Equine Assisted Therapy Research Paper

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Sociology: Equine Assisted Therapy Name Student Number Post Foundation English 2-Class 102 Teacher: Susan Kniseley-Foy December 26, 2012 HEADER FOR ALL PAGES HEADER FOR ALL PAGES Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that is becoming commonly known due to its increasing prevalence in today’s world (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). The parents of autistic offspring are faced with extreme child-rearing challenges. To begin with, there is no definitive answer as to why people develop autism and there is also no known cure. Depending on the severity of the autism, the affected person may express himself in an explosive way by throwing tantrums, or conversely, he may be wholly unresponsive, which…show more content…
People with autism do not often know how to react normally to social stimulus because their senses are already overloaded and they cannot focus on just one point. This difficulty in integrating the senses often causes them to either isolate themselves or to throw tantrums. Through horse therapy, the autistic person can be motivated to engage socially through their relationship with the horse and might view the opportunity to ride the horse as rewarding stimulus. A study by Bass, Duchowny and Llabre (2009) shows that participants in therapeutic horseback riding demonstrated that they could maintain directed concentration, listen to directions and give commands to the horse, which is indicative of active engagement and involvement. Once the autistic person is accustomed to dealing with the horse, he or she will learn that in order to make the horse perform in a certain way, he must communicate with the animal and the horse trainer. Since people with ASDs often withdraw, this exercise in focusing on something outside of themselves is of great importance to autistic people (“Therapeutic Horseback Riding as Autism Treatment”, 2008) . This training also gives the person a feeling of self-confidence and self-control which makes them feel more prepared to express themselves to others. The gentle nature of the horse and the positivity of the experience can promote tranquility, which helps the person to control his reactions. All in all, this leads to a more enjoyable and manageable social environment which may create a more positive correlation with social interactions in the broader

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