Do we want scientific studies that objectify the benefits of therapy with a horse?
Or just trust our eyes to tell us what a good thing riding can be?
Maybe it’s not an either/or sort of thing.

Hardly any experience could be as powerful as Connie Gilly’s. When her daughter Vickie, who has Down syndrome, was able to go horseback riding at her all-inclusion summer school once a week years ago, it was life transformative. “All I would hear from Vickie when she came home,” Connie says, “was the name of the horse she rode: ‘Mocha! Mocha! Mocha!’ ”

Responding to that spark changed the world for Vickie and her parents. And by the way, it’s why we have SERT in Moorpark today.

Who could argue with Brian Wright in Kennesaw, Georgia, who has cerebral palsy: “I believe the more you can ride, the more proficient and skilled you become; and, therefore, the more exciting it can be. You need not worry about riding any great distance. It inspired me with the feeling of wanting more and feeling confident that I could do more.”

Then again, objective research continues to make more riding available to greater numbers of exceptional kids. A growing body of scientific data directs more attention and funding to horse therapy using real and even simulated riding. Success begets success.

Tim L. Shurtleff, OTD, OTR/L, of the Washington University Program in Occupational Therapy is one member of the medical community who understands the importance of increasing statistical evidence that focuses on the benefits of horse related activities: “I think the most important thing we can do to enable people with disabilities to receive the benefits of hippotherapy and other EAA/T [Equine-Assisted Activities/Therapies] is to further develop the scientific evidence base for activities and therapies using horses. A solid evidence base will open doors for funding and make it unethical and irresponsible for insurance companies and third party funders to not pay for professional therapy that uses horses and their movement as treatment tools.”

Welcome positive results:
subjective, objective — comprehensive.

- By David Tandet

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