Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Special needs children often must search for ways to cope with their disabilities. Doctors and many of their legal guardians understand this, yet they also believe that horseback riding can be a very effective and beneficial way for children with special needs to improve upon their physical, cognitive, sensory, and emotional skills.
Therapeutic horseback riding usually consists of a very well trained instructor whom has both experience with both equines and children with disabilities, one or two handlers keeping the rider in place, and one person holding onto the horse. As riders progress, they may start to have less people with the horse, and more people watching from the side just in case.
Horseback riding, according to many doctors, can be very therapeutic to anyone, making it a good sport for most. It also helps to strengthen leg and core muscles, as well as improving balance and posture without the added pressure of standing, making this sport accessible to children, or adults, in wheelchairs. …show more content…
When they get no response, they are forced to think of alternative ways, which are usually much lighter aids. This teaches them, as well as their family, to stay calm instead of lashing out in frustration.
One teenager Katie Cummings, a girl whom was diagnosed with autism, has been riding for several months. At first, she started her journey into equestrianism with a program called My Shine, but has now strayed from it and takes weekly lessons in Medford with a new instructor Sarah Chironno, and has even started to ride on her