Backward sitting provides which social/communication benefit?

• A. Allows direct eye contact with whomever is behind the horse
• B. Reduces social interaction
• C. Increases head extension
• D. Decreases eye contact

Answer: (A)

Backward sitting shifts the rider’s orientation so they can face people who are behind the horse, making it easy to establish direct eye contact with them. In therapy, this direct eye contact with the instructor, therapist, or family behind the horse supports social engagement, turn-taking, and responsive communication—key skills in social/communication development. It’s not about increasing head extension or reducing eye contact; those aren’t the benefits being leveraged here. The setup specifically encourages looking toward others, which naturally fosters interactive communication moments during the session.