Connie Gilly has had more than a few special moments in her time overseeing SERT. “Sometimes, a rider with autism will speak his first words,” Connie says.

It’s happened in the arena, it’s happened just before a riding session, and it’s happened just after.

Like the time one of our riders with autism (ASD), who did not speak, got out of the car with his mom and suddenly said, “Horse!”

It was his mother who was speechless for a few seconds after that.

Because the evidence is often anecdotal, the scientific community has often taken a cautious approach when addressing this issue. But the anecdotal material continues to build.

As Temple Grandin, author of “Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism,” and professor of animal science at Colorado State University says:

“I have had a number of parents tell me that when their child was in a therapeutic riding program, their child spoke their first words. It’s rhythm and balance. These activities are really good for the autistic brain.”

No one at SERT would disagree!

- By David Tandet