Draper Sensory Method

The Draper Sensory Method is an innovative and unique program based on the scientific principles of the brain-body connection consisting of research based equine mounted activities. The method supports and enhances the participant's ability to think more rationally, make more socially acceptable decisions and receive hope for a successful and more fulfilling life. 

With over 30 years of experience and development, the Draper Sensory Method uses a systems approach predicated on principles that enable each participant to focus on individual needs – to recognize barriers in thinking and replace them with more appropriate methods. Each equine achievement plateau activity creates core muscle and rhythmic movement simultaneously within three body planes, relieving the participant’s stress level and developing opportunities for balancing the neurochemicals that allow a more flexible and resilient brain. Balancing neurochemicals creates a calming effect, self-confidence, rational thinking, and feelings of creativity for our participants. All of which are necessary components for the participant to be able to focus, remember and reason in order to allow for the desired change in a behavioral pattern – a necessary step toward a participant’s recovery. The skillful use of metaphors within the process permits the practitioner and the participant to translate this human/equine partnership into human interactions. Transferring issues into the world of horses helps the participant see their behaviors from a different perspective. They are then able to think through and focus on the results of their choices without the onus of someone else telling them what they should or shouldn’t do. 

 Our methodology and systems approach has been developed through combining the following disciplines: Kinesiology, Neurophysiology, Sensory Integration Theory, Behavioral Psychology, Social Developmental Theory, Cognitive Development Theory, Relational Cultural Theory, Behavioral Research Methodology, Training and Organizational Development. These are all critical in supporting the equine-mounted activities. This interactive and holistic approach draws out the potential locked in the participant’s brain by learning how to receive information and express themselves simultaneously. Improvements in learning and behavior are immediate and profound. 

With these behavioral, psychological, and evidence-based intervention principles, the program’s purpose is to enhance the participant’s competency strategies. Competency strategies are how our participants acquire knowledge and values. Competency strategies are directly related to their relationships, as well as their living, learning, and working environments through establishing stabilized integrated brain activity. The program activities provide the basis for our participants to be in a “ready to learn” mode, allowing them to work through stages of behavioral change, to increase and maintain positive interactions with others and simultaneously help them to see how their own thinking and choices affect and perpetuate negative behaviors. Participants progress through these stages by learning and exhibiting self-control, positive decision-making choices and relationship-building skills. Our goal is to assist individuals in learning to replace disruptive behaviors with skills that will help them succeed throughout their lives.