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Hinchinbrook Farm Society is a volunteer and non-profit organization for families of special needs children. The farm is located in Blockhouse, Nova Scotia and maintains {{standards set forth by the Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association (CanTRA). Hinchinbrook Farm provides Therapeutic riding to families with Autism Disorder Spectrum (ADS) by specifically employing the Horse Boy Method. With 1 in 68 children in North America identified as having autism, 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls. The therapeutic riding program is only one of four in Nova Scotia which is registered with the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation and the ONLY providing Horse Boy. The program allows the children to have fun while enabling them to work through their disabilities while coping with the world around them.

Hinchinbrook Farm was created by Patricia McGill in 2007 in order to provide therapeutic riding to children who are mentally challenged. Previously she was a therapeutic riding instructor in Quebec, starting in 1990 with CanTRA until 2012, before moving to Lunenburg County. In 2010 the decision was made to have it run as a registered charity. This was formed with aid from the original volunteer parents and community leaders (Hinchinbrook Farm Society). In 2014 there were 41 volunteers and 35 children in the Therapeutic Riding Program and 25 families on the Horse Boy Method, twice the participation from 2012.

Horse Boy Method Background
Rupert Isaacson is the creator of the Horse Boy Method along with Iliane Lorenz a German-trained dressage rider. His son Rowan is autistic, diagnosed in 2004, and by a chance encounter with the neighbors mare named Betsy he noticed their silent communication. He began bringing his son around horses more and eventually riding. After two and a half years Rowan could now speak, read, and do math.

The Horse Boy Method helps those with autism connect with the world through bridging gaps in communication. It can also be used to aid those with neuro-psychiatric conditions including ADD and ADHD. There is a six staged process involved: The Horse Boy Foundation was created in 2007 in order to help with autism families, at risk youth, veterans with PTSD, children and adults with ADD/ADHD, anxiety, chronic pain, and all related conditions. Rupert wrote a book titled "The Horse Boy". This memoir is about Rupert's son Rowan, his effort to heal him after discovering his link with horses while in Texas, and their journey to Mongolia. This book was published in 2009 and the film came out the same year. In 2014 Rupert published a sequel titled " The Long Ride Home" after he noticed his son regressing and decided to take his son on a journey to Namibia then to the coastal rain forests of Queensland, Australia and finally to the Navajo reservations of the American southwest.
 * 1) set up the right environment for the child;
 * 2) address the child’s sensory issues;
 * 3) move to riding in the same saddle with the child to explore the exterior world;
 * 4) then to perspective-taking and rule-based games like “Tag" on horseback;
 * 5) to teaching actual academics on horseback;
 * 6) and finally teaching the child to speak for his or herself (self-advocacy).

Science Behind Horse Boy Methods
Once a child with autism is use to the horse they are placed on a saddle in front of another rider. The rider is then able to control the rhythm and flow. When in a canter, especially a soft collected canter, the rocking motion of the hips cause the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter in the brain, it is associated with emotions and good feelings. Higher oxytocin levels seem to be associated with the feeling of relaxation, willingness to trust, psychological stability. It can also reduce stress response and anxiety levels. Not only does riding release oxytocin but it provides deep pressure which children with autism seek.When an activity causes a person to regain their balance at different moments receptors in the brain open up. Horse Boy Methods also reduce spasms, atrophy, incontinence and high blood pressure. On a physical level, the activities are designed to increase balance, mobility, body awareness, circulation, strength, co-ordination, muscle tone and endurance. Overall this creates the optimum environment for a child with autism to learn and retain information.

Activities on the Farm
At Hinchinbrook Farm children have the opportunity to explore and play in a fun, safe, supervised environment. Some of the activities offered are playing in the hayloft, pea gravel boxes with cars and trucks, a stream to play in, a pond for swimming or going in an inflatable boat, riding a horse, painting a horse, going on the trampoline, taking Buddy for a cart ride, zip lining, and many more fun activities.. Whatever the child would like to do they're there to accommodate.
 * photo not from Hinchinbrook
 * photo not from Hinchinbrook

Animals on the Farm
Silver Bell is a Morgan with liver-chestnut coloring. She was foaled on June 23, 1986. Ever since she was 18 months old she has been at Hinchinbrook Farm.and at 4 years old she started being ridden for therapy. Her strengths include driving a cart, riding, standing very still for long periods of time, and received Therapy Horse of the Year from Atlantic Horse and Pony Magazine in 2016.

Dandy is the son of Silver Bell, born June18, 1996. His strengths include Voltige mount, Horse Boy back riding, tricks, and sensory input.

Buddy is a Dune miniature horse born in the Spring of 1996 and arrived at Hinchinbrook farm in 2008. He is used for driving a cart or sleigh.

Jazzmin is a Paint born August 2010 and arrived at Hinchinbrook Farm 10 months later. She is the best at performing tricks.

Kelly is a Landseer Newfoundland dog born December 18, 2008. For the last 5 years she has been a St.Johns Ambulance Certified therapy dog.

Other animals include Dexter (an orange cat), Sissy and Rosie (both pygmy goats), Hugo (a Great Pyrenees), and Delilah (Lambert Morgan).

== Documentary == An hour long documentary is to be aired next Spring. This documentary will appear on CBC's documentary program as part of a new Tell Tale Inc. documentary. Filming started in August with producer Jackie Torrens, and co-producers Erin Oakes and Edward Peill. Horse Sense Inc., subsidiary of Tell Tale Inc, has a budget of roughly $500,000 partially funded by CBC. Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund has also contributed with $145,468 and the Canada Media Fund.

News Articles
March 31, 2009 - Lunenburg County Progress Bulletin

October, 2011 - Atlantic Horse and Pony

August 7, 2013 - Lunenburg County Progress Bulletin

April 24, 2014 - Lighthouse Log

April 24, 2014 - CBC Video Coverage

September 30, 2015 - LighthouseNow

February 19, 2016 - Atlantic Horse and Pony

July 19, 2016 - Nova Scotia Business Inc.

July 27, 2016 - LighthouseNow

August 14, 2016 - CBC News

Some Previous Events
2012 - Demonstration of Horse Boy Methods at Atlantic Horse Fair in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia.

2015 - The Blockhouse School Project 3rd Annual Communi-Tea

2016 - Paint Nite for Hinchinbrook Farm Society

2016 - Silent Auction

2016 - Weekly community table with therapeutic riding program information, Horse Boy information, volunteer opportunities, and merchandise at Mahone Bay Farmers Market.

2016 - Weekend camp and sponsored Summer camp.

2016 - Blues Night Benefit Concert

2016 - Chris Ulmer (Special Books by Special Kids)

2016 - TTeam Touch With Ulga Comeau

Annual Silent Santa, Halloween Party, and Christmas Eve in the Stables

Awards/ Recipient
2014 - RBC Learn to Play Project Grants.

2014 - Doctor Gerald Gordon Memorial Award

2015 - Unity for Autism.

2015 - Recipient of Past Wellness Grant

2015/2016 - Campus Group Canada Community Grant.

2016 - Leanne Children's Foundation.

2016 - Therapy Horse of the Year from Atlantic Horse and Pony Magazine.

2016/2017 - The United Way of Lunenburg County.

Current Sponsors
The Gordon Foundation for Children and Youth

Service Canada

Nova Scotia, Canada

Shoppers Drug Mart

United Way of Lunenburg County

Sport Nova Scotia

Kinley Drug PharmaChoice

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

Animat

South Shore Veterinary Hospital

Unity for Autism

Awesome Foundation South Shore

South Shore Ready Mix

RBC Learn to Play Project