Also, students experience many affective and emotional benefits from therapeutic horseback riding. They have a positive experience atop a large animal, that they can control by using their bodies and their words. The horse itself reinforces the student by following commands. Riders learn to trust the horse, and know that the horse trusts them. The therapeutic horseback riding lesson is predictably sequential, and even students with autistic-like behaviors feel comfortable with the routines.
Students learn in small groups in which other riders are on their own level of riding ability.
There is a nice feeling of sharing, as they are progressing together. Students are learning in a fun environment, away from the classroom, which so often provides negative feelings of failure. The student feels success from being able to handle a large animal. When a student feels good about his or her success in any area, confidence grows. This trust in themselves and their abilities, also increases academic performance.