Well Maggie,
I can only give you my own experience, since my car accident in 2005 I have HSP and only after I was able to own a horse agin did I see a great difference in myself, so did the doctors.
I smile more, have more patience and when I ride it's like I'm in a different world, brings back great memories.
My doctors have told me that by having MY STAR saved my life so I would say for those with any mental diorders riding or even grooming them, is of great benifit.
When you look at what Monty has done with the US Military and helping war veterans getting back to where they were before they began to have symptoms of PTSD (post traumatic strees disorder) and the benifits, it's trully amazing.
You can see these in his letters to us or on U-TUBE.
I hope this helps answer your question.

Hi May and MY STAR,
Having had children that did hippotherapie, I have seen some cases of ADD being very concentrated and quiet when in direct contact with therapy-horses. These horses ofcourse are picked for their temperament and their responsability towards the less-abled.
I wouldn't let any ADD work with any horse, but am sure there are combinations that can be healing. It's not only the direct contact that works, but being around horses might help those with ADD to be more aware of their surroundings and their own effect on it. I remember a girl that was very loud and uncontrolled, that could keep quiet and responsive, when around her favorite horse. Riding that horse was heaven to the girl, she slung her arms around the horse's neck and seemed to come "home". When she had to wait for her turn to ride, she kept remembering that the horses needed her to be "predictable" in her behavior.
There sure is literature about this, since thereapists need to learn about it.
Miriam

Hi MY Star and Miriam,

Thank you for your reactions!!
It took me a long time to ask this question, because what we say in Holland; you don't hang out your dirty laundry outside(free translation).
If you read through the lines you understand probably that I have ADD and HSP. What I want to find out is what can I do for myself and others to make it easier to deal with that in combination with horses.
For three years now I know that I have ADD and I truggled with this for 51 years!!! I was beware of HSP many years ago. Now I all know it, I am working on this and trying to find more information in combination with horses.

It is absolutly true what you are saying, Ronda, about having an accident and getting HSP or even being paranormal. I heard this more and people, they get this, look with different eyes. Feel and see more. (I read the book from Elaine.N.Aron about HSP.)
Also that you are in a different world when you are riding I can understand and that it is healing you.
I have had the same experiences when I was riding Renske, before I fell of her 9 weeks ago. I am one "piece" with her and it seems to be that all the bad energy is flowing away through Renske into the ground. Hope I translate this right; being disposed. And when I come of Renske I am full of positive energy again. Also grooming her, being around her gives energy and I can feel Renskes and also Luuk's energy and mental state. I don't even have to look at her/him to feel those things. I came to the conclusion, having HSP is a gift, but I have to be carefull and protect myself to a lot of signs and incentives in my surrounding, because it can be to much and in combination with ADD it can be sometimes a dissaster.
That's why I like to be with horses, (and it was a wish I had from my 18th).
I will look on U-Tube, is that the same as YouTube? And read what Monty is saying about US Military.
I understand you to Miriam, when you say that children can be very concentrated and quiet in contact with therapy-horses. Also children with ADHD, Autism and PDDnos are doing very well.
I heard that children with ADD can give better reaction(s) on things, because of the cadence when they are riding the horse. There is something happening in there brains what is so possitive. But I can't find good information on that.
Why are you saying that you wouldn't let any ADD work with any horse, is that because of the danger and/or because they can't overlook the whole situation?
And what is hippotherapy? I never heard of that.
I am going to try to find some literature, but it is very difficult to find this in combination with horse riding and being around them.

Thank you for sharing this with me and being so open and discreet.
I think that this is a very interesting subject to talk about and hope that there are more Uni-students who can share there experiences.
It is very scarry for me to be so open on this subject, but the only thing I want is that I can help myself and also others who are dealing with ADD and/or HSP in combination with horses and learn more about it.

Hope I don't irritate or confuse other students with this subject.

Thank you for reading.
Have a nice weekend, May.

Hi May,
Thank you for your trust in this forum by sharing your story!
Let me go into your questions, I'm not an expert, so take it for what it is,please.
I think some horses tend to have a special gift in sensing what people need, those ofcourse are very good to work with, when ADD or other disorders are concerned. Other horses may feel overwhelmed by a person overstimulating them etc. I was impressed by your observation about caffeine, I can understand now that this stimulant is not good for you. One of my food-intollerances is for caffeine, so I have to live without it anyway.
Hippotherapie is a combianation of physiotherapie and horsebackriding, the patient mostly rides bareback (holding himself on a surcingle etc.), to get a feeling of balance and movement, symmetrie and warmth of the horse's body. I've seen some astonishing results from it. Also called therapeutic riding.
I hope you'll get a lot of response on this topic!
Miriam

Hi May,
I guess we are in the same boat, ah.
I was just out with MT STAR in her big pasture taking pictures and as soon as I go in she comes walking very carefully.
I have been told by my theropy horse trainer that she sences my limitations and accepts me for what I am.
I too prefer animals over humans and am calmer around them, they do not expect anything from me except love and I have a lot of that to give.
It is true that I see things in a different way, for me, since the accident, speaking clearly and from the heart is much better for me to understand and relate.
I am a better artist since the accident, I have been painting since I was a small child but my paintings are more in depth than they were before. It's like I have a third eye now. I even see people differently and my surroundings, too.
My family miss the old Ronda but have come to love the new one too. I miss doing what I did before but have found ways to express my excess energy in a positive way.
I ride with a special saddle that holds me securely and I am able to stand in my saddle and have excellent balance now. Gradually I will graduate to a normal saddle and be able to do more.
I believe May that you can go to ASK MONTY and the videos with the veterans will be there, then it takes you to the you tube site to veiw them, I think.
Before I use to ride bareback but now, because of the balance issues they suggest a saddle with a companion close by, it works for me.
Depending on the issue will depend on what a therapeutic instructor will reccommend as a program for their student.
There are so many internet sites you can go to, just type in your browser search: therapeutic riding instructions or instructors and lots of sites will come up, OK.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Ronda

Greetings
May, thank you for sharing your story with us. I can imagine it was not the easiest story to tell. It certainly is bring some great comments with regards to therapy horses. It does take a special kind of horse to be a therapy horse as well as special people that have the patience and insight for both horse and rider.

While I do not have ADD I do ride my horse for both show and physical therapy for my back. Since my boy is a gaited horse and very smooth the motion when riding is very much like a massage and chiropractic adjustment. This has kept me from having to under go spinal fusion as well as giving me that special connection to myself that only a horse can bring.

Hi Dennis,
I went to the site you gave me and those horses are beautiful, they said they dance, does yours?
And you are right, Donna is very patient with me and Smokey is a delight, he's almost 20 now but still has some spunk left in him. He seems to know what is needed, smart boy.
Does your type of horse have the gait automaticly and how many gaits does he have or did you have to teach him?
What type of eventing does he do?
My girl has a broken gait and has to be taught, that's fun !!!

Hi May,
I forgot to mention about therepeutic horses, they are trained in a special way.
They are hand picked for their nature, they must be very calm and have been totally desentized agaist EVERYTHING.
In this way it would not matter if a young child were to climb all over them, it will not budge (move).
They tolorate all loud noises, just moving their ears to hear what is going on but they do not move until asked.
It's such a joy to watch these beautiful intelligent creatures stand there while these wild children are screaming at the top of their lungs from excitement and those horses just watch.
You cannot ask a mentally challenged person to be queit, some would not know what that means and it could aggravate them more if one was to forse them.
So these animals have to be trained agaist all outside stimulants.
It's like a special needs dog, you can pull their tails, their whiskers and just about anything else and they do not move a hair, not even a warning.
So as you can see having ADD people around therepeutic horses is not dangerous to them or the horses, OK.
I hope this helps you in some way, May.
You keep smiling and going to your horse, he understands your needs, do not worry about that right now, OK. Just enjoy him as you have all along, do your best.
A side point: I have had a seizure while in the corral with MY Star and she stepped back from me until my husband came to take me out, as I said they are intelligent, they know and are sensitive to any emotions.

Thanks for sharing this with us May and My Star. It must have taken a lot of courage. I also tend to like animals more than humans! I do hope that your love of horses and owning a horse will continue to help you both.

My Star
Yes my boy dances! The Peruvian Paso had a natural later 4 beat gait that is passed from one generation to the next. If you cross a Peruvian Paso with a donkey you will have a gaited mule. The Peruvian Paso breed is about 450 year old and has been unchanged all that time. They are also bred to be very kind and gentle. My stallion would rather stand and let people pet him than anything else. He is a big ham when in the show ring as well.

Hi Ronda, Miriam, Dennis and Maggie,

Thank you all so much.

I am looking through all your suggestions and find out what I can do with it.

A few years ago I did volunteering work at a ridingschool. They said they had horses who could help mentaly disabled people.
What I saw and also helped with was walking around in a circle in the arena with horse and rider and there was no contact or any reaction. The helpers where talking to each other and they were glad the half hour of walking in circles was over.
That didn't give me a very good feeling.
At that time I didn't know that I have ADD, so I didn't know anything about therapyhorses and the possibilities.

I am looking into that now with different eyes and I am going to find a ridingschool who have the certificates and experiences on this. I like to look around and first see what they are doing. Then I will try this myself and see what I can do later with Renske and Luuk and myself. If I come to the conclusion it is better not to ride Renske again because of...... then I find an other way to be with her and also with Luuk.
What I do now nearly every morning, is crooming her and be with her, put her in the paddock and train Luuk. That's also very good, so why riding and make it to difficult for me on and for Renske and myself, when there are other ways

I watched the video's on You-Tube and read the letters.

I am going to find more and more to see how people are changing in the positive way.

I am going to Renske and Luuk nearly every day and I have such a good feeling when I am with them. So I am keeping doing this and training Luuk with the dually, that is one big party for him and for me.

I have got loads of animals around me at home, I always had and I love to take care of them.
With Raisa my black labrador I have a very special bond. We communicate through eyecontact and a lot of energy is coming from both sides. It's lovely to see how that works.

I will keep in touch about this, if you wish.

You will hear from me soon.
Thanks again, May.

I'm so happy for you May,
Energy versus energy, wow.
When my youngest was visiting with her dog I found it great.
My energy matched hers. My youngest daughter and my granddaughter both have a lot of extra energy and they know how to express it.
We all love animals here and surround ourselves with them.
Me, I'm limited because of serious allergies so I go to my eldest daughters and play with hers, outside.
Dennis, that is great, having a dancing horse or being on the back of one, what a feeling.
I've only been on working horses, rounding up cattle, and pleasure riding horses, nothing as special as that.
If my Star turns out to be a Lipizzan I'll have to sell her to the association, I'll never be able to train her.
The extent of upper dressage she will need I simply would not have the energy for, plus the movement of dressage hurts my upper back and neck now.
I'm very happy for you to have such a special horse.
Ronda

Hi Ronda, Miriam, Dennis and Maggie,

Ronda, I wrote something for you on the forum ".... Linda Parrelli...". It is overlapping/connected with what I am saying here.

What I want to say to you all here is, you all know that I am not an expert with horses. And I am learning from all of you a lot.
I am glad that I asked this question now and be open to tell you what is "wrong" with me. Let's say I am different in a possitive way.
I admit this and I am so glad with your suggestions and experiences. Thank you again.
That I fell of Renske was with a reason and I could think of that a lot. Why was it that this happened?
I didn't know a lot about therapyhorses and probably this will be my next step to get confidence and being around special trained horses.
I don't have the feeling I am taking a step back in riding a horse, but more I am making progress to learn more about myself and were my "bounds" are. What I can say, I can better take two steps back and do one foreward then being stubburn and didn't learn from my mistakes.
Most of the time when I know exactly what I have to do, like structure, working in system, I will never forget this and do it in a proper way.
So there is a future for me with riding a horse and being with Renske and Luuk and I am glad with that.

You will hear more....
Cheers.

Hi May
.
Thanks for sharing your story. Renske and Luuk are lucky to have you and everything will work out well for you all. I have learnt a lot from reading this thread.
.
See you later,
.
Gen

I have a sister with ADHD, and I had to live with her! lol!

I hope this too helps you May,
On Tuesday it was the anniversary of my son's death and it's very hard for me.
So where did I go, it's almost midnight and I am crying, I go to STAR.
I put my chair next to her stall and she puts her head down to me and I have my arms around her and cry, she new I needed comfort and she she gave it the best way she knew how.
Horses heal, Monty has shown that and so have other trainers. They have come to realize because of their nature they have a healing affect on us mere humans.
MY heart goes out to those who cannot experience this wonderfut connection.
You hang in there May, OK.
Ronda

Hi Ronda,

How can I express myself in words??
This is so beautifull and I could see it and feel this.
My Star felt this on a distance and asked you to come, intuition.

She is your friend and what you give, you will get back!!
She knows you so well and the other way around. That's energy you can't explain, it's a feeling!!!
It is communication without words.

Hope My Star will give you every day such a 'present' and will heal you more and more, Ronda.

Thanks for sharing this, May.

Thank you May!!!
Ronda