WHITE BRIDAL LEARNING AND THERAPY
White Bridle Therapeutic Riding, located at Rocky Top Ranch in Keller, Texas, offers riding programs for many children with special needs including autism. Research has shown that children with autism who participate in therapeutic riding can benefit in many different ways. The physical connection they may have with the horse when they ride, brush or pat them can help create an emotional bond which is very beneficial for many with autism.
The undemanding nature of horses can teach them a connection and trust that can be harder to form with humans. For children with delayed communication skills, riding a horse can be a great motivator for learning to follow and give directions and instructions. Finally, the sensory input that children receive on a horse is incredible. It can assist with balance and spatial awareness and helps activate their vestibular sense organs in the inner ear – which, in turn, helps improve muscle tone, reflexes and visual sensations.
Brook Boleyn at White Bridle is dedicated to ensuring that families affected by autism have access to this amazing facility and helping improve their lives through increased communication, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) and learning social skills. One of Brook’s main focuses is to ensure that children with autism get to experience as much joy in their lives as possible.
White Bridle’s 10-week spring and fall programs (with 8 week summer programs) offer a weekly one-hour lesson. In this hour, 30 minutes is dedicated to therapeutic riding and activity based learning; and 30 minutes is spent in White Bridle’s cheerful, therapy center and outdoor playground.
