The incredible benefits of the James S. Brady Therapeutic Riding Program for children with special needs become self-evident when you witness a child experiencing the joy of horses for the very first time. Children who cannot do the things that you and I may take for granted—walking, running, playing, or sitting up—get on a horse and suddenly have the ability to move with coordination and look down on the world from above.
"The outsides of a horse are good for the insides of a man!"
– Sir Winston Churchill
The emotional and physical benefits of horseback riding for the disabled are profound. The students gain a love and respect for animals, better self-confidence, improved social skills, and a general sense of normalcy. They gain increased mobilization of joints, in particular the spine, pelvis, hips, neck, shoulder, knees, ankles, and feet. They consistently show improvements in coordination, reflexes, posture, muscle strength, and balance. Horseback riding also provides the student with a wider tactile experience, the experience of new sounds and smells, and increased visual stimulation to enhance the child’s neural development. Loving and caring for a horse gives a child the opportunity to take on challenges that he or she may never have dreamed to be possible and encourages him or her to take on any other challenges that may arise.
Physical Benefits
- Increased muscle strength
- Increased range of joint movement and sensory integration
- Improved respiration, circulation, appetite and digestion
- General sense of well-being
- Self-confidence and self-control
- Increased interest in one's self
- Improved risk taking abilities
- Development of patience
- Better self-discipline
- Foster friendships
- Development of love and respect for animals
- Increased experiences with people
- Pure enjoyment and fun
- Remedial reading
- Recognition of shapes and colors
- Sequencing, patterning, and motor planning
- Visual spatial perception
- Differentiation