Children with
autism have difficulty interpreting what they see, hear, touch, feel and how they are moving. Riding a horse provides a great deal of sensory stimulation, which helps a child's brain interpret sensations so that they can better interact with objects and people. Treatment used by occupational, physical and speech therapists using the horse as a tool is called "hippotherapy."
Instructions
Sensory Stimulation
1. The horse's movement provides a great deal of sensory stimulation. As the horse walks, the child receives stimulation to the inner ears, which stimulates the vestibular or balance sense. A change in speeds, from slower to faster, varies this stimulation, helping the child become more alert and focused.
2. Vary the direction the horse walks, using straight lines, curves and walking in circles. Different muscle groups will be worked, helping to increase muscle tone and strengthen as well as provide vestibular stimulation.
3. Help the child change his position to face sideways and backwards. This will vary the impact of the movement on the vestibular system. Performing sit-ups and pushups provides even more stimulation as the child's head moves in different directions.
4. Riding a horse provides what is called "proprioceptive" stimulation to muscles and joints. This helps children become aware of where their body parts are and how they are moving. Children with autism often have difficulty knowing move their bodies and appear clumsy. Movement activities on the horse provide proprioceptive stimulation that promotes coordination and body awareness.
5. The smell, sounds and touch of the horse are all very stimulating. Watching movement of birds and other animals while on the trail promotes visual attention and tracking skills---the ability to follow moving objects. Play games that involve naming objects seen on the trail and touching different parts of the horse. Singing the song "If you're Happy and You Know It" works very will when you include the directions to "touch the mane" or "touch the tail."
Developing Hand-Eye Coordination
6. Children with autism often do not look at what they are doing with their hands. Encourage the child to grasp the handle or steer the reins to promote awareness of hands.
7. Stop the horse to ask the child to do a short, easy task such as putting a toy inside a container. Then reward with horse movement. The sensation of stop and go between fine-motor steps is very stimulating and the movement is a reward that motivates the child to use her hands.
8. Attach fun, single-shape puzzle pieces with Velcro to the walls inside the arena. Show children pull the reins to make the horse stop next to named puzzle piece, such as an animal or car. Then give the child the piece to insert inside a board.
9. Ask the child to give frequent high fives while riding. Position your hand so that the child has to reach in different directions to do this, thus, challenging balance and hand-eye coordination. Play a game where after receiving high fives you make an animal sound.
10. Play catch or basketball or have the child swat at bubbles while the horse is stationary or moving.
11. Provide more challenging tasks such as a lacing board or stringing large shapes with holes in the center onto a cord while the horse is stationary. Reward with a big trot afterwards.
Tags: Children with, Children with autism, with autism, autism often, deal sensory