if it has a website but the address to contact them is
NARHA
P.O. Box 33150, Denver, Co

or call them at 1-800-369-Ride {7344}

I hope this helps.
Elaine

[Murphy]

Hi, Laya.

I have found a very good web site - Special Equestrian Riding Therapy, Inc. Their e-mail address is sert@instanet.com. I think you will find what you're looking for there or write to them and ask for additional information.

Hope this helps with your paper. Good luck.

Happy trails, Murphy.

[intouch]

There is a book called Horses & the Human Heart, I don't know the authors but you can find it on Amazon. It's about a retreat for people with challenges who are introduced to horses as therapy.

[Bejeweld]

Hey! Good luck on your paper. The NARHA webpage is www.narha.org. (http://www.narha.org.) I volunteer to work with disabled people (in riding) and could help you on anything you need to know.

[Laya]

~Bejeweld~
Thanks for offering to help. Have you worked with any kids that were emotionally/mentally disabled or depressed? How are the programs formed? How do you progress in lessons with a particular student? Thanks again.

~Laya~

[Sidesaddle]

Hi Laya,
If you also want an international flavour try contacting;
The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy
Avon Tyrrell,
Bransgore,
Christchurch
Dorset BH23 8EE
United Kingdom

They work with mainly teenagers with learning and physical difficulties. They use the horses to help the children count, concentrate and enjoy life. I have seen one of their displays where they use exercises on the horse and the children that have been there a while learn to vault. I think you will find this a very worthwhile place to contact.

Regards
Sandra

[Sidesaddle]

Sorry, forgot to give you their phone number.
00 44 1425 673297


[This message has been edited by Sidesaddle (edited 08 February 2000).]

[Vicki]

In the UK we have an association called the Riding for the Disabled Association. I am secretary to one group. Unfortunately we do not cater for teenagers in our particular group but for children up to the age of 12.

The RDA headquarters are in a place called Kenilworth, their telephone number is 01203 696510, obviously you would need the UK code. Unfortunately they don't have a web-site yet but hope to in the near future.

Before I go on about my experiences with children both physically and mentally disabled let me know if it would be of help.

Regards

Vicki

[Laya]

It would help. Thanks.

[Vicki]

The main benefits to our children are:

Confidence - this comes through time and time again on the doctor's reports - increased confidence, quite often their brothers and sisters do not do horse riding so it is something that they can do and their siblings can't.

Moving around a small area at a leisurely pace, i.e. if wheelchair bound they feel they are moving rather than being pushed and they are not moving as fast as in a car.

Animals are well known for their calming influence. Some children we have in the sessions are hyperactive and can be very difficult to control on the ground but once on the ponies they quieten right down and relax.

One little girl has, on average 20-30 fits a day, she has been riding with us for over a year and has never had one on the pony.

Balance - even very badly disabled children seem to be able to balance on a pony - even ones that have to be strapped in to wheelchairs to stop them falling foward.

Seeing the world from up on high seems to make a difference to the children especially those that are in wheelchairs most of the time. They must get fed up with seeing knees all the time.

Even children that talk very much at home have been known to ask when they are going to see the ponies again.

One little boy who continually hits himself again becomes very quiet and smiles when on a pony.

on an emotional level there is definitely a link between the human unspoken word and horses. We use ex-polo ponies, an eventer and a couple of ponies that can be quite feisty but these animals seem to know when they have a less than able rider on their backs. My pony will increase or decrease her speed depending on the level of disability of the child.

If I can be of any more help let me know,

Regards

Vicki