Horses are being used to help kids with disabilities, including autism, learn literacy and life skills
"But on a horse, it was a surprise....her being able to ride around and spitting a word out and saying a sentence, 'I can ride a horse' as she goes around."Mia is one of more than 50 kids with disabilities who've taken part in an equine-assisted learning program, True Trails, which teaches literacy, numeracy and horsemanship.True Trails founder Cheri Allanby says horses are helping struggling learners re-engage.
"For a child who is different and who feels different, having a space where she excels is really powerful."Sean Andrews, 10, has autism and "struggled with reading and writing" before starting the program. "It's not just his learning, it's things to do with his physical abilities, his self-confidence has also come along immensely."Animal therapy, which includes equine-assisted learning, is a growing sector.
Animal therapy can do wonders for many people. Elderly, lonely, depressed, homeless, prisoners etc