Dawnlight Therapeutic Horse riding helps with CP,ADHD,ADD,Authism,Down Syndrome, and many more mental and physical disabilities .
Benefits of therapeutic horse riding :The benefits of Therapeutic Horseback Riding are threefold: physical, psychological and social. The first of these is applicable only to the patient; the second and third are more transferrable to people around the patient. More will be said of this shortly. In most of the conditions and disorders specified above, there has been a serious disruption in the ability of the patient to perform basic purposive functions. Balance, proprioception, ambulation, posture and manual dexterity are limited, many times severely. Therapeutic Horseback Riding is well suited to treating the patient with some or all of the dysfunctions cited when used in conjunction with a planned, progressive exercise program. The aim of any treatment program is to improve circulation, respiration, balance, coordination, proprioception, agility, self-confidence and mental relaxation. In addition, one would hope for significant carry- over of improvements from the therapy sessions to activities of daily living. By forming a partnership with a horse or pony, several of these goals are brought into focus: by eliminating the need to concentrate on standing, the handicapped rider can devote his efforts and attention to refining his balance and coordination and improving his ability to function in a more rhythmic manner. Once astride his or her horse, the animal functions as a surrogate cerebellum, providing the rider's neuromuscular system with varying inputs that closely approximate those that are experienced during normal human ambulation. Sensations are transmitted from the stirrups and through the rider's feet and legs that reflect the surface being traversed by the horse. The rider is thus exposed to differing qualities, textures and grades of surface, a new experience for many of the handicapped. Moreover, the motion of the horse brings into play spinal reflexes, especially the righting reflex, which are rarely, if ever, used by wheelchair-bound persons. The second major benefit of Therapeutic Horseback Riding is concerned with the psychological state of the rider. While this aspect of Therapeutic Horseback Riding is more subtle and less suited to quantification, there is nevertheless a definite relationship between the psychological set of handicapped person and exposure to the riding experience. Historical overviewTherapeutic Riding can be traced throughout the ages. There is documentation of individuals exploring the various therapeutic benefits of horsemanship as far back as 600 B.C. The first modern study of the therapeutic benefits of horseback riding can be traced back to 1875. Cassaign, a physician prescribed riding for his patients believing that riding would benefit individuals with issues including neurological disorders, joint pain and immobility and balance. Oxford Hospital in England suggested riding therapy for soldiers injured in World War I. Because of the unique bond that is often formed between human and animal people throughout the ages have recognised the importance of riding for people with special needs. This knowledge has grown throughout the ages and been utilized in various different ways. However, therapeutic riding was not recognised as a therapeutic discipline until fairly recently. Modern rootsTherapeutic riding is most often attributed to Lis Hartel, a wheelchair bound woman from Denmark who was determined to ride despite her disability. In the mid 1940s there were significant outbreaks of polio in Scandinavia; Hartel was stricken with this illness, which limited her mobility. Hartel was successful in her efforts to rehabilitate herself using horseback riding, so successful that she went on to win an
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