A Pony in the Bedroom: A Journey through Asperger's, Assault, and Healing with Horses

by Susan Dunne, Liane Holliday Willey (Foreword by)

Overview

Susan Dunne's life changed forever when a chance question from a doctor led her back to horses, an unfulfilled childhood passion. Detached and isolated due to undiagnosed autism, Susan had already survived rape, battled eating disorders and self-harm, and spent time homeless, when her world was turned upside again by a vicious, life-threatening assault. Severe post-traumatic stress disorder left her feeling distrustful and more cut off than ever before from a world she saw as confusing and dangerous. But as Susan's connection with horses grew stronger, her world started to open up.

Poignant and witty by turns, Susan shares her story of survival and transformation, offering a rare insight into her relationship with horses, and how they helped her to find a safe place in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781849056090
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	03/21/2015
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Susan Dunne studied English Literature at university. She has worked among other things as a teacher, journalist and travel writer. She has Asperger Syndrome and lives in Yorkshire, UK, where she has four horses. She runs an award winning pony therapy project and regularly takes miniature ponies into care centres across the region.

Table of Contents

Foreword Liane Holliday Wiiley 7

Acknowledgments 11

Preface: across two worlds 13

Part 1 All the World Before Me

1 Social misfit 25

2 Hungry 41

3 Homeless 57

4 Rootless 72

5 A dog called minder 84

Part 2 A World Turned Upside Down

6 First encounters 95

7 Assault 105

8 Aftermath 116

9 Consequences 124

10 To the lighthouse 132

11 A journey BEGINS 140

12 The horse effect 48

13 Reaching cut 159

14 Post-traumatic stress 171

15 Facing demons 182

16 Mongolia 195

Part 3 A Whole New World

7 A horse called bailey 207

18 Relapse 223

19 The herd 232

20 A puny in the bedroom 249

Afterword: horses as healers 267

Editorial Reviews

A testimony to the unique healing power of horses.

Temple Grandin

Truly beautiful and inspiring.

Asperger United - the Goth