Winter/
Spring 2012
Inside this issue: The Power of the Horse Board Cha irman & Executive Director Message
The Power of the Horse
The Spirit of Giving ■ An Extraordinary Coup le Spotlight on Success Achievements with Horses ■ Summer Immersion Program ■
Ways to Give ■ Corporate Support ■ Wish List The Hoedown Report The Horses' Mouth ■ Pony Power High Hopes Happenings ■ Domin ion Bank Grant ■ Welcome Megan ■ Volunteer Enr ichment ■ Chili Open House ■ Horse Show Days ■ Symphony
In accordance with the Americans with Disabi lities Act, The High Hopes Rider is available in a lternative formats upon request. Please contact Susan Shulman at Ext. 28.
-~•x~~ HIGH
HOPE S
Therapeutic Riding,lnc. Phone: 860.434.1974 Fax : 860 .434 .3723
www .highhopestr.org
Major
imals and umans ave long shared a common bond that cannot be accurately captured in words. Instead, it is best understood when watching a once timid child give her horse a hug and listening to her as she whispers to the horse, "You are my best friend" at the end of an hour long ride. This show of affection and execution of expressive language is not typically demonstrated by this rider who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD. Many people ask just what is it about horses and their movement that enables individuals who are diagnosed with ASD to benefit. The answers to this question are complex and varied, but all share the same sentiment : the horse works . At this time, quantitative research about exactly how the horse helps individuals with ASD is in its infancy. The rhythmic movement of the horse helps these individuals to better organize their thought processes which in turn helps them to increase their overall focus and attention to the task at hand . In addition, individuals with ASD are motivated by the horse's movement to increase expressive language such as "walk on" or "trot" .
This increased desire for sensory input translates to vocabulary other than that which is specific to horseback riding. Riders with ASD seek different levels of input from the horse. Some receive the most organization through the rhythmic movement of the four beat walk while others need the jarring motion of the trot to help regulate and manage their thought processes. The end result is the same: those riders with ASD benefit from the movement of the horse during the time that they are actively riding as well as for a period of time after riding. The movement of the horse helps to ground individuals with ASD while fostering relationships between riders, their horses, volunteers, classmates and instructors. This improvement in social interaction is one of the many benefits from time spent with horses. During a therapeutic riding lesson, individuals with ASD are often better able to follow directions and answer questions asked of them as the lesson progresses and see improvements in attention, communication and socialization. Time spent with a horse for most people is magic. Time spent with a horse for indivi duals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is liberating in ways that other people cannot understand. Through continued research and further examination of the benefits of therapeutic riding we may one day be able to support the truth that we, as instructors, parents, caregivers, and volunteers, know to be fact: the relationship between individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and the horse is unmistakably powerful.