How Horse's Help
The importance of crawling and how horses mirror the same movement
Physical exercise activates nerve cells in the brain and stimulates them to create neurological pathways. The brain grows by use as these pathways are developed. The specific exercise of crawling and creeping is as vital in stimulating healthy brain growth as it is in stimulating healthy physical development.“Crawling is one of the most essential developmental phases for optimal future learning.” writes Sharon Promislow, an educational Kinesiologist and Educational Consultant. Neurophysiologist Carla Hannaford, in her book entitled, Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not All in Your Head, states: “Physical movement, from earliest infancy…..plays an important role in the creation of nerve cell networks which are actually the essence of learning.” In fact, according to Rebecca Anne Bailey and Elsie Carter Burton, authors of The Dynamic Self: Activities to Enhance Infant Development, whenever babies move any part of their bodies, there exists the potential for two different kinds of learning to occur: learning to move and moving to learn. The production of myelin is increased when a baby starts to crawl. This is important because myelin, a substance coating the neuron, helps the brain send and receive messages faster and more clearly. The more myelin, the faster the transmission….in fact, according to Dr. Lise Eliot, a Neuroscientist with Chicago Medical School, myelin sheaths enable brain signals to travel 100 times faster! Information that has been ‘myelinated” in the brain through movement is fundamental to all future learning.
"It's been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns", says Franklin. "They have a calming effect which helps stop people becoming fixated on past or negative events - giving them a really positive experience".
Horses react as a mirror to the person who's with him" says Franklin. "He's a prey animal so he wants to feel safe and is always on the lookout for predators. A horse will become very fearful if he's with someone who's aggressive, noisy, disrespectful or too controlling. On the other hand, if the person makes requests rather than demands the horse will begin to cooperate. He is always looking for a leader." This is why horses are so good to use as therapy for children. A child who is given just a little insight into dealing with a horse in the right way can become the natural leader the horse is looking for. The horse in return feels safe and peaceful and will cooperate with what the child asks of him.
Children, even those with emotional or mental disorders, can often manage a horse more easily and more quickly than adults. Children accept things at face value and are more open to developing an equal relationship rather than trying to control.
A horse is looking for simple and clear commands, and a child, with the right encouragement and in the right situation, can carry these out very effectively. "Go, stop, back up, turn this way or that way" is all that's needed.
"For children with mental and emotional disorders the positive benefits of getting a horse to carry out these commands are often profound." Says Franklin.
"Children with ADD will focus on the horse for long periods while grooming or leading the horse when usually they can't concentrate long enough to do anything much. Autistic children who are withdrawn and living very much in their own world will begin to express themselves - often using new words or gestures they've never expressed before.
"Once children realize what they can achieve their self-esteem increases in leaps and bounds. Imagine what it must feel like to lead an animal through an obstacle course, stopping and starting when you want to, when you usually find it difficult to concentrate, communicate or stay in control?".
In 1999, the ASA began work with Rupert Isaacson, father of an autistic son and author of "The Horse Boy" to promote autism awareness. "The Horse Boy is a wonderful book that encourages families affected by autism to dare to dream of a better quality of life, even when things seem hopeless," said ASA President and CEO Lee Grossman.
The AZA release explains when his son Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Isaacson was devastated. No matter which doctors they saw or therapies they tried, Rowan could not connect with the people around him. But Rowan could connect with animals, in particular a neighbor's horse. Inspired by his son's progress, Isaacson pursued the dream literally to the ends of the earth for a chance to heal Rowan and his family.
Race horse trainer John Shirreffs has seen the positive effects horses can have on autistic children as well. In a recent Santa Anita release, Sherrifs says thoroughbred Zenyatta, an undefeated 6-year-old mare, has "evolved into something much bigger than we ever imagined."
"That's what I tell people," Shirreffs continues. Among her qualities are patience and understanding. Jack, a 5-year-old boy with autism, became one of Zenyatta's biggest fans. "Jack zeros in on Zenyatta… He doesn't know how to pet her, but he wants to touch her, so he takes his finger and goes like this (poking gesture), and then starts screaming really loud to express his happiness. Zenyatta didn't even flinch."
Jack's father, Grant Hays recalls, "He was extremely happy during the visit. We haven't seen that much joy in him, ever. It was truly miraculous, and when we got home, he was more focused than he's ever been. He was just tuned into our family like never before. We just can't thank John enough. He was so genuine and kind to my son."
So, what is it about a horse that seems to be therapeutic for some children with autism? Perhaps it is the rhythm and balance of riding, which is known to be good for the autistic brain. Maybe it is the exposure to new social or emotional environments. Animals have long been used as therapy to treat mental and physical ailments. While not even horses can cure autism, there is definitely some healing going on. Those of us horse-lovers without autism find them to be calming, healing and therapeutic to our everyday lives - so why not then for those with the disease?
Called "equine therapy" or "therapeutic riding," the treatment appears to work because many children on the autism spectrum appear to form deep connections with horses and horse riding. For many, the activity leads to new confidence and improved language skills as they link the spoken word with the physicality of riding.
That's important, since many children with classic autism are either nonverbal or minimally verbal, experts noted.
"Working with a horse can help a child to learn how to communicate using nonverbal behavior," explained Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of the national advocacy group Autism Speaks. "The child may learn that by making a certain movement or sound the horse will respond in a specific way. They can also learn to monitor their own behavior and look at how it affects the horse."
That can help build confidence, experts say, as well as better socialization in terms of eye contact and language.
Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443#ixzz20jpbBerx
"It's been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns", says Franklin. "They have a calming effect which helps stop people becoming fixated on past or negative events - giving them a really positive experience".
Horses react as a mirror to the person who's with him" says Franklin. "He's a prey animal so he wants to feel safe and is always on the lookout for predators. A horse will become very fearful if he's with someone who's aggressive, noisy, disrespectful or too controlling. On the other hand, if the person makes requests rather than demands the horse will begin to cooperate. He is always looking for a leader." This is why horses are so good to use as therapy for children. A child who is given just a little insight into dealing with a horse in the right way can become the natural leader the horse is looking for. The horse in return feels safe and peaceful and will cooperate with what the child asks of him.
Children, even those with emotional or mental disorders, can often manage a horse more easily and more quickly than adults. Children accept things at face value and are more open to developing an equal relationship rather than trying to control.
A horse is looking for simple and clear commands, and a child, with the right encouragement and in the right situation, can carry these out very effectively. "Go, stop, back up, turn this way or that way" is all that's needed.
"For children with mental and emotional disorders the positive benefits of getting a horse to carry out these commands are often profound." Says Franklin.
"Children with ADD will focus on the horse for long periods while grooming or leading the horse when usually they can't concentrate long enough to do anything much. Autistic children who are withdrawn and living very much in their own world will begin to express themselves - often using new words or gestures they've never expressed before.
"Once children realize what they can achieve their self-esteem increases in leaps and bounds. Imagine what it must feel like to lead an animal through an obstacle course, stopping and starting when you want to, when you usually find it difficult to concentrate, communicate or stay in control?".
In 1999, the ASA began work with Rupert Isaacson, father of an autistic son and author of "The Horse Boy" to promote autism awareness. "The Horse Boy is a wonderful book that encourages families affected by autism to dare to dream of a better quality of life, even when things seem hopeless," said ASA President and CEO Lee Grossman.
The AZA release explains when his son Rowan was diagnosed with autism, Isaacson was devastated. No matter which doctors they saw or therapies they tried, Rowan could not connect with the people around him. But Rowan could connect with animals, in particular a neighbor's horse. Inspired by his son's progress, Isaacson pursued the dream literally to the ends of the earth for a chance to heal Rowan and his family.
Race horse trainer John Shirreffs has seen the positive effects horses can have on autistic children as well. In a recent Santa Anita release, Sherrifs says thoroughbred Zenyatta, an undefeated 6-year-old mare, has "evolved into something much bigger than we ever imagined."
"That's what I tell people," Shirreffs continues. Among her qualities are patience and understanding. Jack, a 5-year-old boy with autism, became one of Zenyatta's biggest fans. "Jack zeros in on Zenyatta… He doesn't know how to pet her, but he wants to touch her, so he takes his finger and goes like this (poking gesture), and then starts screaming really loud to express his happiness. Zenyatta didn't even flinch."
Jack's father, Grant Hays recalls, "He was extremely happy during the visit. We haven't seen that much joy in him, ever. It was truly miraculous, and when we got home, he was more focused than he's ever been. He was just tuned into our family like never before. We just can't thank John enough. He was so genuine and kind to my son."
So, what is it about a horse that seems to be therapeutic for some children with autism? Perhaps it is the rhythm and balance of riding, which is known to be good for the autistic brain. Maybe it is the exposure to new social or emotional environments. Animals have long been used as therapy to treat mental and physical ailments. While not even horses can cure autism, there is definitely some healing going on. Those of us horse-lovers without autism find them to be calming, healing and therapeutic to our everyday lives - so why not then for those with the disease?
Called "equine therapy" or "therapeutic riding," the treatment appears to work because many children on the autism spectrum appear to form deep connections with horses and horse riding. For many, the activity leads to new confidence and improved language skills as they link the spoken word with the physicality of riding.
That's important, since many children with classic autism are either nonverbal or minimally verbal, experts noted.
"Working with a horse can help a child to learn how to communicate using nonverbal behavior," explained Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of the national advocacy group Autism Speaks. "The child may learn that by making a certain movement or sound the horse will respond in a specific way. They can also learn to monitor their own behavior and look at how it affects the horse."
That can help build confidence, experts say, as well as better socialization in terms of eye contact and language.
Read more: http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443#ixzz20jpbBerx
Crawling References:
http://www.internationalparentingassociation.org/BrainDevelopment/mobility1.html
http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/can-horses-help-treat-children-with-autism-the-answer-may-surprise-you
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443
http://www.internationalparentingassociation.org/BrainDevelopment/mobility1.html
http://www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therapy.html
http://www.examiner.com/article/can-horses-help-treat-children-with-autism-the-answer-may-surprise-you
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/gentle-horses-help-rein-childhood-autism-38738443
