BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story

Subject: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 04:18 AM

I've literally just watched the man who wrote this book, talking on BBC Breakfast News, and wanted to share it with people in here, for whom it may be of great interest.

Rupert Isaacson's son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two.

To cut a long story short, Rupert noticed that his horse, Betsy, was always so kind to Rowan, whenever he took Rowan to see her, submissive, understanding, almost going out of her way to go to the child.

And they showed the most extraordinary scene where Rowan, screaming uncontrollably was staggering across the field with his father, violence and unhappiness eminating from every part of him. They took him into Betsy's stable and put him on her back and instantly, literally, instantly Rowan calmed down...then he lay down and put his arms around Betsy's neck. The horse will let him do anything, just standing their patiently....and Rowan has absolute empathy and understanding of the horse.

It was quite extraordinary.

Not only that, but Rowan started to talk, again, almost straight away, coming out with some of the words he'd learned at age 2, before the autism robbed him of every single one of them.

This story became a BBC Four documentary last November, but sadly I missed it...and it seems it's now become a film in it's own right.

The doctors and scientists cannot explain what's happening here, although there is a school of thought in Germany that believes that when the brain is put into a situation where it has to focus strongly on balance, it frees up the speech receptors and gives out the hormones of 'feeling good' which in turn help to bring on a huge calmness...

It was quite the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen...wonderful to behold..and Rupert says that his horse has given them their son back again..

Anyway, I just thought that this may help some folks in here, who I know have autism in their families...

Here is the link to Rupert's story about his son, and the film that has been born from it....

The Horse Boy

The Horse Boy on Youtube - Rupert and Rowan's story

I hope it helps....

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:13 AM

Thanks - But I'll add that { as the T-shirt says } once you've known one child with autism you've known one child with autism. Our son enjoyed his riding lessons and he was pretty good at it. But like many other activities there's a point where he's done with it and he's ready to get off. Now that we're settling in here in Georgia we hope to get him into riding lessons again once the weather is a little bit warmer.

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Tinker
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 09:59 AM

Wesley, there are three AMC Theatres in Georgia doing Sensory Friendly Films for autistic kids and their families. The next one is in February, but if you are in the general Atlanta area, it might be worth adding to the list.

Each kid makes their own tenative connections and you never know when one may occur.....

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:36 AM

...and my son refused to go near horses when younger; now that he's 24 I don't know how he feels about them but he found his "balance" and freedom on his bicycle. They are still the only wheels he uses!

Still, it's a lovely story, Lizzie, and a testament to the courage and creative thinking that goes into caring for our special ones. How wonderful that the horse, too, seemed involved in Rowan's care.

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 10:38 AM

The book, called--you guessed it!--Horse Boy is fascinating. Well and interestingly written by the father, Rupert Isaacson, it tells the whole story, including the expedition to Mongolia to visit the shamans there and the sequellae.

The author doesn't make sweeping claims about any possible applicability of horses or shamanism to autistic children as a class, but it's a fascinating tale.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: open mike
Date: 14 Jan 10 - 03:20 PM

what an incredible story...thanks for sharing
and good wishes for Rupert, Rowan, Kristin and Betsy!

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: romanyman
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 05:27 AM

as one who knows first hand how horses are well known in healing circles, since my massive breakdown in the dark distant past, (something i still daily struggle with) the story of the so called horse boy is nothing new, google into equine assisted therapy, here in the uk not many nhs trusts use it , why i dont know, ive been trying to get something going here in kent for years, sadly finding a stable yard is so so hard and expensive, why though they had to go to mongolia i dont understand, but it worked for them and in saying that im glad for them, however you do need the right horses and ponies for this worthwhile therapy, it not a fad its a fact, but n.i.c.e. dont recognise it so it fall into the realms of private enterprise and with that massive costs, ive looked into it and for the life of me cant see why some of the prices quoted here in the u,k are so high, ive been around horses all my life and am aware of the costs etc but hey i could do it for half the price, so if youve got a stable yard and land , you can let me and my therapst have a look at let me know, then perhaps more and more people can also benefit from this great therapy.

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 15 Jan 10 - 11:35 AM

Romanyman, they went to Mongolia not so much for the horses as for the shamans.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Arkie
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 11:06 AM

The horse may have been the crucial connection to Rowan. However, in other instances there may be something else. It could be another animal or something else entirely. I personally know of one instance where the connection is music and the young person, though autistic, is an exceptional musician and very gregarious.

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 12:36 PM

Anybody remember Run Wild, Run Free, with the autistic boy and the wild moorland pony who befriended each other?

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Acorn4
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:26 PM

We've got an autistic son who goes horse riding every week and loves it.

Great story!

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 01:47 PM

Thank you, Liz.

Subject: RE: BS: The Horse Boy, An Autistic Child's story
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 16 Jan 10 - 02:44 PM

My pleasure, 999 x