Exposing Kids with ASD to Horses

Wake up. Breakfast. School. Go home. iPad. Dinner. iPad. Bed. Repeat. To most of us this may sound boring and monotonous. To a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD this might represent comfort in the form of routine simplicity and escape. In todays world it seems as though the general public has been sucked into a technological tunnel. For a child with ASD it is even easier for them to become fixated on things especially iPads iPhones and other interactive technology that ultimately keeps them isolated or cloistered from the outside world. Unfortunately it is even harder to pull them away from such fixations once they manifest.

A recent study published in the Autism Research and Treatment Journal showed that children with autism are far less physically active than their nonspectrum peers although just as physically capable. This finding suggests that children with ASD simply need more exposure to opportunities to engage in physical activity which all children need in order to set a foundation for a healthy life.
It is so important to create a balanced lifestyle for children with ASD. They need to be given an opportunity to sample a rich array of activities and to try new things. It is through environmental enrichment and stimulation that people discover their interests. When an interest is discovered there are social opportunities that involve connecting with likeminded individuals. Opening them up to different experiences can result in the emergence of new interests for them outside of their tunnel. An imperative related to working with a child with ASD is to find a medium of motivation to ignite active engagement. This can easily be validated through an opportunity recently presented to me which translated to an amazing experience with positive outcomes.
When I was a boy I was simply fascinated with horses cowboys and lassos. Although shy by nature I would engage anyone willing to talk about or demonstrate the art of swirling a lasso. I would chase after anyone who was adept at making sky circles. When my friends Jeff and Jill recently donated their senior horse Bucky to be used to support children with disabilities I immediately thought back to my childhood experience and the impact that Bucky could possibly have on children with ASD. In particular I thought of Ara a nineyearold boy with autism with whom I had been working through Pacific Child and Family Associates PCFA. I sent Aras