NEW Therapeutic Riding Lessons for ADD/ADHD Children.
Introduction course with Parents, $45 for 1.5 hours
8 Week Course, 2 times a week, total of 16 lessons.
THERAPEUTIC RIDING FOR ADD/ADHD CHILDREN
Shenandoah Stables is offering a new program for children with ADD/ADHD. Our approach promotes organizational skills, responsibility, concentration, gentleness, and communication.
HOW CAN THERAPEUTIC RIDING HELP?
Therapeutic riding programs are not new and have shown to have a positive impact for children with ADD/ADHD.
EQUINE ASSISTED COUNSELING LLC, in Rochester, MI, writes about the benefits below.
"A well-structured riding program can be an extremely rewarding and motivating treatment for these children. The symptoms of hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsiveness have often prevented success in other attempts at organized sports. In therapeutic riding, however, the working on a one-to-one or two-to-one basis, along with the novelty inherent with horseback riding, is a natural medium for these “motor driven children.” Improvement in riding skills, coupled with a well-trained team of mental health professionals often lead to success for the first time in a child’s life."
HOW DOES THERAPEUTIC RIDING WORK?
First, the mere challenge of riding a horse takes concentration and focus. Something the children learn quickly is that if he/she’s not in control of the horse, the horse will control them. Controlling a horse is a rewarding achievement for anyone, but an ADD/ADHD child feels overwhelming achievement in gaining control….possible a first in their lives.
Secondly, the main focus of the program (besides increasing riding skills) revolves around challenging, increasingly difficult obstacle courses that the child must maneuver the horse through. This takes the skills of focusing, concentration and sequencing while focusing on two tasks – riding and getting through the obstacle course.
Finally, there is little (if any) rebellion from the child to complete the tasks presented. Taken out of the school setting or tutoring, the child is having fun learning the very same skills he/she may resist in a more formal setting.
The success rate of therapeutic riding is high – often helping turn the “disparaging label of ADD into a child who is Absolutely Delightfully Driven.”*
*from SRIDES: ADD by Colleen Zanin, MS, OTR
"A good rider can hear his horse speak to him.
A great rider can hear his horse whisper.
But a bad rider won't hear his horse even if it screams at him!"
- (unknown) | ADD/ADHD THERAPEUTIC RIDING LESSONS:
Introduction Lesson with Parents:
$45, 1.5 hours
8 week program, 2 times a week, 16 lessons total: $640
This program is 1-2 students per hour session.
Riding Lesson:
Riding lessons are available for the beginner who wants to get a good foundation in horsemanship or for more experienced riders to brush up on their skills. English and Western pleasure style.
Ages 8 to Adult!
Riding lessons:
$50.00 per hour
Save on a package of 8 lessons:
$320.00 |
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