parents with autistic child seeking riding program

[staceyk]

Hi,

A friend has asked for my advice on a horse-related matter, and it’s an area I know nothing about. I’m not sure this forum covers this topic, but I saw at least one related thread so here goes.

This couple has an autistic child and they are trying to get him into a therapeutic riding program. They report that therapeutic programs are “hard to get into” and shared that they are thinking of buying a pony. They have have no horse experience. I’m not sure if they would board or keep the pony at home.

This sounds like a bad idea and I immediately reminded them of the responsibility of caring for an expensive animal that could live thirty years. But I would like to direct them to someone authoritative about therapy programs who can help them find alternatives for their child. Our state has a therapeutic horse council and I provided them with the link. Are there other resources that might be useful to them? They are in West Chester PA.

Any advice?

stacey

[Bluey]

Have they talked directly with the groups that provide the horse therapy?

They will be able to tell them more.

Our local group is on hold for two years now, since the state had to cut back and the funding that was paying for the insurance was not renewed.

That may be a reason some groups where you are also had to close and so the ones still open are full.

[VaqueroToro]

Go to pathintl.org and click on the Center link to see if there is a member or premiere center anywhere nearby.

I HIGHLY recommend directing your friends toward a certified/licensed hippotherapist or an active PATH certified instructor. Typically you can’t even get insurance for your program without that type of training.

[2tempe]

There are a couple therapeutic riding organizations in that area: Quest is PATH certified, and will likely have programs for autistic children. Also one calle Hope Springs. Google search may provide others.

It may take some time for them to get in - Most run 6-8 week sessions, so you can’t just show up and start whenever you want. The number of students which can be served is also based on the # of horses, the number of volunteers to assist in lessons, and the number of qualified instructors. I’m sure that either facility, or any other, would be happy to talk to them about scheduling, programs, and anything else.

Please tell them that horses/ponies used in therapeutic programs are carefully and thoroughly screened to be sure they have the proper temperment to handle the students safely. Balance issues, excitement, sometimes yelling or making noises is all part of what the horse must be able cope with. Many do not pass the initial screening. (I worked as a volunteer and board member at a TRC in Ohio for many years)

[2tempe]

Somehow when I edited above, one part disappeared: These parents should not buy a pony - not only are there care issues that they know nothing about, it is a potentially dangerous situation for parents and child. See note above about the importance of a “qualified” horse/pony for use in the programs.
If I were a BO, I would not board a pony in this situation…OMG, even Courtney King did not to riding rehab on her own…

[Bluey]

If they can’t find the real thing, tell them buying a real horse is not sensible, horses need much more than stand there to wait to be used for therapy.

Maybe they should consider buying one of those, that will patiently stand there and not need to be fed and cleaned after?
There are therapy centers using those now just for that.

Yes, it is not the complete, real horse experience, but it can be a good second best and better for the welfare of any horse they, as total beginners to horses and their care, may acquire:

http://equicizer.com/pages/the-equicizer

[NeverTime]

Agree with the OP and all who have said that buying a horse is a TERRIBLE idea. West Chester, PA, is a very horsey area with several therapeutic riding centers. Maybe they need to investigate further or go a bit further from home (even a 45-minute drive to/from is exponentially less work than owning a horse!):
Along with Quest, there is Thorncroft in Malvern (very well-known), Reins of Life in Landenberg, Pa. (not sure that’s a PATH program, tho), and Carousel Park in northern Delaware.
Also, from my limited experience with therapeutic riding, the living, breathing horse is a HUGE part of the experience for people with autism, helping “bring them out” and interact with the animal. An equicizer might be helpful for someone strictly looking for the physical benefits of riding, but I just don’t think it could hold a candle to the real-life experience for someone with autism.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=NeverTime;7127503]
Agree with the OP and all who have said that buying a horse is a TERRIBLE idea. West Chester, PA, is a very horsey area with several therapeutic riding centers. Maybe they need to investigate further or go a bit further from home (even a 45-minute drive to/from is exponentially less work than owning a horse!):
Along with Quest, there is Thorncroft in Malvern (very well-known), Reins of Life in Landenberg, Pa. (not sure that’s a PATH program, tho), and Carousel Park in northern Delaware.
Also, from my limited experience with therapeutic riding, the living, breathing horse is a HUGE part of the experience for people with autism, helping “bring them out” and interact with the animal. An equicizer might be helpful for someone strictly looking for the physical benefits of riding, but I just don’t think it could hold a candle to the real-life experience for someone with autism.[/QUOTE]

I agree, an equiciser is by far not as good as a real live horse, but for the horse, to be in the hands of pure novices without any other interest in the horse than wanting to get their kid some therapy, that is not so good either, unless they have someone that knows about horses helping them, which they may, that was not mentioned.

If our local group was still active, they used three of our horses in rotation, I think we may consider one of those equicisers as a first step.

That would be a great way to evaluate a client and maybe help it become somewhat familiar with horse movement before putting it on the real horses.

There are centers today using those, so it much be of some use.

[alternate_universe]

Not sure if you’d know the answer, but exactly how severe is the child’s ASD? I’m asking because if he’s on the mild end he may be able to effectively participate in regular riding lessons. Just because he has ASD doesn’t mean he has to do RFH. My trainer, who works at a regular barn with typical schoolies, teaches a girl on the spectrum and she can WTC on her own just fine.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=alternate_universe;7134259]
Not sure if you’d know the answer, but exactly how severe is the child’s ASD? I’m asking because if he’s on the mild end he may be able to effectively participate in regular riding lessons. Just because he has ASD doesn’t mean he has to do RFH. My trainer, who works at a regular barn with typical schoolies, teaches a girl on the spectrum and she can WTC on her own just fine.[/QUOTE]

I am not sure the insurance will pay if the kid is not in a certified horse therapy program.

[alternate_universe]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7134416]
I am not sure the insurance will pay if the kid is not in a certified horse therapy program.[/QUOTE]

Well, then I guess the question for the parents is are they wanting him to take riding lessons for therapeutic benefits or just for fun? If it’s just for fun and social interaction there’s no point in trying to get him into RFH when he can achieve that in regular riding lessons. If they think he would benefit from --or have a recommendation from a medical professional – actual hippotherapy or another formal program, than yes, they’ll have to duke it out with the insurance. So, it may be a choice of sitting on a waiting list for RFH but getting it for free or signing up and paying for regular lessons that can start right away.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=alternate_universe;7134816]
Well, then I guess the question for the parents is are they wanting him to take riding lessons for therapeutic benefits or just for fun? If it’s just for fun and social interaction there’s no point in trying to get him into RFH when he can achieve that in regular riding lessons. If they think he would benefit from --or have a recommendation from a medical professional – actual hippotherapy or another formal program, than yes, they’ll have to duke it out with the insurance. So, it may be a choice of sitting on a waiting list for RFH but getting it for free or signing up and paying for regular lessons that can start right away.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is always a very good idea, knowing how much horses can help such kids, if he is able to be taught a bit of basic riding by a regular instructor, that could be a good way to get him started and see where they can go with that.

I didn’t think about that because the kids our group handled were the more severely handicapped, they needed a licensed therapist working with them.

[alternate_universe]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7135015]
Yes, that is always a very good idea, knowing how much horses can help such kids, if he is able to be taught a bit of basic riding by a regular instructor, that could be a good way to get him started and see where they can go with that.

I didn’t think about that because the kids our group handled were the more severely handicapped, they needed a licensed therapist working with them.[/QUOTE]

Well, autism is a spectrum, so not everyone who has ASD is extremely impaired. People with Asperger’s are high functioning, for example. Many of them you wouldn’t realize have any issues without really getting to know them. (Since they technically eliminated the Asperger’s label, we would just call it mild ASD now.) If the child in mind has mild ASD I could see them getting around in regular lessons just fine.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=alternate_universe;7135366]
Well, autism is a spectrum, so not everyone who has ASD is extremely impaired. People with Asperger’s are high functioning, for example. Many of them you wouldn’t realize have any issues without really getting to know them. (Since they technically eliminated the Asperger’s label, we would just call it mild ASD now.) If the child in mind has mild ASD I could see them getting around in regular lessons just fine.[/QUOTE]

Our group had all kinds of people using the services, one little kid was born with part of his brain missing, an adult was a cowboy that was dragged by his horse and was now very impaired and so on.

If that kid is only mildly impaired, they may not want to use one of those hard to get spots that others may need more and see if he can fit in a regular riding program, even if with individual lessons.

[hca86]

[QUOTE=Bluey;7134416]
I am not sure the insurance will pay if the kid is not in a certified horse therapy program.[/QUOTE]

Therapeutic riding is not covered by insurance as it is adaptive/recreational riding. I am not stating that you are saying this but it is a common misconception that therapeutic riding is a therapy. If the family wants this child to get therapy they need to have a script (Dr. orders) for the specific service they want (occupational, physical, or speech therapy) in order for the child to receive therapy, especially if they want the treatment to be primarily hippotherapy .

If they are looking for hippotherapy they would be better off going to the American Hippotherapy Association website and finding a local therapist.

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=hca86;7135580]
Therapeutic riding is not covered by insurance as it is adaptive/recreational riding. I am not stating that you are saying this but it is a common misconception that therapeutic riding is a therapy. If the family wants this child to get therapy they need to have a script (Dr. orders) for the specific service they want (occupational, physical, or speech therapy) in order for the child to receive therapy, especially if they want the treatment to be primarily hippotherapy .

If they are looking for hippotherapy they would be better off going to the American Hippotherapy Association website and finding a local therapist.[/QUOTE]

Our therapy group’s director is a therapist in a hospital and the clients come mostly directed by the hospital doctors to get therapy.

Insurances pay whatever they have to pay, according to their contracts.

I expect there are all kinds of programs out there.
Good advice to check them all out.

[skykingismybaby1]

Hippotherapy is done by a Physical or Occupational Therapist and focuses on physical disabilities using the motion of the horse to stimulate the rider’s body and nervous system

Therapeutic Riding is for the stimulation of the rider’s mental, physical and social functions. I recommend certified programs although there are a lot of programs that are not certified. Some programs also include a physical/occupational therapist

EAP is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and focuses on mental and behavioral issues. It is performed by a certified therapist and equine specialist in a team approach.

[ianmcvai]

personalponies.org

[ianmcvai]

differently abled persons

Personalponies.org

[alternate_universe]

[QUOTE=ianmcvai;7136432]
personalponies.org[/QUOTE]

I’ve heard of this before I think and am not sure how I feel about it, TBH. For one, not every family is able or interested in caring for a pony. They’re already caring for a child with special needs for pete’s sake. Secondly, you can’t take your companion pony out in the community very well, so it doesn’t compare to the companion dogs. Lastly, a child cannot ride these little guys so they can’t get the same physical therapy element. In general, it seems like a very cost prohibitive, not very effective therapy-wise pet.