Here at Green Chimneys we use the therapeutic riding program as therapy utilizing a multi-sensory approach to develop and facilitating psychomotor, language, mathematics, social and emotional sills. Being responsible for care for another living creature is an essential part in developing a healthier and happier “SELF”.
The therapeutic riding at Green Chimneys has demonstrated its effectiveness in including a positive change in the child’s attitude toward self, peers, and ability, which has promoted a sense of accomplishment and increased self-confidence. The children have become confident in their own abilities to master and control themselves and their environment and also to have the confidence in others who can help them master skills.
The therapeutic riding program is divided into two equally important components:
- The care of horses which involves practical instruction in grooming and feeding and time for bonding.
- Riding, with an emphasis on the development of those physical and psychological skills and strength required to be free and in control of one’s horse and oneself.
There are certain essential things in life that most children seem to take for granted, such as running, walking and controlling their bodies with strength. There are those other children who can never seem to do these things from the beginning. Learning to handle a thousand pound animal is perhaps one of the most easily understood lessons in honor and self-esteem. On the back of a horse, nothing is taken for granted. The child has earned the privilege to feel special in a very normal way. Bonding between child and horse has extended itself to the ultimate object of the program. Charles Appelstein, who has written on the usefulness of therapeutic riding for emotionally disturbed children states:
“If a troubled child can develop a special bond with a horse it becomes easier for that child to generalize such feeling into the human world. Additionally, because of the relationship with the horse is so gratifying and fulfilling, the people who work with the horses), the instructor, become symbols of the good feeling they, the children, experience. In Psychological terms, the riding staff becomes what are called transitional objects. The riding staff reminds the children of something that feels special, they can talk to and counsel the children. Because of their association with the horse, the riding staff almost immediately get “a foot in the door” with respect to counseling, guiding and impacting these very troubled and mistrustful children.
Due to numerous factors, including underlying depression, emotionally disturbed children often have a hard time delaying gratification. Such children typically find it difficult to save money, practice an instrument, control sexual impulses and manage their food intake. They seek immediate “payoffs” to help soothe their torment. However, to succeed in life, a troubled child must eventually learn to delay his or her gratification.” (no pain, no gain)(1990, p.2)
“A therapeutic riding program helps immeasurably in this area. Before a child can ride the horse, he or she must first learn how to take care of it. Grooming, cleaning and feeding are not always glamorous tasks. But the child learns and, hopefully, internalizes that the gratification in riding comes only in response to the preparation.”(1994,p.3)
Several therapeutic manuals all point to several major concepts and skills learned through therapeutic riding. Children learn basic skills through planned interactive experience with the horse. Some of the major concepts and skills developed during the physical interactive experiences between the child and the horses are:
BODY LOCALIZATION: Child develops the ability to locate and identify parts of the horse’s body. This activity aids in developing an awareness and understanding of one’s own body.
HEALTH AND HYGIENE: Child develops an understanding of the principals of health & hygiene. In care for the horses, students are led to understand and utilize good habits.
BALANCE AND RHYTHM: Child develops the ability to maintain gross and fine motor balance and to move rhythmically with the horse. Child is continuously involved in interpreting and reacting to the horse.
DIRECTIONALITY AND LATERALITY: Child develops the ability to know and respond to right, left, up, down, forward, backward and directional orientation. Activities focusing on directing the horse in a specific direction are used to aid the child in developing sensitivity to directionality of his body and space.
TIME ORIENTATION: Child develops an awareness of determining feeding time, exercise time, and resting time for the horse, students develop an awareness of the appropriate horseback riding activities due to weather and seasonal change.
ANTICIPATORY RESPONSE: Child develops the ability to anticipate the probable outcome of his behavior with the horse. If he yells or kicks the horse, he knows horse will probably become frightened or run. This aids the child in predicting the consequences of his own behavior and that of others in a given situation.
COMPREHENSION: Child develops the ability to use judgment and reasoning in riding and working the horse. This enhances his ability to use judgment and reasoning when interacting with other forces in his environment.
VOCATIONAL BENEFITS: Child develops skills learning barn management and grooming as well as advanced riding. All that provides helpful job training for young people and adults.
PERCEPTUAL AND COGNITIVE: Child develops and is stimulated through training in spatial orientation, body image, hand-eye coordination, motor planning and timing, improved attention span, memory and concentration.
PHYSICAL: Child develops to effectively influence muscular strength and tone.
Much of what Appelstein has observed with his children in therapeutic riding we also have seen here at Green Chimneys. The bonding that occurs between the children and the horses and again between the staff, the children and the horse, gives the child a sense of security from which to take risks and learn. I have observed children who have never experienced a sense of power and control in their lives get onto a 1,000 pound horse and the look on their faces tell me this is a life changing experience for them.
Miyako Kinoshita
Therapeutic Riding Instructor
