Horses step in to help heal. The horse provides a precise repetitive pattern of movement similar to a person's pelvis during normal human gait. A variety of positions are used to help meet goals, including sitting forward or backward, lying down, on hands and knees or tall kneeling. Participants perform upper and lower body exercises under the direction of therapists. Games are used to motivate participants.
Children also help groom horses and place or remove equipment from the horses.
Improvement in body awareness and sense of self-moving through space. Spontaneous production of speech, increased ability to comprehend instructions, as well as increased complexity and diversity of vocabulary. More independence with tasks such as walking, eating and dressing. The outdoor riding arena, interaction with the horse and participation in a normal, age-appropriate activity, have a positive psychological effect. The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal issues, cases, tactics and strategy, effective educational methods, and Internet links.