THERAPY ON HORSEBACK; PROGRAM HELPS DISABLED KIDS.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Paula Varblow, a mother of twin boys with autism, is finding great hope for them through therapy sessions at an unlikely place: a small horse ranch in Newhall.

For the last 18 months, the Thousand Oaks mother has brought her fraternal twin sons, Robert and Paul Varblow, to half-hour riding lessons at Carousel Ranch, a nonprofit equestrian therapy center that last month relocated from Sylmar to Newhall.

Although the boys' lives have been filled with countless speech and occupational therapy sessions, as well as preschool classes tailored to meet their special needs, Varblow says their most dramatic behavioral improvements are seen following equestrian therapy every Thursday afternoon.

``They're just unfolding from a darkness - there's no other way to describe it,'' said Varblow, while watching Carousel Ranch founder and instructor Becky Graham help Robert turn around in the horse saddle. ``To see Robert do this - and backward - was unheard of. . . . This is like a gift.''

Robert and Paul - both with closely cropped, blond hair; deep blue eyes; and toothy grins - were diagnosed with autism two years ago.

Varblow recalled the early warning signs when the twins were 20 months old: Paul had stopped making eye contact and responding to other stimuli, like music, and he no longer responded to his mother.

A short time later, Robert slowed in his development and became withdrawn, and doctors came up with a similar diagnosis.

``It was like (Paul) was living in his own little world,'' she said, her eyes tearing. ``I was devastated when the boys were diagnosed. I had no idea what kind of lives they'd be able to lead.''

After reading about how equestrian therapy had helped autistic children overcome sensory integration difficulties, Varblow called nearly every equestrian therapy center in Southern California until she found the then-new Carousel Ranch, which had a shorter waiting list than others.

Neither boy had begun talking when Varblow first brought them to Carousel Ranch more than a year ago. Varblow said she and her husband used sign language to communicate with them.

The boys showed marked improvement immediately. Within a year of visiting Carousel, while continuing traditional forms of therapy, they began talking.

Paul and Robert also became noticeably more tolerant of sensations that used to upset them, such as loud noises, being hugged or having their hands held.

Varblow says her sons will be able to attend elementary school, with some special needs classes and a two-year kindergarten program.

``They've developed in front of our eyes,'' Varblow said. ``They still have some sensory difficulties, but they've mellowed out. For a mother who has to shuttle her kids to all kinds of therapy, coming here has been refreshing.''

Carousel Ranch co-founder and instructor Denise Tomey of Canyon Country says equestrian therapy has been around for at least 30 years, but it began to draw attention only in recent years.

``There are 550 programs like this throughout the country, and all have waiting lists,'' said Tomey, who formed Carousel Ranch in Sylmar two years ago with instructor Becky Graham.

The women - each with more than 12 years of experience in the field - receive no compensation for their work.

On a shoestring budget they held their first lessons in a friend's back yard, using Graham's horse, Banner.

Carousel Ranch received its largest financial boost when it became an official vendor of the Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled, a state agency that subsidizes funding per student. The city of Santa Clarita this year also provided 12 one-year scholarships with a $12,000 donation.

Of Carousel Ranch's 53 students today, nine receive full scholarships and many others receive partial subsidies.

In time Carousel Ranch acquired two more horses, a pony and a mule that had been rescued from being put to sleep. Although the animals had injuries that made them unable to perform their previous tasks, their pleasant temperaments and otherwise good health made them perfect for Carousel Ranch, said Tomey.

The women relocated the operation to Aden Avenue in Newhall last month, because more than half their students were from Santa Clarita and Atlasta Ranch offered them low rent and generous access privileges.

Carousel Ranch now a waiting list of up to 9 months, with most referrals continuing to come from clients and clinical therapists.

Tomey said benefits from equestrian therapy vary according to the special needs of the children - who have Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other forms of developmental disabilities.

As Tomey explains, the horse's movement seems to unlock an instinctual response from its rider - relaxing the child's tight muscles, toning weak muscles, and developing balance and coordination.

These physical responses enable children to use their hands and arms and to sit, stand and walk, she said. Horseback riding skills boost self-esteem and confidence, encourage social interaction, and increase children's attention span and concentration, Tomey said.

Many children perform tasks they formerly refused to do or that caused them to cry in clinical therapy sessions, such as extending their arms, she said, adding, ``But on a horse, that same child will use that same arm to hold himself up or pet a horse.''

Fradel Bukiet of Los Angeles brought her 13-year old daughter, Rivka, to Carousel Ranch for the first time two weeks ago after being referred there by her friend, Devora Lea of Los Angeles.

Lea's daughter Sheina, 5, had shown such marked improvement within the past year that she no longer needed a walker to balance herself, but Bukiet remained skeptical.

Her daughter, Rivka, who has Down syndrome, had been terrified of all animals since age 2.

By the end of Rivka's first lesson two weeks ago, she rode a horse.

By her second lesson this week, it took less convincing for instructors to get her on the horse and Rivka had mastered a basic command for the horse: ``Walk.''

``It's unbelievable,'' said Fradel on Thursday. I thought it would take them six months to get her on a horse.''

Said Varblow, ``It's fun for the kids. It's therapy in disguise.''

For more information about Carousel Ranch or its Nov. 6 fund-raiser - the third annual dinner, silent auction and casino night to be held at the new Cascades Championship Golf Course in Sylmar - call [phone].

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color in Simi and SAC editions only) Equestrian therapist Becky Graham works on 13-year-old Rivka Bukiet's motor skills as Rivka rides a horse at the Carousel Ranch.

(2 -- color in Simi and SAC editions only) Robert Varblow, 4, rides backward on a horse named Banner, guided by therapist Becky Graham, right, and Michaela Dyer.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer