The sounds of a weekly session at the Therapeutic Riding Center of Taiwan in Taoyuan—laughter, calm instructions and the steady steps of a horse—have become a familiar routine for families of children with disabilities, according to the Associated Press.
Hector Chen described bringing his daughter, Chen You-ching, to horse therapy after she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy more than 16 years ago. Chen said the first time she got on a horse, she was happy, and that he has continued to bring her for weekly rides. The center’s program, AP reported, focuses on children with conditions including cerebral palsy, autism and ADHD, as well as other diagnoses, using both riding and non-riding interaction to offer support.
In Taoyuan, the riding center pairs children with trained horses as part of animal-assisted therapy, a practice that has been spreading internationally. At the same time, the center’s staff describe the work as hands-on and individualized, emphasizing trust between the child and the animal rather than treating the sessions as a one-size-fits-all activity.
Parents AP interviewed also described changes that they associate with regular visits. Abigail Liu said her 5-year-old daughter, Ayah, has Angelman Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can involve delayed development. Liu said Ayah “started to be less scared about things she doesn’t know and is willing to try (new things),” and said “All this started after she rode horses here.”
Horse therapists said the horses need preparation for the sensory and physical dynamics of sessions with children. Chan Shu-ya, a horse therapist, said the horses require special training to deal with the movements of a child and to remain calm when multiple people gather around them. The training, in that description, supports consistent interactions that can be used for both riding and quieter activities.
AP also reported that some children seek simple contact and comfort rather than specific riding goals. Sometimes, the children just want to hug a horse for a long time or listen to its heartbeat, according to the report. Alain Chang, who works for the Fang Hsing-Chung Social Welfare Foundation for Horses in Education and Health as a horse riding coach, said the children feel at ease because the horse does not show annoyance even as they talk to it.
Chang added that routine itself has become part of the therapeutic experience for many students. He said many of the children “look forward to coming to this every week, rain or shine,” as the sessions continue to combine structured interaction with the horses and the chance for children to build confidence in a setting they come to expect.