By Pauline Meridien | Executive Director, BITS ETC
At this time of year I like to take an accounting of our riders, and last week spent a bit of time out in the barn. Riding a horse may seem like a nice pass-time on vacation, or as a little diversion from everyday life, but for some, this 'ride' can take them to places they never thought they would ever be. John, who lives on the Autism Spectrum, enjoys his ride each week, and has actually said his first word while riding on Gideon, the BITS ETC therapy horse. "Walk on"---and his horse moves forward, carrying him to a place where words have meanings--and he can communicate!! His mom, overjoyed and crying, left nearly speechless herself at the breakthrough she witnessed.
Alice told her horse "trott"---and away they went, around the ring, with Alice balanced in the saddle---sitting straight, and ready for anything. The pressure that bouncing on the horse provides to her joints lets her feel her whole body as it moves in space, calming her sometimes incessant movements to a quiet confidence on her horse Rosie.
"Daddy, I'm bigger than you!" exclaimed Bobbie, perched on our big horse, Disco. His father looked up as he walked next to his son during the lesson. Seeing the world from a high place, rather than in his wheelchair ( always looking up at others) gave him a new perspective on his own abilities to negotiate his chosen path in life. Dad told us he joins in with his peers at school now, ready to try new things.
With your help, people on the spectrum find joy and progress at BITS ETC. Rather than just a pony ride, it's so much more in the life of both children and adults.
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