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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

horse therapy

22 replies

wads · 06/11/2005 20:51

My 5 year old ds (no dx but prob AS or ASD) started horse therapy last month & coincidentally or not has had a real spurt in language - one of his big problem areas. Anyone else tried this? Therapist is fab, works during the week with CP kids. It's only 30 mins & he absolutely loves it. We pay 30 euros a session (we are in Portugal - about £23/24 I think) which I think is quite reasonable - especially given the results so far

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pixel · 07/11/2005 01:26

That's great wads. We have the Riding for the Disabled Association and my son should be going with his school (hopefully!) when he is six. I helped out for a while and it was good fun as the children loved it so much but I hurt my shoulder and had to stop. Does your ds have individual tuition? Ours go in small class groups.

I'm really looking forward to my ds going, I just hope they can persuade him to get on the pony!

Original poster

wads · 07/11/2005 06:22

Yes pixel my ds has a private class. He can be rather unruly in group activities!! I was worried he would freak out when the horse started moving but he loves it. I think my fear of riding, having been thrown a few times, made me more nervous for him

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heartinthecountry · 07/11/2005 10:36

Is horse therapy (also known as hippotherapy?) just riding on a horse or is there more to it? Just interested. dd is due to start horse riding with her nursery soon and I just wondered if this is what is known as horse therapy? What does your ds do in his sessions Wads?

Original poster

wads · 07/11/2005 19:04

Yes it's actually hippotherapy. As ds's main problem is communication therapist gets him to give lots of orders to the horse, does simple throw objects in bucket or hang on peg games, gets him to ride backwards and also session is without a saddle - just a blanket on horse's back

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mizmiz · 07/11/2005 19:09

I'm a salt with a communication impaired daughter.Although I have issues with overuse of the term therapy (when I heard trampolning described as rebound therapy,I decided enough was enough.)I send my 4 year old horseriding every week.

I aim to improve her confidence and crucially,ability to concentrate and follow instructions.

Oh,and to have fun!!

It's working very well and she loves it.

chatee · 07/11/2005 19:23

My dd has been going to RDA since she was just 3 (she is now 5.2 and in a mainstream year 1 class) and it has improved her posture and walking ability immensely...her teacher says that in the half an hour that she has back at school after horse riding she gets the best piece of work for the week(something that would normally take dd an hour or more she can complete like her peers)
i can not rate it high enough and sing the praises of the volunteersat every opportunity....what a fabulous bunch of people
ps:i really don't like horses myself infact have quite a fear of them but have done my upmost to not show my dd

pixel · 07/11/2005 20:13

Mizmiz, my pony has definately provided me with 'therapy' as he has kept me sane these past few years! He has given me fresh air and exercise, a daily dose of much needed freedom, and on occasion a mane to cry into. He has really helped me to cope with the trials and tribulations of SN.

Sadly I have had to make a decision today that I have been dreading. The vet is coming tomorrow morning to put him to sleep. After 23 years together I will miss him terribly and I am already preparing for my transformation into gibbering wreck!

Sorry if I've hijacked but I'm just feeling so and it's unusual to see a horsey thread on here.

Original poster

wads · 07/11/2005 20:19

pixel highjack away. That is awful news about your pony - poor you. I know how I felt about my 12 year old cat last year - can't imagine losing a 23 year old pet/companion.

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pixel · 07/11/2005 20:32

Thanks Wads.I've had him for 23 years but he was 5 when I got him because no-one else wanted him. We've been through a lot together over the years!

He has been losing his sight but has coped very well up until now with a shetland for company and he looks 10 years younger than his age. This morning I knew he had crossed a line when I saw him literally running into the fences. Normally he comes straight to me by my voice but today he was too confused and it broke my heart. Now I've just got to get through tomorrow!

mizmiz · 07/11/2005 20:34

Pixel,so sorry if my comment was insensitive.

I've no doubt that your dear pony has been a source of great strength and comfort to you.

Sounds like he has been very loved though,which is really all that anyone can ask.

pixel · 07/11/2005 20:40

Honestly, it wasn't insensitive at all. How were you to know there would be some mad woman on here feeling very sorry for herself?

Actually I agree with you about the 'therapy' thing. Seems very american to me.

Now I've probably offended american mumsnetters

elastamum · 07/11/2005 21:10

I have been involved in helping SN children to ride and can only reccomend it, it is usually a wonderful experience for them.
Very sorry to hear about your pony pixel, i have a 21 yr old horse that I love to bits and am dreading the time she has to go. Reassure yourself though that you are doing the right thing as it would be far worse to let your pony suffer and struggle on.

Many hugs[[[[]]]

Janh · 07/11/2005 21:31

Oh, pixel, I am so sorry to hear about your lovely pony. Knowing it's the right thing to do for him won't make it any easier for you to say goodbye, but what a great life he has had with you that he might not have had otherwise.

pixel · 07/11/2005 22:28

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the kind thoughts and hugs. It is easier knowing that it is the right thing to do and it helps when other people think so too.

In an attempt to let you get back to your original subject...I might be able to get ds started on the shetland now. (I couldn't take her away from my pony before because it upset him, and I couldn't take ds into the field in case he got trodden on!) Then he will have a head start when he goes to the RDA!

mizmiz · 08/11/2005 15:26

How are you doing today pixel??

Davros · 08/11/2005 16:01

Sorry too pixel
I think horse riding/therapy COULD be very good but we didn't have a very good experience with RDA. The first year was OK, DS tolerated it but could take it or leave it. I liked gossiping with the other mums The sessions (I wouldn't call them lessons) were very slow and repetitive, even the mums of kids with other disabilities such as CP thought it could have been a LOT better. Then DS started doing things like throwing hay around, as they always kept us waiting before getting the horses ready and getting going. Waiting? wtf, not a good idea with many SNs, especially ASD. I managed to stop him for 90% of the time and the 10% I didn't I'd get "can you stop him doing that? Its not clean" etc, yes well can you get on with it and have SOME sensitivity about his difficulties?????? When he became a little more challenging e.g. flicking the horse's mane, waving his hands around, then even hitting the horse sometimes etc they had NO IDEA how to manage it. They used to shout at him "hold the reins", having never taken 10 seconds to explain what/where the reins were. I think they'd had many years of dealing more with physical disability where you have to HELP a child to do things rather than learning disability which, for DS, means STOPPING him doing things. They knew NO Makaton which would have helped. ANyway, just to say it isn't always good but I think we were unlucky. We just gave up, more trouble than it was worth in the end.

pixel · 08/11/2005 21:16

Feeling and a bit lost but relieved that he went very peacefully in the sunshine with me cuddling his head. Oh, and a packet of his favourite fruit pastilles! His little shetland friend is upset but hopefully will settle down.

Davros, I know what you mean about the RDA. I only helped out for a few months but it was long enough for me to realise that every session was exactly the same. They seemed to be content for the little boy I was helping to just loll about in the saddle which was a shame because when I whispered to him to sit up straight and tried to explain things to him, his concentration and understanding were quite good. I thought he would have made a good rider with a bit of encouragment because he loved it when they had a trot and enjoyed the games. There was just too much aimless walking around in between to hold his interest.

Still, there's no harm in seeing how my ds gets on. I'm hoping that seeing his classmates ride will make him want to have a go. I've got two friends with suitable ponies he can ride if he really shows an interest.

And I do admire the RDA ladies for giving up their time to help, even though they all treated me like a naughty 9 year old!

mizmiz · 08/11/2005 21:22

Ah pixel..
Shedding a little tear for you.
I'm sure he's frolicking in that big green pasture in the sky.

I'm concerned that the RDA thing has been so bad for you and Davros.
Davros,from the examples you cite,they obviously haven't a clue? Wonder if the SALT could talke to them??
The RDA people that the kids I work with go to are by all accounts delightful.

pixel · 08/11/2005 23:54

Thanks Mizmiz.

I wouldn't say the RDA was 'bad' just a bit 'samey'. The children certainly enjoyed it and I know they were using their muscles and improving their balance the whole time. I just felt that the more able ones could have done with some variety.I suspect they are limited in what activities they are allowed to do due to the insurance issues. I'll bet they will never be allowed to ride with just a blanket like Wad's ds. I'm still looking forward to my ds going and I will try to help out again in the future if I can.

Actually most of the people there were very nice. I found it quite funny that the ones in charge were older ladies and very pony club/WI that's all. They kept telling me off if I didn't jump to it quick enough!

Anteater · 09/11/2005 00:31

Davros · 09/11/2005 10:51

I couldn't say that the people at our RDA were horrid, just a bit clueless! They are giving up their time volunarily to help children with disabilities so you can hardly complain BUT we were paying for it and they could have done a LOT better. I felt that most of them had NO idea about most disability and particularly learning disability and/or ASD. I know a friend who has tried very hard to get them to think harder about how they do things (her child doesn't have ASD) but it never goes anywhere. I've got enough issues on my hands, I thought about writing a very nice but constructive letter to them but I have mentally moved on. With so many more children coming through with LD/ASD they are going to have to get their act together. Also, it is the last place I would donate to or fundraise for

baka · 09/11/2005 12:14

Heard similar about the RDA- useless with ASD. My friend tried it and they had the whole waiting issue. So she didn't go back.

Having said that some places do it very well. The Sidmouth donkey sanctuary are great with both physical and learning difficulties/ASD. They visit my son's school as well- he loved it- and spoke to his donkey (ee aww and bye bye paddy - the donkey's name). When the children get older they go to a local RDA attached to an agricultural college- apparently they are very good there as well- but then I guess they have the school staff etc as well.

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