Autism and horses

AmiRobertson

AmiRobertson

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I have just started nannying for a new family and the youngest child who is 5 has autism. The family is lovely and listening to their story is very emotional. Obviously I am going to be going through some training with their helpers so I can do my best to help them but I was thinking about how maybe my connection with horses can help as I know equine therapies with horses have been helpful to other families in the past and present. Does anyone know of any facilities in the Kent area as my new boss is also very interested in all things equine :)
 
My son has autism and global development delay.

He loves Bentley, he hated sparky our first loan pony.

He even told me he wants horse riding lesions! When he was adiment that horse risings for girls :rolleyes:
 
My eldest is autistic too, he was the first one Harley approached when he was still semi feral....Harley not son ;)....he often says he wants to ride but he hates people looking at him so won't have lessons :(.
 
Contact your local RDA group (which you will be able to find through the website), many are used to dealing with children on the autistic spectrum. Our group, which does mainly have riders with learning disabilities, has had good results with one child speaking her first words on the yard.
 
Google horseboy method and 'back riding'.

Not sure if there is any around you but it is amazing. There is a centre near me that does it but is Somerset so too far.

Good luck. Autistic riders can respond incredibly to horse riding.
 
Have you any Equine experience yourself?

AmiRobertson said:
I have just started nannying for a new family and the youngest child who is 5 has autism. The family is lovely and listening to their story is very emotional. Obviously I am going to be going through some training with their helpers so I can do my best to help them but I was thinking about how maybe my connection with horses can help as I know equine therapies with horses have been helpful to other families in the past and present. Does anyone know of any facilities in the Kent area as my new boss is also very interested in all things equine :)
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Thank you guys I saw the horse boy story and its amazing and I have also read Tao of Equus and riding between the worlds and and equine therapy fascinating horses have helped so many people and its another reason I find them so amazing. I will speak to my boss tomorrow as I think it would also be a wonderful thing for them to do together
 
Yes show pony I own my own horse and their is also a family on my yard with two autistic children who have benefited hugely from horses being in their lives. My boss is really interested in my horsey lifestyle and would love to recommend some places for her to go with the rest of the family as its not something I have experience with
 
Best thing to do is contact the RDA who could give you details of centres in that area. Although tempting, and in case you were considering it, I would be very wary allowing the family/child access to your own horse. Just got the idea you may be considering it
 
My son is autistic i have a horse ive had since horse was three years old and just broken . I find my son has days he wants to ride, help muck out and days he says just sell him mam .You will find some horses sense difference in a child my horse is priceless with my son i can pop him on bareback and with a halter and trust him with my son , my son has not learn t to ride as i think he dosnt/understand/wants to if that makes sense ?One day he came to the arean, decided to make little see-saw jumps wanted me to go over then said ge t off mam, ill go over and he did ! Just at a ploddy walk i just walk in front , he dosnt like to be held on a lead rein or told what to do my horse stood for twenty minutes and went to sleep in middle of the areana while i sat on the fence trying not to laugh while he tried everything to make him walk talking to him , it would be very difficult for me to get another horse like him i know that my son can lead him from the field in a halter and i have rode twos up on my horse with him , my sons special so is my horse i have noticed my horse is very attracted to diabled people we see out hacking and loves to stop for a pat and dosnt mind any reactions, or being touched, this is a sensory thing i can go on forever but wont, every child/person is different , you might find riding schools dont have time for interaction due to health and safety , my sisters daughters blind, and has one leg shorter than the other and she has issues at the riding schools she has used, because of balance etc, and extra helpers needed to walk with her and they told my sister at times there wasnt the right horse for her available to ride .I find my son loves little shetlands, white ones or ones that are coloured just to talk to for some reason , autistic children dont like change so visits to familiarise with horse over the door and the set up and try to secure the right pony/horse every week will help massively and perhaps ask school when it is the quietsest time to go, ie weeknights might be better than weekends, less noise, more relaxed etc , good luck !
 
Don't worry I wasn't although dizzy is exceptional with my boyfriends little girl who comes with is every weekend another persons child is a whole other kettle of fish and I have no interest in putting someone at risk trying to do homemade therapy! That is for the professionals and the professional horses. They still want to come and meet her though and watch me ride which is something my last family did which won't be a problem.
Thank you northernsoul that's amazing another reason I think horses would be a great option recommend to these guys. It's lovely to hear how your son enjoys them so much! I think finding a therapy place specifically aimed at helping other people with similar stories will be better than a riding school and will contact rda :) thank you again guys!
 
have just seen on facebook a thing saying that Charlie Avent is on Horse & Country TV today.. Charlie is an autistic teenager who has written about how much he has benefited from having a horse. Don't know if thats any help to you Ami!
 
Contact The RDA centre at Bradbourne riding school, based in sevenoaks. There are great and I am sure will be able to help :D
 
Thanks guys all really helpful I showed my boss the horse boy stuff and she has bought the book and is going to speak to her little boys main helper about organising something. They have made progress so far he has a full vocabulary now and got into one of the top prep schools in London last month it's just the emotional stuff he doesn't understand. Today she told me that he told her on the way too school that he missed her when he was at school apparently he has never said anything like that before and she was so happy :)
 
I work at a special needs school and take children to rda every week, I have found some respond really well to riding, the motion relaxes them, and they stay on board for 20 minutes, when they struggle to sit in a seat for 5 minutes! however, I don't think it is a guaranteed, not every autistic child will find the amazing bond with horses.
I used to take a young man with autism to my old yard every Saturday, to tried to do poo picking and actually really enjoys it! (honestly not slave labour, he would always ask to do it and feel proud when we filled the barrow, although 75% was me as he didn't find it easy with poor motor skills, but he improved a little bit) he would also groom my horses and lead them to and from the field. they honestly seemed to pick up he was 'special' (sorry don't know what correct term to use to be honest!) as they would walk perfectly for him, even my girl who can be a bit bargee or spooky, would walk calmly on a long lead rope next to him (of course I stood right next to her on the other side just encase, but she never put a foot wrong) so just doing stable management stuff is good I think if you are aloud at your yard, while you try to find an RDA.
 
That's really interesting, I know there is a place in Suffolk but too far I guess.

I think it is a pretty big thing when children like this express love, bless her it must have meant a lot!

Would love to hear how you all get on :-)
 
Hi,

I know of a great little place in Basingstoke, Hampshire just off the M3. Dont know if thats too far. PM me if your interested : )
 
Arrow riding centre is in north Kent and has a big RDA component so wonder if you could try them.The paralympic riders often go there and one,Emma Kent is based there.What degree of autism is the child diagnosed with? eg is it high functioning (Aspergers) or is there a related developmental disorder.You may need to consider how his needs can be best met and where.I don't know of anywhere else in your part of Kent.
 
Every individual with autism is different, so its certainly worth a try. It will either work or not. Without generalising for every person with autism, a characteristic of autism is hypersensitivity, this can be to light or touch and noise. So the may enjoy the sensation of a horse of absolutely hate it. I worked with a young man who loved them and would run his hands through the thick winter coat :-)
Please do some research into autism to give you an insight. I strongly recommend watching temple cloud. She is a high functioning autisic women from... Texas I believe it is, who has a phd and it tells her story of autism. You may be able to find some bits on you tube. Something so simple as touching a hypersensitive child could send them into overload, its small things like that that its worth knowing. Good luck in your new role. Enjoy the challenges and rewards that come from working with people with autism :-)
 
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