It took moving to Germany for Laila Rahmatian’s son to start talking.
There, Rahmatian discovered a form of equestrian-based therapy for her nonverbal son, Donatello, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 2.
The results were remarkable. Weekly riding time led to Donatello speaking, potty training, making eye contact and plenty of other developments his mother hadn’t seen in her son.
Now, she’s bringing the therapy to Zionsville.
Cornerstone Equestrian Services will host Horse Boy Method Level 1 certification training June 25-26. The training will be led by Horse Boy Method founder Rupert Isaacson and occupational therapist Leana Tank.
Horse Boy Method was developed by Isaacson after his son, Rowan, was diagnosed with a severe form of autism spectrum disorder. Traditional behavior therapies worsened Rowan’s condition, so Isaacson, who has a journalism background covering civil rights in Africa, sought other ways to help his son.
Isaacson discovered his son responded positively to being in nature and riding a horse.
“The first day I put him in the saddle, he started speaking with me,” Isaacson said.
Rahmatian and her family previously lived in Carmel. Locally, she experienced a lack of access for her son, often driving an hour or more for equine-based therapy that was shorter than the drive time it took to get there.
“I was not able to get the help we needed in Indiana, because everyone was full,” she said.
Learning about Horse Boy Method while her family contemplated a move to Germany for her husband’s work proved to be the final push.
“That was the trigger,” Rahmatian said. “We decided to move to Germany to get help for my son.”
Isaacson and his family traveled to Mongolia to learn from traditional shamans, slowly developing what became Horse Boy Method.
“I came back with a very different kid,” he said.
The key is what happens in the brain of a child as they ride a horse. The brain releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone that’s also related to communication. Isaacson said the rocking of the hips that happens while riding helps with incontinence. The therapy also helps the brain create more brain cells. Simply, it’s applied neuroscience with ponies, according to Isaacson.
“It’s neuroplasticity in motion,” he said.
Rahmatian said her son has made great strides since starting the therapy. It’s helped his emotional regulation, curbs tantrums and having to use his lower core while riding has helped with incontinence — a common symptom among those with autism spectrum disorder. Donatello is also communicating, pointing and sharing apples with the horse he rides.
“He’s learning the importance of sharing,” Rahmatian said. “He wasn’t sharing with anybody before he got on the horse.”
Today, Horse Boy Method is an internationally-recognized therapy, the subject of a book by the same name as well as a movie, “The Long Ride Home.” It is in 40 countries and serves 300,000 people a week and has been the subject of multiple academic studies.
Where it isn’t is Indiana. Isaascon’s training in Zionsville will be the first for the state. Rahmatian wants to see the therapy take hold in the Hoosier state.
“I need to plant the seed in Indiana, because I’m not moving back until there is Horse Boy,” she said.
Horse Boy Method training
There are four levels to the equine-based therapy called Horse Boy Method. The training offered by Rupert Isaacson and Leana Tank June 25-26 at Cornerstone Equestrian Services will cover level one.
This includes the basics of motion and neuroscience, how to train horses and apply it, as well as how to create an environment conducive to Horse Boy Method.
Isaacson said a fundamental aspect of the therapy is that it is fun for the child.
“Humor and play are absolutely vital to this,” he said. “Too (often), the parents take therapy too seriously, and the kids don’t enjoy it.”
The Zionsville training is open to therapeutic instructors, therapists and teachers with a horse background and riders with an interest in autism. For more information, visit ntls.co/events/us-in-horse-boy-method-1-certification-course/.
