Hi Caroline,
I like your question because I'd like to know more about it too... I have foster children and horses and other farm animals. So far I've found just taking the time to teach the children about animal care for my part, and letting them do their part, and then the animal just naturally does their part and I see the connections and positive things happening. But if there's more I could be doing that would be good to know. :)

sOme great ways to combine learning and riding for kids include adding letters or objects like stuffed toys to match words along the rails... When the child stops the horse at the correct letter or position they get to see and touch or carry with them and their side walker the toy... Example... Ride to the elephant( or something that starts with the letter E) . Have a small plastic elephant or picture card on the rail or post... Sidewalker gets the young ones the elephant... Take the elephant to the next post or two away( letter them or use dressage letters) so they combine the horse, rising, visuals etc., iMproves skills and competence as well.

That is a biggie, Caroline. I used to give riding lessons for children and adults with various disabilities many years ago.
I remember that it was very individualistic and a lot of imagination was needed - esp. for those with mental and communication disabilities - to get things not just right but interesting as well.
The more I could get the rider engaged in his/her own progress and education, the better it went.
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Now, I worked almost exclusively with people *riding* the horses and very little with things done on the ground, so to speak. But just working (incrementally!) together on training ponies to accept wheelchairs is a real treat for creating mutual trust.
Seeing a 10-year old's self esteem rise as she is "leading" a pony from her wheelchair as if she was just like one of the other girls able to walk, really warmed my heart.
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As for those kids who are hurting, I think you can learn a bit from Monty's work with veterans doing join up - if that is a possibility for you.
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Otherwise, I have seen great progress over time when these kids are given responsibilities to take care of one specific horse and realize that it is depending on them to get food/water/teach it a trick, or helping someone else who is in a wheelchair.
Maybe arrange a "show day" and help each other make the horses real pretty with plaits and flowers and tinsel or whatever that works.
Just learning to *be* with horses can turn worlds around.
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But baby steps! Important to set them up to succeed! Incremental learning - just like the horses! ;)

Hi Caroline
Part of what I offer to clients is therapy sessions for children with difficulties. I found it's not just being on the back of a horse that has benefits. Just being with the horses has benefits, hugging a horse, grooming and taking them for a walk. For those in wheelchairs getting the horse to walk along side the wheel chair so the child/adult can still have contact with the horse brings a joy that the horse reciprocates back to them.
When the bond and communication is working from the ground we then look at how we can get them on the horse, be it sit, lay or what ever position they can physically do.
All at incremental stages for the human too.
One such client has difficulty controlling his emotions especially when sitting on the horse, so if his energy levels are up we stay on the ground, when they are down he's on the horse. Bare back works really well as they feel the horse even more so instead of saddles and harnesses.
Another can't sit up on horseback, so cuddling around the neck whilst being led brings great joy. I think that really is it, do what brings them joy and don't focus just on the saddle and riding. Teach them the horse and you won't go wrong!
Safety always important and all my bare back rides have to be insured for in a small secure area and not a riding school.

Hey Caroline, look into Hippotherapy andif you live in Canada, CanTRA offers training into such programs.