“Walk On,” One Child’s Beautiful First Words

“Walk on,” one child’s beautiful first words.
This is an inspiring story about autism
and the blessings of equine therapy.

“Walk on.”

And the horse moves forward at the words spoken by a small child.

Words the child has never spoken before.

Because… he has never spoken words before.

The Miracles of Equine Therapy

There is something so awesome about a tiny person on a horse’s back.

A huge animal whose one wrong move could do tremendous damage to a little body, and yet, he carries that child with gentleness, carefully putting one hoof before the other. The child sits in the saddle, relaxed yet upright, holding the reins and guiding the great equine beneath her.

Then consider that perhaps this child has never spoken in words before.  Perhaps the child is riding an animal that performs according to spoken commands, but the rider has no verbal skills.  What happens?

In equine therapy, a lot can happen.

A lot of beautiful, first-time-experience kinds of things happen.

Kim volunteers on Saturday mornings at a ranch, helping lead the horses through the paces of equine therapy for small children.  Special children.

She tells the story of a ten year old boy with autism.  He was non-verbal, and his parents had real questions about how this therapy would be any better than all the other therapies he had been through.

And then, they found out.

“Walk On,” beautiful first words

This boy, usually not interested in any physical activity and quite unresponsive to what was happening around him, allowed himself to be led up to a large animal for the first time in his life.  Then he quietly accepted being helped into a saddle.

Then the therapist began to work.

“Tell Freckles to “walk on!”

No response.

“Say “walk on” to Freckles,” she repeated.

Again no response.  But everyone could see that the boy was enjoying himself.  He sat quietly, contentedly, which was something that usually didn’t happen for very long periods of time.

So the therapist’s helper told the horse to walk on, and Freckles began to move forward, with the boy balanced in the saddle.  Freckles moved around the arena according to the therapist’s commands, and then something happened.

At first, the boy began smiling.  He looked at his parents as if to say, “Look at me now!”

His parents almost lost it then.  He never made eye contact on purpose.  This already was a victory.

And then, the next time the therapist asked him, they heard the words, “Walk on!”

A child’s beautiful first words, the first ever from their ten year old son.  It didn’t matter to them that the words were spoken to a horse instead of to them, the parents who poured so much love on their dear child.

And the tears came because their hearts could not contain the joy.

Equine Therapy is a Multi-Benefit Program

There are many benefits to horseback riding therapy.  Here are 13 Kim’s Equine Therapist posted on her website. (She is now retired.)

Therapeutic Benefits of Horseriding

• Improved self-confidence
• Improved risk-taking abilities.
• Development of patience.
• Emotional control and self-discipline. (The rider is in the driver’s seat.)
• Development of respect and care for animals.
• Stimulates sensory integration.
• Improved visual spatial perception.
• Improved hand-to-eye coordination.
• Better communication skills and multi-tasking abilities.
• Improved posture.
• More strength and conditioning of core muscles.
• Trust building.
• Development of leadership skills.

The benefits of therapeutic riding have been recognized for over fifty years.  People with emotional, social, or psychological challenges feel more in control when they learn to guide a horse.  And that feeling so often missing in their everyday lives can really empower them and give them a feeling of connection.

Hippotherapy can be diagnosed by a doctor.  This treatment is provided by certified therapists in a controlled environment.  It is a combination of sensory exercises customized to the needs of the rider.  The exercises combined with the rhythm of the horse’s motions help develop balance, strength, coordination and flexibility, which then improves neurological function and sensory processing.  This can be life changing for a child with Down’s Syndrome or on the Autism Spectrum, for example, which are conditions that are often accompanied with poor muscle function.

Kim tried the riding therapy for a while, then found that she preferred helping the children.  Her choice activity at the ranch, though, is caring for the horses, feeding them and cleaning their spaces.  She prefers to be alone with the animals, and nurturing them.  This is more fulfilling to her than riding.

A New Card

And that’s why, one day when as we discussed what type of card to make, she said, “I want a card with a horse on it.”

And she wanted the horse to be free, running in the wind, riderless.

Her elusive dream.  Riding free of the cares and realities of a confusing life.

You can buy Kim’s Dream card in our shop.

Do you have horse stories to share?  Therapy or riding adventures or about your own special equine.  We’d love to hear them.