Autism Spectrum Disorder & Horse Riding Therapy

MOST CHILDREN ARE VERY SOCIAL ... THEY THRIVE ON INTERACTING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.BUT FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE AUTISM... THAT SOCIAL INTERACTION IS USUALLY MISSING.NOW... A SPECIAL RANCH IN SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN IS HELPING AUTISTIC CHILDREN... WITH A HORSE RIDING THERAPY.NEAR THE SMALL TOWN OF GENOA LIES A SPECIAL LITTLE RANCH. HERE HORSES AND CHILDREN MIX ALMOST MAGICALLY.SUSAN WELLMAN "WHEN THEY GET ON THAT HORSE AND THE HORSE STARTS TO MOVE YOU CAN SEE A BIG SMILE COME OVER THEM AND WHEN THEY TROT IT GIVES THEM THE STIMULATION AND SOMETHING JUST COMES OVER THE WHERE THEY'RE ONE WITH THE HORSE. THEY'RE BALANCE EVEN IMPROVES. TO SEE THEM SMILE MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE."MAKING A CONNECTION WITH CHIEF...IS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR 12 YEAR OLD WILL SCHUECH. WILL IS AUTISTIC... HE OFTEN COMMUNICATES BY MAKING NOISES OR REPEATING WHAT OTHERS SAY. SO CHOOSING A HORSE FOR HIM WAS A BIT OF A CHALLENGE."WE NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY CALM BECAUSE OF THE SOUNDS WILL MAKES AT TIMES AND SOME OF THE MOVEMEMTNS COULD BE SCARE FOR OTHER HORSES. THEY MAY NOT ACT IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE SAFE FOR THE RIDER."BUT CHIEF DOES. IN FACT, THOSE AT THE WELLMAN FARM SAY.. FROM DAY ONE... THIS HORSE "KNEW" WILL WAS ONE OF A KIND."THIS HORSE HAD A SIXTH SENSE WITH WILL. WE KNEW WITH WILL STILL ON THE GROUND GROOMING HIM AND MAYBE GRABBING HIS MANE AND PULLING ON IT. CHIEF JUST STOOD THERE AND HAD A SIXTH SENSE THAT HE IKNEW HEW WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL FOR THIS BOY."WILL CAN'T COMMUNICATE VERBALLY HOW HIS WEEKLY RIDES AFFECT HIM, BUT SCOTT ROEHL.. A VOLUNTEER FROM CATHOLIC CHARITIES... WORKS WITH HIM ABOUT 12 HOURS A WEEK AND SAYS TIME WITH THE HORSE MAKES A DIFFERENCE NOT ONLY WHILE WILL'S RIDING...BUT ALSO AFTER.SCOTT ROEHL "A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I COME FROM HIS HOME HE'S AGITATED. BUT ALMOST EVERY TIME WE GO BACK TO LACROSSE HE'S CALM...LISTENING TO MUSIC AND BOPPING HIS HEAD TO THE BEAT."HIS RIDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERAPEUTIC... BUT IT'S ALSO EDUCATIONAL. WILLL'S WORKING ON EVERYTHING FROM MOTOR SKILLS TO VERBAL SKILLS."IT DOES HELP IN HIS SPEAKING. ONE DAY WHEN IT WAS TEN BELOW ZERO... WE CREATED WORKSHEETS WITH HORSE STUFF AND NOW HE CAN SAY BARN AND STABLE. HE COULD SAY THAT BEFORE...BUT NOW HE CAN RECOGNIZE IT."ONE IS HUMAN... THE OTHER HORSE. BUT ON THIS SPECIAL LITTLE RANCH... THEY COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A PERFECT MATCH.