A FIFE occupational therapist is hoping to use horses to help people with autism overcome their communication barriers.

Joy MacKay has been granted £1500 to find out about the benefits of equine assisted therapy after jointly winning the Alison Scott Memorial Award.

Appointed head occupational therapist at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline late last year, Ms MacKay recently completed a master’s degree and focused her studies on the technique.

She is now planning to start a year-long pilot scheme in January aimed at individuals with autism and other learning disabilities.

The technique works by using horses to help people develop communication skills.

Ms MacKay said that autistic people found it difficult to read emotions because people often hide what they are feeling and what they say is not always sincere.

“Horses don’t know how to put on social graces, and what you see is what you get.

“They rely on pure instinct,” said Ms MacKay.

“People with autism can often relate to an animal quicker than they can relate to another person.”

No horse riding will be involved. Instead, exercises will involve getting horses to carry out simple tasks.

“It also helps people with learning disabilities practise social interaction because when they work as a group they realise there are things they can only achieve by working with other people.”

She added, “The evidence seems to indicate that what would take six months using a traditional talk therapist service can be achieved in three sessions with a horse.

“That for me is a major selling point for this. For some clients, traditional therapies just don’t work for them.”

A local equestrian centre is interested in hosting the sessions and individuals would be referred through NHS Fife’s occupational therapy department.

Developing equine assisted therapy is just one aspect of the changes being brought about by the occupational therapy team at Queen Margaret Hospital.

This month sees the relaunch of the improved service.

During the summer, two more therapists were added to the team of three occupational therapists and two technical instructors.

A scheme called Signpost was introduced. Among the various benefits it offers are training for paid and unpaid carers, client support networking, work rehabilitation and basic adult education classes.

Ms MacKay said, “The occupational therapy service is community focused and works to ensure a multi-agency joint working approach as far as possible.

“We have good links with the employment services and are continuing to develop our joint working agenda with the education services and local businesses.

“It’s great to be involved in such an innovative relaunch and to work with highly motivated staff who are dedicated to helping clients develop their individual skills and opportunities.”