Providing loving homes and useful lives for horses - programs include horse rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, therapeutic riding, equine-assisted activities, and advance the equestrian sport.

Amazing Things Can Happen in just Forty Five Minutes!

One of the over 50 programs that Horse Charities of America funds annually is a therapeutic riding program for autistic children at the Giant Steps School in Southport, CT. Even though forty-five minutes might not seem like a significant amount of time, what transpires in that time can be incredible!

The very first year of the program, one of the students was a teenage boy who was described by his teachers and therapists as very angry and frustrated. He was also non-verbal and didn't make eye contact. The teachers all hoped that this young man would benefit from riding. The rhythmic motion of a horse can calm the mind and soothe the senses. Therapeutic riding is emerging as a primary therapy for autism.

The problem was actually getting him ON a horse. He was determined not to get in that saddle.

Well, after thirty minutes of the instructor, the aides and the volunteers getting on and off the horse, this young man swung his leg over the saddle and got on! And within two minutes he transformed from a belligerent and stubborn boy to a calm and tranquil rider, humming and moving in sync with his equine partner.

The following week, not only was he the first one up on the mounting block, he was the only rider who didn't use a hand-hold or grip the saddle for security and the one with the big smile on his face!