Fall 2009 Equine Assisted Learning Activity

Thanks to a $3000. grant from United Way Success by 6 SD&G, and in partnership with Second Wind Acres in Apple Hill,  11 children on the autism spectrum and their siblings attended weekly one hour sessions designed to foster the acquisition of new skills through Equine Assisted Learning Activities.  The fall 2009 session took place over the course of 8 weeks in September and October 2009. 

It was a phenomenal success!  Judging by parental response, the objectives of developing relationships, skill building and character education were exceeded!

Second Wind Acres provided a safe and calm learning experience in a farm environment.   Activities were individualized to each child's particular cognitive, motor and social skills needs.   

The children displayed a wide range of abilities ... from those who aren't able to touch the animals at first, to those who are riding horses, having a mini-picnic in the forest, collecting eggs and writing farm stories in their journals! This grant opened doors to new experiences.

Grooming, handling and riding a horse provided a real source of excitement and pride for the participating children who developed special relationships with the horses which in turn generalized into increased contact and involvement with others.  Generalization of skills and social involvement is often very difficult for children on the autism spectrum. 

An increase in confidence each time they came to the farm, in how they approached the animals and reached out to them was observed with each passing week.   There was less anxiety each week, more concentration, greater skill and more joy!

The use of visual supports provided routine and allowed the children to know what would be happening next.  Children on the autism spectrum thrive on routine and are often reluctant to try new experiences. The children's reduced fear and anxieties coupled with increased self awareness helped them gain a sense of confidence and competence from their horsemanship, in turn fostering increased independence.  This new found independence provided some parents moments of quiet reflection, so often hard to come by when caring for a child 24/7.

Read what parents had to say:

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