Have you seen the movie, The Horse Boy?

I had the opportunity to be one of the 80 in attendance, at the Rafael Movie Theater on 4th street in San Rafael, to experience the journey that a mom and dad made with their son with autism in search of hope. How is it that a mom and dad from Texas sought a trip to Mongolia to find HOPE? How is it that they could not find HOPE in the state of Texas or for that matter any state in the United States for their son? When will more professionals in the United States be able to work side by side with families to help them feel hopeful in stead of telling them that the interventions their son or daughter needs are not available, too expensive, not covered by insurance or not evidence based.

You must see the lengths that Rowan’s mom and dad go through in order to locate healers, reindeer, the reindeer people and the miracle waters they hope will change the course of their son’s autism. They have been to all the right specialists and doctors in the United States but Rowan still has restricted play skills, no friends, either chooses not to communicate or communicates in his own unique jargon, has sever tantrums several times a day and is not making any progress in toileting training. He goes no where without his plastic animals in his hands and continues to line them up like trains on a track in no apparent meaningful manner.

Rowan’s parents want more than anything to see the pain their son experiences several times a day vanish. They hope that the day will come soon when their son will not need them to clean him off after a bowel movement in his pants, down his legs, in his shoe and they long for their son to enjoy a real connection with another child.

One of the insights they discover and hang deeply onto is Rowan’s incredible ability to interact and relate to animals. What they appreciate is the animals’ tolerances of Rowan’s interactions. The animals seem to be able to remain calm while Rowan touches them in, lifts them, puts them in a cardboard box with him and lies upon them. Rowan’s father has one special wish; that Rowan successfully rides a horse, totally independent and with extreme excitement and joy, something he has experienced in his life and wants desperately for Rowan to share. He gets excited about the possibility when Rowan has an amazing experience on a neighbors horse, (Betsy).

Rowan makes some small changes along the journey but some amazing changes immediately after his final session with the shaman of the reindeer people. Both Kristin and Rupert engage you in reflective thinking at this point in the movie. You are left to decide for yourself if it was the healing from the shaman, the journey, their expectations or all of it.

I choose to admire the strength and courage of this family. I choose to value the process this family went through to accept their child and I choose to believe that hope and faith are still needed in our world today. It has been and will always be parents like Rowan’s who find ways to reach and teach their children. I choose remain open to possibilities.

See the movie and decide for yourself.

I plan on reading the book published by Little, Brown and Company by Rupert Isaacson to explore in more detail the journey.

I also plan to find out about the amazing therapeutic riding school that Rowan’s father has set up in Austin, Texas, where he is helping other children.

Karen Kaplan
Private Consultant/Special Needs
karensupportsu@comcast.net
www.karenkaplanasd.com