Equine-Assisted Therapy for Children with Special Needs

Children with special needs can benefit from horse interaction.

Horses don’t care if your speech is not clear.

Horses don’t care if you have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or Downs’ Syndrome.

Horses don’t care if you have a physical impairment.

Horses care how you communicate and treat them – and then they will reciprocate with kindness.

Using the reins to learn calmness.

A boy with special needs leads a mini horse through the arena with words placed in the sand in specific locations. The mini horse refuses to walk to the word “calm.” This young man states that the horse needs for him to be “calm” in order for the horse to go to that area.

He then works with the mini horse by doing some mindfulness, calming exercises for grounding. The mini moves without resistance, as the boy reveals he was feeling less frustrated and calmer.

He notes that they worked together and saw how his behavior was affecting the little horse.

Children learn ways to build self-trust/respect and to boost self-confidence.

All individuals learn to develop self-awareness and body language skills.

Children with special needs can learn so many things from a horse.

Won’t you take this step to give your child a chance to learn with equine-assisted therapy?

Please reach out to me by phone at (208) 971-2474 or by completing the contact form below.