Austin/Autism: Horse Boy at UT

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From: AutismProject,

Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2011 10:01 AM

To: AutismProject,

Subject: Horse Boy at UT

Horse Boy at University of Texas

Demo—Movie Screening—Play-dates for Autism Families

in association with TAP (Texas Autism Project) at University of Texas

Screening & Demo: Join us to learn about the Horse Boy Methods and watch the movie explaining the story behind them. Q & A with Rupert Isaacson and Neff.

Wednesday, November 2nd, 6pm—10pm at Hiss Gym. PLEASE BRING A LAWN CHAIR OR MAT TO SIT ON

Play-dates: A fun afternoon for autism families. We will bring horses to UT Wednesdays, starting in November at 4pm. You MUST RSVP. Email for location and dates (We will limit the number of families to volunteers available.)

All Donations supporting TAP

About the Horse Boy Foundation

Who we are

The Horse Boy Foundation helps children and families with Autism to achieve healing of sensory disorders and gain direct communication. We work with horses and nature based environments using methods evolved by trial and error over seven years.

The Horse Boy Method was pioneered by Rupert Isaacson, his autistic son Rowan and their Quarter Horse Mare Betsy. In 2007 Rupert, his wife and Rowan rode across Mongolia together – a journey that became the book and film “The Horse Boy”. Since that journey the Horse Boy Foundation has helped hundreds of families in Central Texas, across North America and in Europe to achieve the same incredible results of sensory healing and communication through horses and nature based environments.

The Horse Boy Foundation provides its services free of charge and supports other therapeutic riding stables across the globe, as well as running its own center – the New Trails Center in Elgin, TX. The foundation relies on fundraising and private donations to offer its services to families.

What we do

First we provide an environment in which autism families (and those with related neuro-psychiatric conditions) can find respite from man-made and industrial stimuli – which are known triggers for chronic episodes, seizures and tantrums. Once the child (or young adult) has relaxed into this environment we then introduce the horse.

We start with sensory work in which the child lies body to body with the horse in various positions that calm the nervous system. Then we begin the ridden work. In Horse Boy Method we ride in the same saddle with the child sitting in front of us and use a mixture of the horse’s rhythms and rapid response prompting to gain communication. From here we then begin to teach perspective talking skills, and academics – from very basic academics to really advanced stuff such as fractions, science, geography and general math.

The bottom line is that Horse Boy Method gets results.