Sitting on Withers

You may not be able to tell, but this little boy is sitting on the horse's withers facing backwards. The handle is between the red belt and his forearms and he is putting weight on the stuffed animal. This child has increased tone and decreased hip abduction, so sitting on the more narrow withers is more comfortable. He always sits more erect when facing backwards because as the horse walks forwards his trunk extensors are stimulated. He tends to slump into a kyphotic position when facing forwards and I save that position for the end of the session after he has had some good stimulation in these other positions. Bearing weight on open hands helps to decrease tone.

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
Horseot.com