RDA / Pony Therapy

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Hello,
Just wondering what experiences people have on here with horse riding? I'm currently schooling a pony for my Aspie brother, I'm sure he wants to get thrills and go wild but we're hoping that the discipline required to ride and the calmness will be a good thing. Has anyone found horse riding really helps with socialising or even just a fun thing to do, was it hard to understand or did you take to it quickly? Also families of aspies, have you noticed a change (positive or negative) after horseriding?

I love horses and have ridden most of my life. Horses have been my best friends. How much it helps your brother will probably decide how much affinity he has for the horse; how much it helps him socialise will depend on the horse people he meets. But the relationship he develops with the horse could be invaluable, it was for me.

He doesn't really have an "in" for meeting many types of people as he's homeschooled and noisy situations are too stressful, so can't join a football team or group swimming so we're hoping that some children locally and from the nursery he went to will be more keen to come spend time with him. He's already calling the pony his best buddy

I've owned a few horses and they have always been a interest of mine. They've been good for me...taking care of them, riding, everything. Horses have always been a big stress reliever for me.

I hated horse back riding lessons. Mostly because my instructor but the capital B in b***h. She was a school phycologist but had no clue about autism or AS. She was contantaly comparing me to Temple Grandin. I guess she never heard the phrase, "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism". To her, I was Temple's clone. She also abused her horses.

If I had an instructor who was more aware of autism and didn't beat the s**t out her horses, I probably would have loved it.

Frankly, horses creep me out. I prefer not to be around animals that can maim and or kill me if they decide to.

Noooo we definitely don't abuse our pony He's very loved. On the whole horses are very peaceful, we were hoping this would be a good influence, rather than a killing or maiming one

Why just horses? What about other species? My bearded dragon has helped me the most socialy than anything anyone else tried. I still don't see why it's so necassary to have social skills, but hey she helped me not come across as a total as*hole to everyone all the time...or just ignore everyone like I used to do.

We have dogs too, he kept trying to ride the dogs. Small pets aren't really a physical activity, this way he gets outdoors and away from the computer more. Also it's a good way to get people to come visit him, I don't want to offend AS people but he is a little strange and NT children have stopped coming to play (more because of their parents probably) He's getting a lot more playdates now people can come get a return playdate on a pony It seems terrible to think he has to have a big draw like a pony to socialise but his other obsessions really got in the way of playing with other kids.

Sounds like a step in the right direction to me. A lot of kids like animals, especially horses. I hope you have great success with the pony & your brother.

I loved riding when I was a little kid...well, still do really. I was always in a super good mood after time spent in a saddle. My preference went towards animals anyway. I have not been successful with social skills. Still trying to sort that mess out, but I would say that if I'd had an opportunity to take lessons around other kids, I might have better social skills today.

I think it is wonderful. There has been a lot of work recently with the stabilizing nature of service animals and ASD and horses are definitely intelligent to handle the situation. This will be cool to hear more on. Please update us.

I have AS and my older son (3.5yrs) has ASD. We have a small farm where I breed Welsh ponies. Riding and just working around horses in general always relaxes me. My son enjoys riding a little, but still needs assistance. I have been looking into the Horse Boy Method. You can google it online. The idea behind it is to use the riding to boost language. The child rides with an adult on the horse, so they are not expected to actually learn riding skills. It is more a form of therapy. I am not sure how it would help with social skills. Mine are terrible and I've been riding my whole life. Riding for me is one way to escape dealing with people.

HorseBoy do camps which would be lovely to go to as a family, the social skills bit is from having other children come around and help him groom and I've been recommended that I teach the pony some agility that my brother can get him to do from the ground asa sort of "trick". At the moment his special interests really put local kids off playing with him, pony riding is a bit more socially acceptable. Once the pony is a bit more settled we aim to do pony play dates where he can ride out with children of a similar age.

I'm trying to condition the pony to accept utterly anything whilst on the lead rein. Two hours in heavy traffic and we only had one scare and that was from a bicycle sneaking up behind us. Ours is a Welsh Sec A too

My horse is my therapy. Stress relief and just having some time away from people.

Riding not so much, its hard to find a good instructor that understands that I have severe anxiety. I care so much more for animals than I do people. My horse gets everything he needs, yet I put off doing stuff for myself, like hair cuts, clothes, shoes etc. I tried not having a horse for a while recently, as I had a fall and my instructor was bullying me. After going through really bad depression, I found myself wanting a horse again.

I have trouble with my dressage instructor too. She is a great trainer, but also does not understand my anxiety...plus I am very awkward with my body when around others and often don't understand how to apply what she is asking to my riding. I am still a capable rider, just not to the point where I am comfortable competing. I showed a lot when I was younger and it was agony. Now I will only show my Welsh ponies on the line. Having me and my beloved ponies judged goes beyond my comfort level but is necessary to make a name for myself as a pony breeder in Va.
I know what you mean about the hair cuts too! Just had my first one this year and my husband and parents won't stop talking about it. My hair before must have been atrocious! I usually keep it up and away from my face since a I can't stand to have my hair touch my skin.

I have two Welsh A's...a bay mare and a grey stallion. Both are adorable with great temperaments, but the small market is bad here now, so I won't be breeding them this year. My son's favorite pony is a Welsh/Arab mare we have. She is bombproof and a complete angel. Can't do the Horse Boy stuff with her though since she is too small to carry both me and my son. I won't push it on him, but I hope he gets more into riding. It would be so good for him.