Although a lot of parents have the passion, will, and determination to exert extra effort in caring for children with special needs, many if not most of these parents would greatly welcome inventive and ingenious resources that offer them support in attending to their children’s needs.

In reality, it is important for people, in general, to understand where these parents are coming from, especially those that are caring for children with special needs, as they go beyond the normal just to ensure that they improve the quality of life of these special children.

Millions, not Thousands

Think about it, according to the National Organization on Disability, there are around 54 million Americans- men, women, and children- coping with special needs and rising costs associated with it. 

The US Census Bureau reported that one in every 26 American families are raising a child with some form of disability and an estimated 2.8 million families are raising more than one children with disability.

Physical and Emotional Support through Horse Therapy

This is where equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) such as facilities providing therapeutic horseback riding Virginia has greatly contributed in helping families and parents overcome the challenges of addressing the care and therapeutic components for children with special needs.

A psychotherapist’s chair or office is no longer the sole provider that offers such treatment, as it is getting its support from a therapeutic riding center near me– one that particularly gets invaluable support from specially-trained and carefully selected therapy horses.

These horses help provide physical therapy to children with special needs that benefit these kids emotionally and physically. While EAP is a broad and dynamic therapy program which involves several forms of treatment methods, therapeutic riding is one of the most commonly adopted methods that has supported the treatment of hundreds of thousands of children.

The approach provided by centers offering therapeutic horseback riding Virginia form part of an adaptive program for children diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, and some forms of physical disability.

Significant Improvements

Many parents have attested to the effective and significant improvements resulting from therapeutic horseback riding Virginia ranging from riders being able to learn how to control their upper and lower bodies, control of their legs, and even developing patience and their listening ability by following instructions on how to ride and guide the horse.

Experts agree that the therapeutic qualities of the riding approach are the rhythmic patterns of the horse’s movements that mimic the way humans walk. The side-to-side and forward/backward motion of the horses also helps relax the body and helps children replicate it to their walking normally on the ground.

While a similar effect can be achieved through traditional physical therapy, horse riding makes it more effective since it becomes a fun and worthwhile experience for children.