What Age Range Can Benefit From Therapeutic Riding
Anyone from the age of four up to an adult can benefit from therapeutic riding, however, a doctor must sign a release form before the riding can take place. Therapeutic riding helps to address disabilities and a number of different medical issues. These can be paralysis, stroke, Down’s syndrome, autism, emotional disorders and language development to name a few.
Therapeutic riding benefits wheelchair impaired individuals by stimulating those muscles that are not seldom used. The riding helps improve equilibrium. Those who have learning disabilities will have a better self esteem and a more positive attitude for the first time ever. For Down Syndrome individuals, language barriers will be broken and their vocabulary will increase.
There are so many different disabilities that therapeutic riding can help with including physical, mental, social and emotional. Riding will allow individuals to concentrate and develop emotional awareness. For individuals who have random outbursts, riding can be calming. This allows the rider to enforce behavior that is appropriate. Socially, riders will be able to communicate with other riders and reinforce teamwork and turn taking skills.
Therapeutic riding will give the feeling of love and warmth while promoting many benefits to the rider. This is also reassuring to the rider thus giving them a calm and reassuring feeling of accomplishment. The internet is a great source for more information on local therapeutic riding centers and their programs. Alternatively the library is another great source for therapeutic riding resources.