Why I love teaching others how to teach...

[annemaeve]

This happened last night, when my best and brightest student teacher took over a group therapeutic riding lesson for an absent instructor.  I just have to share the awesome!

Comments

[canticles]

Love! This!

[annemaeve]

Yeah, it was a good way to wrap up a nice short week.

[blitzen_]

aw, that's awesome! must be so rewarding working with littler kids.

[annemaeve]

Love it! The kids in question are actually 8-10, so I guess that's not too little, but I definitely like them best before they get quite so hormonal...

[beganwithayes]

i work with kids with autism, too, so this made me smile. :) how old are your students?

[annemaeve]

We try to keep the ones in this group under 10, so it's easier to stay age-appropriate. There are all levels of functionality in the group, but the horses are a great equalizer. We start riders in lessons at 2-3 if they have good sitting balance, and my oldest just celebrated his 58th birthday!

[beganwithayes]

how cool! some of my kiddos (i'm an ABA interventionist) have done hippotherapy in the past and i've heard it's very helpful.

[annemaeve]

I couldn't pimp it hard enough (not that it's my job or anything)! There are so many ways riding is unique, that there's a benefit or seven for just about everyone. Our clients with Autism do so well in response to the movement of the horse (decreased self-stimming, increased attention), the ability to communicate non-verbally, and the social opportunities with the horses, volunteers, and other riders. I have to stop myself now before I go into total sales-pitch mode, but a great resource to learn more about equine-assisted options is www.narha.org . Pimping over! :)