Therapeutic horse riding from a mom's viewpoint

I'm not an expert or a doctor of any kind; I'm simply a mother who saw results, and within a short period of time. My son has learning difficulties, and he still has, but it has improved drastically, so much so that the teachers came and asked me what I was doing. The only thing I was doing at the time was taking him for riding lessons.

Horseback riding as a means of helping people create conscious communication patterns has been proved more by observation than by scientific study. But the fact remains that most parent who have taken there child to horseback riding lessons, will tell you that it has benefitted their child.

The child becomes more instinctive in day to day activities, as they have to be when riding a horse; they also seem to connect emotionally with more ease. The connection with the horse helps the child tune in to his own emotions and instincts better.

Therapeutic horseback riding is recommended by some, including the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, for people suffering from physical and mental disabilities, among these are Asperser's, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Down’s syndrome, ADD and ADHD.

For the physically challenged the motion of riding on a horse can improve their gross motor function, balance and exercise muscles which are also used in walking. During lessons for the physically disabled the riding instructor has a helper called a "side walker" who walks beside the horse and helps to guide and hold the rider. Besides the physical benefits there is also the added bonus that the child is enjoying himself and taking part in an activity.

For children with learning disabilities the riding improves the child's ability to follow instructions, listen and respond and most importantly their self-esteem. Their self-esteem improves because; here they are controlling this mighty beast, so they feel that in some way they can also gain control of themselves.

Horse riding is a major achievement for anyone, so even more so for a child that has been told so many times that there is something "wrong". They feel a since of independence, and pride which comes from learning a new skill.

I never told my child that he was going to therapy, but simply that he was starting a new after school activity, and it has remained that way. He enjoys the sport, volunteers at the stables and it is a recreational activity.
If you have a child who could do with some help in one of the areas I have mentioned, then give it a go, it can't do any harm and just may help.