Rider of the 1st Quarter 2010

Bruce Gross is an 8-year old boy whose lives every day in the world of autism. He doesn’t speak very many words clearly or often; yet, like all eight year olds, he likes to run in gym class, play outside in the snow, eat snack foods, drink Icees and listen to any kind of music.  His favorite food is a hamburger and chips.  Bruce answers most questions with a quick “yes” or “no”.  Not many other words are interjected into conversation all of the time.

In Bruce’s autistic world, he finds it harder to follow direction and stay focused.  If his normal routine is disrupted his life is not pleasant.  On Tuesdays his pattern is to get off of the bus where Kelsey is waiting to bring him to riding. When he gets in the car he is excited because he knows the pattern of events for the day. He knows he is on the way to horseback riding. At Mounted Eagles Bruce gets to do some of his favorite things, like dangle and twirl a piece of rope.  The first thing he does is go to the rein rack to look for his favorite set of reins- the long pink ones are his first choice – then he hands the reins to his horse’s leader to put on the halter. When he sits down in the saddle the twirling and dangling begin.  However, the instructor is teaching him how to use this twirling and dangling motion to control his horse. Most often in the past, it took him many detours to get from Point A to Point B. On horseback it is not always a straight line from the kitty picture to the bear picture (where he stops to meow or growl at the appropriate one ) but he can make it there pretty much on his own.  Bruce has also gained a great deal of strength in his physical posture since starting to ride.  He used to be off balance most of the time when sitting or walking, but now he is sitting and standing much better and does not appear as though he is going to fall down all of the time. He watches his volunteer intently as she hands him first one ring, then two...saying one plus one is? Bruce responds “2” Yes! Good job. It is 2. When we reward him with a game of catch on horseback (one of his favorite activities), his eyes shine and he listens well for the name of the volunteer to whom he is to throw the ball and then tosses the ball to the right person.

All days are not as visibly productive because something has happened during the day to disrupt his routine or it’s just a ‘bad day’ for him.  Those are the days when Bruce needs to just sit and balance on the horse as it moves under him in patterns of circles, serpentines, bends, stops and starts calming him with each step.  Sometimes moving at a trot makes him feel much better when he dismounts than he did when he mounted.  He loves to be tickled, and he giggles and laughs when that happens.  When Bruce dismounts after his lesson he will pet his horse upon request and say a quick thank you to each of his helpers.  He then goes to pick out a “good job sucker”.  All his volunteers say “Bye Bruce-nice job, See you next week”.  He smiles and heads out for the next agenda on his scheduled routine, but in a much calmer mood because of his visit with his friends, horse and human, at Mounted Eagles.

We’re proud of you Bruce.  Congratulations for being selected as Rider of the First Quarter of 2010.