Chehalem Mountain Ranch was the birthplace of ASK Therapy services and has been in operation for over 20 years. Owners Shannon and Rudy Kaplan recognized the mutual benefit of bringing people and animals together in what began as a small family-owned and operated equine assisted activities facility over two decades ago. The ranch now offers, in addition to therapies involving horses, a place of respite for families of children on the Autism spectrum as well as a facility that raises and trains Collies for service and companion animals. Services have expanded to include not only families with children with special needs but also families with loved ones with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
WHY HORSES?
Numerous advantages are evident in the involvement of horses in therapy for speech and language, physical, occupational, and behavioral. Arguably therapy on horseback is second to none for most conditions in individuals not contraindicated. Potentially the primarily most important benefit is the increased core strength and stability that is obtained through the passive movement of the body in response to the natural movement of the horse. In the proximal distal development process, the core must be developed prior to gross and fine muscle movement. The continuous contraction and relaxation of core muscles build the foundation for all other activities and body functions. It is difficult to isolate the improvement of core strength without engaging other body systems. Our core must be strong enough to balance, stand walk and run.
Some of the advantages to improved core strength and stability are as follows:
–Core strength and stability are necessary for balance. A weak core results in continual postural adjustments or leaning to prop up oneself which is distracting and may result in decreased attention to task due to discomfort while sitting. A weak core may impede the use of smaller muscle activity such as writing.
-Core stability is important for the proper function of the diaphragm muscle which is necessary for diaphragmatic breathing, used in relaxation. The diaphragm also is important for stabilizing the lumbar spine.
–The core strength is important as it houses and protects vital organs responsible for breath, circulation and digestion which together are necessary to fuel the brain.
In addition to improving core strength and stability, the body movement in response to riding has a regulatory effect on the central nervous system as it promotes the natural production and distribution of endorphins, nonapeptides, and neurotransmitters such as dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin which are responsible for the regulation of social behavior, motivation, attention, memory, breathing, sleep, digestion, stress, and memory.
The predictable rhythmic movement of the horse at the walk passively stimulates the vestibular, somatosensory, tactile, and auditory senses. Exposure to passive rhythmic movements is initially introduced in utero where the fetus us exposed to various rhythmic stimuli ie maternal heartbeat, breathing, vocal production, and movement. Passive sensori-motor synchronization (SMS), which is the coordination of rhythmic movement with an external rhythm occurs naturally during riding as the body responds to the movement of the horse. SMS is important in motor, cognitive, and social behavior.
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