What makes a horse a good teacher for those with autism?

Horses help autistic clients feel safe

• People with Asperger’s Syndrome (High Functioning Autism) often feel safe with horses because they share a similar perspective which is highly sensitive and extremely authentic. They are  primarily visual thinkers, and pay close attention to details and changes in their environment. They each have a strong sense of self preservation and may react strongly to stimulus in their environment.

Horses replicate human relationships

• Relationship patterns that surface during interactions with horses will replicate (mirror) those in their human relationships. Clients can take what they learn during their interactions with the horses and apply it directly to their human relationships.

Horses act out the client’s emotions

• Horses have heightened emotional intuition which allows them to sense the emotions of the client, even if the client has no awareness of their feelings, and reflect them back to the client with their behavior. This gives the client a visual and kinesthetic experience of what they are feeling on the inside, helping them increase their awareness of their feelings. For example: if a client is afraid, the horse may appear frightened or display a tense body posture.

Horses reward emotional awareness

• When a client’s internal feelings match their outward expression, they are congruent. Horses have an extreme sensitivity to congruence. The greater the congruence, the more trusting the horse will be toward that client. Horses will reward increased emotional awareness and the expression of authentic emotion with more trust and connection with the client.

Horses are non-judgmental

• Horses live in the moment and make no lasting meaning out of individual interactions. They are forgiving of mistakes and do not judge others or hold a grudge. Each new interaction is a “do over” a blank slate. This provides a safe place to experiment with relationships without the risk of judgment or criticism.

Horses give honest feedback

• Horses give honest and non-judgmental feedback about how a client’s behavior impacts them. This allows clients to make adjustments in real time without the mixed messages of human interactions.

Horses communicate non-verbally

• Horses communicate using body language which strongly resembles the non-verbal subtleties of human communication. Clients learn to pay attention to and read these subtleties in the horse which are often far more exaggerated which makes it easier for clients to notice and respond.

Horses help clients feel successful

• Because they identify strongly with the horse’s perspective, those on the autism spectrum often have a special way with horses which is innate to who they are. The horses will often respond to these clients more easily that they would to other people. This helps clients recognize their special gifts and talents which allows our work together to focus on their strengths rather than their challenges. Some clients may even choose to pursue a career in horse training, veterinary medicine, farrier work, or other horse profession as a result of our work together. InterPlay also offers vocational training for those who would like to pursue a career in horse training.