A Gallop Toward Hope: One Family’s Adventure in Fighting Autism

[elleng]

When Rupert Isaacson decided to take his autistic son, Rowan, on a trip to Mongolia to ride horses and seek the help of shamans two years ago, he had a gut instinct that the adventure would have a healing effect on the boy. Mr. Isaacson’s instinct was rewarded after the trip, when some of Rowan’s worst behavioral issues, including wild temper tantrums, all but disappeared.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/books/15horse.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th

[Kajsa]

1. What a great story.

I'm so happy they found something that helped their son.

Personally, I feel the interaction with animals is very helpful.

Thanks for sharing this.

:D

[merwin]

2. Very interesting read. I just hope (as the article points out) that people will not see this

as the cure and try to replicate it. Honestly, finding out what kind of activities and methods of interaction work best goes a long way to helping the behaviorial issues. The wild temper tantrums are not without a reason.

Up where I live there's farm with a number of horses on it and they're used for various forms of therapy, one being for Autistic people. It's shown great success in helping many people, no trip to Mongolia necessary :)

[elleng]

3. Some may try to replicate it,

but many will probably use it as an example of the kinds of therapies that might be helpful.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. In my area, 4H sponsors a program called "hope from horses"

which is very popular with kids with developmental disabilities.

http://graysharbor.wsu.edu/4-H/documents/08novdec.pdf