Autism Methods Advancement and Expansion Project through Equine Therapy

The incidence of autism has reached epidemic proportions. A recent study of 85,000 children between the ages of 6 and 12 showed that the incidence of autism, formerly believed to be 1 in 98 children, now measures 1 in 38. In comparison, the incidence of Cerebral Palsy is 1 in 62 children and Down’s syndrome, 1 in 733 children. This places autism as the leading cognitive disability among children. Out of the 400 children SpiritHorse provides weekly therapy for at our center in Corinth, TX, more than 200 of these children are on the autism spectrum; SpiritHorse Corinth serves more children with autism than at any center in the world.

Moreover, we are the only large center in the US that provides all services free of charge. We estimate that 65% of our clients would otherwise be unable to participate in therapeutic riding. With our innovative methods for Equine Assisted Healthcare, we are a worthy force for change in the lives of these children, and thus in the world.

SpiritHorse's founder and CEO, Charles Fletcher, beyond providing just recreational riding, has developed research-based methods into a carefully designed therapy system. This program streamlines and utilizes what is most physically and cognitively beneficial for our children. These benefits include, but are not limited to, utilizing particular, physically challenging movements on a horse to develop the vestibular system, to build neuro-pathways in the brain, and to restart the development of the left hemisphere in children with autism. The therapeutic benefits to children with autism at SpiritHorse have been studied by two leading Universities: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas and Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. Links to these studies are, respectively: http://pagegangster.com/p/JcUCQ, http://spirithorsetherapy.com/docs/equineAssistedTherapyASD.pdf. Both studies, in blinded measurements, found the improvement to be "Significant," which is the "Gold Standard" for statistical analysis. The Dutch study found that 47 children, after 10 weeks of intervention, had moved off the autism rating scale and were measured non-autistic. We are honored to be regarded as the pioneers in the therapeutic riding industry, making a critical difference in the lives of our children with autism.

The grant money we hope to receive from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation will be applied in keeping our Corinth Headquarters Center running so that we can continue to provide this therapy, free of charge, to all of our current children and to extend this therapy to 25 more children with autism still on our waiting list. We intend to use to money for the upkeep of our therapy horses, including care and feed, and to contribute to the annual salaries of our Equine Assisted Healthcare Instructors. Our purpose is to look ahead toward the future and take advantage of what we can accomplish together.