Why Horses?

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Works Cited

Babcock, Issac. "Miracle Horses." n. pag. Web. 11 Nov 2010. http://www.eosun.com/EOSun/article.asp?ID=4579.

Dubetz, Danielle. "Abused Horses Give Back." n. pag. Web. 16 Nov 2010.

Frost, Janelle. "Healing on Horseback." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/28/1659909/healing-on-horseback.html.

"Gabby." New Heights. Web. 16 Nov 2010. http://www.newheightstherapy.org/ProgramInformation/ImpactofTherapeuticRiding/tabid/84/Default.aspx.

"Healing." Miracle Horses. Web. 9 Nov 2010.

"Little Bit." Little Bit Therapy . Web. 11 Nov 2010. http://www.refresheverything.com/littlebittrc.

 Maynarich, Melissa. "Horse Therapy Making A Difference." (2009): n. pag. Web. 10 Nov 2010. http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11243629

"Open Gate." Open Gate Farms. Web. 11 Nov 2010. http://www.opengait.org/OpenGait_Program.htm.

Shapario, Mary. "Healing Power of A Horse." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2010/05/18/west/special_feature/0519wc-equine0.txt.

Wordle #2

Reflection on Findings

This whole process has been very eye opening for me. I have reinforced the knowledge of horse assisted therapy being most effective with children that have autism and Down syndrome, and because I volunteer on Sundays with children, I have seen this with my own eyes. I have noticed their behaviors and how they have changed along the way. Some of the kids were really shy before and now that I have done this research, I have noticed that it does help them when someone just listens and is not always asking them questions. I would definitely do this type of project again, but with a different topic, most likely with horses.

Finding Paragraph #3: Types of people.

What type of people would horse assisted therapy be more effective with?

Horse therapy has been used with people who have been abused, have autism, down syndrome, ADHD or ADD, are foster children, and ones that have been in an accident and have injuries. The most common ones that has been researched are the programs that help children with autism and down syndrome. The volunteers that work with autistic children notice a difference in their behaviors around the horses and them.(Dubetz) "He feels freedom. He feels independence. He feels powerful. He feels skilled. In  his daily life, as much as we try to set him up for success, he often feels frustrated and less than able, less than his peers in terms of what he can accomplish...."(New Heights) Mary's son has Autism and she notices a difference with the way he acts. She says that when he is on the horse he feels like he is free, in control, and successful, which is more than what they could do for him in his daily life.

Finding Paragraph #2: Why not horses?

Why do some people think that horses should not be used in rehabilitation programs? 

The people who think psychiatrists are better for their child have a right to their opinion. Some think that because they are animals they can not understand their child; therefore, they should not be used. Psychiatrists can ask questions, reply to questions, and show emotion; whereas, horses cannot. Some do not think that is what they need, but on the other hand, that can sometimes be exactly what the child needs. They do not necessarily want someone  to poke and prod them about why they do not talk. They just want to be around someone who will accept them for who they are, not for who they want them to be; that is where the horses come in.

Finding Paragraph 1: How can they help?

How can a horse help children with disabilities?

Horses have helped children with different disabilities. The most common ones are Autism and Down Syndrome. The volunteers at different programs have noticed a difference with the children that attend regularly. Some would not even talk to anyone, including their parents. Now when they are on the horse the children are giving directions to the volunteers and the horse, and when they get off they talk to their parents about what they did. Sometimes they will even run to their parents and hug them. (Maynarich)"These children put up a wall because they have been hurt so much and a horse is able to penetrate that wall"(Dubetz) The children have blocked out everyone in their lives and keep to themselves. Stacy, president of the Fidelis Foundation in FL, said the horses are able to do things people can not do to help the children. After the horses break the barriers, the volunteers are welcomed by the children to talk and for the most part, the receive and answer from them.

Quote #5 Wall of Communication Broken

"These children put up a wall because they have been hurt so much and a horse is able to penetrate that wall"    ~ Stacy Gormely, President of the Fidelis Foundation

Stacy has had a love for children and horses all her life. She started working with children that have disabilities a few years ago. She noticed that the children she was trying to help would block her and all the other volunteers out like they were not even there. Then they started using horses. The staff noticed a difference in their behaviors. The children started communicating with their families and the volunteers, they gave verbal directions and requests, and they showed a love for horses that they had never shown to anyone before.

Dubetz, Danielle. "Abused Horses Give Back." n. pag. Web. 16 Nov 2010.

Quote #4 Accomplished

"He feels freedom.  He feels independence.  He feels powerful.  He feels skilled.  In  his daily life, as much as we try to set him up for success, he often feels frustrated and less than able, less than his peers in terms of what he can accomplish.

The work that is being done for people with disabilities at New Heights is so valuable.  It means many different things to all the participants (riders, parents, volunteers, instructors…).  But the common joy is that it changes all of our lives.  My family is stronger and happier because of what Walker can do at New Heights.  You know, you can tell a child all day, everyday that they are wonderful, but nothing builds their self-esteem like success through their own actions."   

                  ~Mary Ann Haase, parent of New Heights Rider

Mary Ann is the mother of a child with a disability. She brings him to New Heights Therapeutic Riding because she can see an improvement with everything. New Heights has volunteers that work with children with Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain and spinal cord injury, developmental disabilities, autism, and learning disorders. The riding sessions improve the child's ability to communicate, builds self-esteem and confidence, and fosters freedom.

"Gabby." New Heights. Web. 16 Nov 2010. <http://www.newheightstherapy.org/ProgramInformation/ImpactofTherapeuticRiding/tabid/84/Default.aspx>.

Quote #3 Something About Them

"There's something about the horse … the horse brings it all out in them."            ~Linda Chapman

Linda works with children that have Autism, Down Syndrome, and other disabilities. She has noticed that children who never talk around anyone start talking. Ones that used to just sit on the horse and not say a word are now giving complete verbal directions to the horse. Horses do not judge anyone just because they look different. They do not judge anyone just because they do not talk. Horses are very different from people for those reasons. A horse will love you if you treat them with love. It does not matter to them that you do not talk to them because it is how you act around them that matters. If you are calm and loving towards a horse, they will love you no matter what.

Babcock, Issac. "Miracle Horses." n. pag. Web. 11 Nov 2010. http://www.eosun.com/EOSun/article.asp?ID=4579.

"Little Bit." Little Bit Therapy . Web. 11 Nov 2010. http://www.refresheverything.com/littlebittrc.

Picture #3 Open Gate Farms

This child attends a therapy program in Alabama called Open Gate that started with the love of  horses and children. Open Gate works with children ages 2-18. Associating with the horses takes away the stress a child might have due to their disability or sickness. Riding a horse increases a child's ability to balance, communicate, and have better hand-eye coordination. A typical day for a child that comes to the Farm starts off with being welcomed by everyone in the barn including staff, horses, and the 'barn critters'. Afterward, they are matched up with a horse that will be their friend for the day. Then they learn all about their horse and how to take care of it by brushing, feeding, and cleaning it. They also learn about the safety. When all that is taken care of; the child gets to ride their horse. When they are riding, the lesson might be stretching, maneuvering the horse around cones, poles, or barrels, and games. The volunteers try to make it fun so each time the child comes they do something different.
 "Open Gate." Open Gate Farms. Web. 11 Nov 2010. <http://www.opengait.org/OpenGait_Program.htm>.

Quote #2 For the First Time

"I've had kids out here who have hugged their parents for the first time after working with horses. I've had children who've talked for the first time after working with horses."
~ Jackie Wilks, Harvest Farms Founder

Jackie said that the children who come out to her farm have never talked or hugged their parents before. After they have worked with her and the horses, the run up to their parents and hug them or they start talking to them for the first time. Her and her husband,Tom, started the farm 6 years ago after Jackie saw children falling away from their families. Dr. Travis Crowe says that it is the movement of the child on the horse that allows certain things to be released from the brain that help the child to relax.


Maynarich, Melissa. "Horse Therapy Making A Difference." (2009): n. pag. Web. 10 Nov 2010. <http://www.news9.com/global/story.asp?s=11243629>

Picture #2 Healing Power of A Horse

Jacob is 15 and has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and cognitive delays due to a brain injury at birth. When a child willingly goes up to a horse and is being loud or rambunctious, like Jacob was, the horse will most likely run away because it is scared; therefore, the child will learn to be calm and collected when they are around the animals. The program that Jacob attends serves more than 200 kids with disabilities and is run by 300+ volunteers.

Shapario, Mary. "Healing Power of A Horse." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. <http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2010/05/18/west/special_feature/0519wc-equine0.txt>.

Quote #1 Changing Lives

 "We've seen kids' lives change...We're trying to break the cycle that kids find themselves in when they have been let down by a parent or adult figure in their lives, A lot don't know how to build a loving, healthy relationship because of what's been done to them. We try to instill positive life skills so they can overcome their past."
         ~ Stacy Gormley, President of the Fidelis Foundation, FL

This was said by Stacy Gormley; the president of the Fidelis Foundation in Florida. She said that by using the horses as a 'therapist', she has see the children's lives change. Stacy's goal; as well as the rest of the Fidelis Foundations', is to help gain the children's trust and instill life skills. The children have lost trust in people because they have been let down by someone they trusted. The foundation has helped children from ages 2 through 17 to build confidence in themselves and the horses, healthy relationships, and their self-esteem levels. The Myrtle Beach branch is headed by Sybil Lee who hopes to extend the services to people in the surrounding areas. The Fidelis Foundation helps children who are underprivileged, abused or neglected, foster children, those who have HIV/AIDS, Autism, Down Syndrome, and more. The Branch in Myrtle Beach offers their service to children at the following places: Waccamaw Youth Center, Mercy Kids, Celebrate Kids, Life House Care Center, and Citizens Against Spouse Abuse (CASA).

Frost, Janelle. "Healing on Horseback." (2010): n. pag. Web. 9 Nov 2010. <http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/08/28/1659909/healing-on-horseback.html>.

Picture #1 Miracle Horses

This child has autism and she is in an Equine Assisted Therapy program in Florida. They offer this program to children with disabilities in all of central Florida. According to the volunteers at Freedom Ride, the children with autism, for the most part, just keep to themselves. Then, after they are exposed to something new, like equine assisted therapy, they come out of their shell and start talking to them and the horses.
         "Healing." Miracle Horses. Web. 9 Nov 2010. .

Preliminary Links and Descriptions

http://www.equine-therapy-programs.com/
This is an organization that helps children with disabilities using horses.

http://flyingchange.org/index.php
This organization was founded by Lissa Corcoran in 1996. They offer therapy programs to children using their horses.

http://www.healingreigns.com/Equine%20Assisted%20Therapy.htm
Thiswebsite has reasons to use horses in therapy. Founded by Melony Nunez, AZ.

http://www.aspenranch.com/equine.html
This organizatiion that uses horses in therapy with adolescents. Founded by Becky Brown.

wordle #1

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