From Skepticism to Believers: A Parent's Journey with Equine Speech Therapy

"You want my child to do speech therapy... on a horse?"

It's often the first question parents ask when they discover Speaking of Horses. The skepticism is understandable—the image of traditional speech therapy typically involves a child sitting at a table with flashcards or games, not mounted on a 1,000-pound animal in an outdoor arena.

Yet time and again, I've watched this initial hesitation transform into passionate advocacy as parents witness the remarkable progress their children make through equine-assisted speech therapy. Today, I'd like to share the journey many families experience when they embrace this unconventional but powerful approach to communication development.

The Initial Doubts

Most parents come to us after trying traditional speech therapy approaches, often for extended periods with limited progress. They're looking for alternatives, but horses? That seems like a leap.

Common concerns include:

- "Will my child be safe?"

- "How can riding possibly help with speech sounds?"

- "Isn't this just a distraction from 'real' therapy?"

- "Will insurance even cover this?"

These questions reflect natural parental caution and the understandable desire to invest time and resources in evidence-based interventions. But they also reveal how deeply ingrained our ideas about therapy settings can be.

The First Sessions: Surprise and Delight

The transformation often begins during the very first session, when parents observe their child's reaction to the farm environment. Children who may have resisted going to traditional therapy appointments suddenly can't wait to arrive. The initial novelty of the horses creates an immediate engagement that sets the stage for therapeutic success.

Lauren Rainer, whose son had no prior experience with horses, shares: "Speaking of Horses has been an amazing experience for our family! Our son had never ridden a horse before, but due to Ada's excellent instruction, he has become quite adept. He's excited to learn, and wants to work harder at articulation."

This enthusiasm for therapy represents a fundamental shift. When children are motivated to attend sessions, half the battle is already won. They come ready to engage, participate, and learn—essential prerequisites for any successful therapeutic intervention.

Beyond Novelty: Recognizing Real Progress

While the initial excitement about horses creates a positive foundation, parents' true transformation from skeptics to believers comes when they observe concrete progress in their children's communication skills.

Amanda Neeleman, whose daughter has been attending Speaking of Horses for nearly two years, notes: "Our daughter has made so much progress and is really close to meeting all her goals. She looks forward to coming to speech each week and is so excited to be riding a horse (and visit with the dogs), I think she forgets she is working on her speech goals."

This observation highlights a central advantage of equine-assisted speech therapy—children are so engaged in the experience that they don't perceive it as "work." They practice their speech targets hundreds of times without the fatigue or resistance that often accompanies traditional drill-based approaches.

The Unexpected Benefits

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the parent journey comes when they begin to notice improvements that extend far beyond the specific speech and language goals that brought them to our farm.

Teresa Taitano, an educator and mother to an 18-year-old primarily non-verbal son with autism, describes this comprehensive impact: "After every session, there is marked improvement in my son's socialization and communication. Because he is on horseback during speech therapy, we can see that he is also improving in balance and coordination. His emotional regulation is maturing as well. Overall his confidence and self-esteem has increased!"

She adds, "We didn't expect his usual avoidance of animals to grow into a love of them. Providing such a comprehensive experience, beyond speech therapy, is a rare service to the community."

These collateral benefits—improved confidence, better emotional regulation, enhanced physical abilities, and new interests—often become equally valuable to families as the direct speech and language improvements.

From Recipients to Advocates

As parents witness their children's growth, many transition from cautious recipients of services to passionate advocates for equine-assisted therapy. They begin to share their experiences with other families, refer friends seeking speech therapy options, and actively support our program.

Katelyn Wagner expresses this sentiment concisely: "Our experience with Speaking of Horses has been nothing short of outstanding! Ada is wonderful and has helped our daughter so much."

These parent endorsements carry special weight because they come from individuals who once harbored their own doubts about this approach. Their journey from skepticism to advocacy provides powerful testimony to other families beginning to explore alternative therapy options.

The Therapeutic Partnership

One aspect that parents particularly value is the collaborative relationship we establish with families. Speech therapy isn't confined to weekly sessions at our farm—it's a continuous process that requires support and reinforcement at home and school.

Amanda Neeleman highlights this collaborative approach: "Ada has been so helpful advocating for her needs with the school district and we can't recommend her enough."

This partnership between therapist, family, and educational team creates a consistent, supportive environment for the child's development across all settings—maximizing progress and ensuring skills generalize beyond our farm.

The Whole-Family Impact

Perhaps the most profound transformation occurs when equine-assisted therapy begins to positively affect the entire family system. When a child's communication improves, family interactions become more rewarding and less frustrating. When therapy becomes an enjoyable experience rather than a dreaded obligation, family stress decreases.

Teresa Taitano captures this holistic impact: "Speaking of Horses is an immersive destination where animal-assisted therapy means a growth experience in so many areas of life, not just in communication... My son's daily life continues to improve because of Speaking of Horses. The staff and environment are all an integral part of the therapeutic experience, providing a supportive and caring atmosphere. We are thankful for this organization for the difference it has made in our lives."

The Ongoing Journey

As children progress through our program, parents' perspectives continue to evolve. Many families who initially saw equine-assisted speech therapy as a temporary intervention come to recognize its long-term value, maintaining services even after their child has met their initial communication goals.

Lauren Rainer notes how the experience has transcended speech therapy for her son: "His speech therapy combined with learning to ride and care for a horse has served to increase his confidence and meet benchmarks he didn't think he could."

This ongoing engagement speaks to the comprehensive value families find in our approach—value that extends beyond measurable speech and language targets to encompass the whole child and their overall development.

Supporting the Journey of Others

Many parents who have witnessed their children's transformation through equine-assisted therapy become passionate about ensuring other families have access to these services. They understand the substantial costs associated with maintaining therapy horses and providing this specialized form of intervention.

Teresa Taitano reflects this sentiment: "The community would benefit greatly for Speaking of Horses Incorporated to be able to sustain, and even better if possible, to expand its generous service to the community! The upkeep of horses such as feed, farrier, board, and vet care is not something that is generally considered when receiving such great therapy."

Speaking of Horses is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of community members, corporate sponsors, and grant funding to continue our mission. While we accept insurance including Medicaid to make our services accessible to families of all socioeconomic backgrounds, the costs of maintaining our therapy horses, facilities, and specialized equipment far exceed what insurance reimbursement covers. Your donations make it possible for us to provide this transformative therapy to children who would otherwise not have access to these life-changing services.

This recognition of the resources required to provide equine-assisted therapy often inspires families to support our nonprofit mission through donations, volunteer work, and advocacy—completing their journey from skeptical newcomers to invested community members.

Beginning Your Own Journey

If you're a parent currently considering equine-assisted speech therapy for your child, it's natural to have questions and concerns. The path from skepticism to belief is one that nearly all our families have walked.

I invite you to:

- Schedule a visit to see our approach firsthand

- Speak with current client families about their experiences

- Discuss your child's specific needs and how our program might address them

- Start with a trial session to gauge your child's response to the environment

The journey begins with a single step—or in our case, with a child meeting a horse who might just change their relationship with communication forever.

Speaking of Horses is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of community members, corporate sponsors, and grant funding to continue our mission. While we accept insurance including Medicaid to make our services accessible to families of all socioeconomic backgrounds, the costs of maintaining our therapy horses, facilities, and specialized equipment far exceed what insurance reimbursement covers. Your donations make it possible for us to provide this transformative therapy to children who would otherwise not have access to these life-changing services. https://www.speakingofhorsesincorporated.org/donate