They had been everywhere and his case had been turned down by everyone as "too complicated for us to handle." I told the mother of the thirteen year old autistic boy that I had no experience with autism but we would try an equine therapy session to see if it would be possible to help this young man. During the office interview he sat with his head in his mother's shoulder and refused to make eye contact or acknowledge me in any way. I wasn't sure what I could do but I had my bet on the horses and equine therapy.
During the first session this client demonstrated parts of his fearful past-worrying that the horses would eat his hair. At the beginning of the second session he chose Willy to work with as "his" horse. He was able to follow directions, be cooperative, and participate in decision making. He has continued to improve getting control of his anger and always beginning each session with a thorough grooming of the horse- a wonderful metaphor for self care. His mother has stated that he has had several good days in a row which she feels is akin to a miracle. We continue to see where the horses will lead us with each and every session.
Why we think it works!
We found that in working with a horse in a cooperative venture, the client feel empowered. We have noticed immediate improvement in many behavioral areas. Often mere observation of herd behavior can be generalized to the larger world. This observation provides a valuable and experiential lesson in social skills, and boundary setting which is often noted after the first session by parents.
Autism currently affects 1 in 150 children. That number is expected to rise to 1 in 75 within the next two years. In our program each individual is interviewed in the office before being placed in the equine therapy program. Goals are established and a treatment plan is formed. We work closely with the parents of the client to provide support, information, and to maximize progress.
Common goals are: -anger management -communication skills -working with others -self care -autonomy -attachment -establishing empathy -loyalty
TESTIMONIAL:
"Our son, who has High Functioning Autism, has shown great progress since beginning equestrian therapy. His teachers are amazed and called to find out what was going on. For the first time, he began to participate in group activities and is showing more patience when trying to complete tasks. Just recently, he showed loyalty for the first time ever. He looks forward to working with the horses and being part of the 'Ranch Family'. My only wish is that we would have found this place a long time ago."
DB
For more information please call 352-428-4480 or email: drtwilmoth@yahoo.com White Light Ranch 16219 Citrus Way Brooksville, FL 34614
