HHTC provides sibling combined lessons for children who have siblings with special needs.  We believe this approach allows for bonding, shared experience and creating communication for encouraging each other.

 

One of our Parents shares an article she has written on how the Sibling Bonding Program is making a positive impact with her boys.  We thank her for this inspirational outlook!

 

My Horse, My Aspergers, and My Brother by: Kimberly Larochelle

 

Equine Assisted Therapy is the professional term that to me indicates an unspoken bonding, attaching hearts of humans with the hearts of the magnificient and noble horse and penetrating the emotional soul of each into one. A wholehearted yet quiet and serene understanding that is silent, yet speaks volumes! Couple this amazing interaction with yet one more ingredient that makes the delicious into decadent…the brother, “the sibling of the spectrum”. You may have heard it said, “3 is a magic number” and it certainly is for many things, including Equine Assisted Therapy for ASD. As parents of children on the Autism Spectrum, we all know that therapy for them is vital, yet it is only beneficial if it is progressive! I have just recently stumbled upon a real “diamond” of beneficial therapy at the Healing Horse Therapy Center here in the West Palm Beach area, as Maurette Hanson, Executive Director, heads up a program called The Sibling Bonding Program.

　

Horses are therapeutic to all of us and especially to those on the Autism Spectrum. They are sensitive and emotional. Their eyes seem to peer into the very soul of those to whom it gazes upon, and they seem to understand everything unspoken, much as the sibling of the spectrum seems to understand and they just “get it” oftentimes more than anyone else in the family. The sibling of the spectrum gives confidence and security to their brother or sister with ASD and that one is usually lost and upset without them around. So, why not have them around for therapy…specifically, Equine Assisted Therapy?! Does it work? Does it make a difference? In my opinion, Yes and YES!!! I will describe just one day on the ranch and then you can decide for yourselves.

　

Just one day…”what a difference a day makes”:

　

1. At breakfast I tell my ASD child and his SOS, (sibling of the spectrum) that they should hurry because we are going to ride the horses today. They both excitingly smile, laugh and communicate with mutual anticipation for the adventure.

　

2. The ride to the ranch is so different than the silent or one way communication that I am accustomed to and the emotional zeal and excitement is shared and is now 2 way and mutually enjoyable.

　

3. They are each bonded with a horse and with the added confidence and security of having his SOS along, I am shocked to see my ASD child do things with the horse that I never thought possible, like brushing it’s constantly swishing tail, or cleaning the horses hoofs…things that normally would frighten and scare him into a fight or flight reaction or at the very least hesitate, nevertheless, side by side with his brother he not only did these things, he enjoyed them!

　

4. The interaction between the horse and my ASD son is amazingly serene and the demeanor of both is calm and happy as they walk together, his hand with rope leading his horse and following his brother doing the same…there is a camaraderie that is so apparent as my SOS son looks behind as if to say, “Coming?” as the other responds with a big smile as if to say, “Here I come…”

　

5. The ride home is especially enjoyable as the two boys share their experiences with the horses and without ever a moment of silence, they bust into and add to each others tales of the experience with pure delight and gusto!

　

The events of the day have the added benefit of a “Waterfall effect” and the shared memories, fun and discovery are laughed and talked about to all their friends and family…Together! And, “together” the 2 brothers seem to be, even more as this sharing has bonded them well. The therapeutic bonding that had resulted was not only twofold, but threefold included, the two brothers, just as the amazing as the bonding of horse and human!

　

One day has turned into many days just like this, and even better… The boys relationship is connecting like never before and I have received many unsolicited comments about how healthy their relationship is and how mutually happy they seem to be. Yes indeed…three IS a magic number!!!

　

　

Kimberly Larochelle