Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies and Autism Ranking:

Current Research

Description of Studies

We have identified 18 articles* published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals which evaluate the efficacy of equine-assisted activities and therapies as an intervention for autistic people.  Two of those articles (Gabriels et al, 2015; Petty et al, 2017) appear to describe the same study.

The studies we identified included more than 400 autistic individuals aged from three to 16, although 126 of these individuals were from the same study (Gabriels et al, 2015). Some of these individuals had specific diagnoses, such as autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome. Some of the individuals were described by the researchers as having mild, moderate or severe autism. Some of the individuals were described by the researchers as having an average IQ and having some verbal abilities. Some of the others were described by the researchers as having a below-average IQ and/or very limited verbal skills. 

The length of intervention varied between one month and six months, although in most cases the intervention lasted between two to three months.  In one case the intervention lasted for three hours each week but, in most cases, the intervention lasted between 30 and 60 minutes each week, 

The majority of the studies looked at therapeutic horseback riding while three studies (Ajzenman et al, 2013; Steiner and Kertesz, 2015; Taylor et al, 2009) looked at hippotherapy.  We have been unable to identify any studies of equine-assisted psychotherapy or other forms of EAAT.

The majority of the studies took place in equestrian centres, were run by professional instructors and followed protocols established by organisations such as The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. In most cases this meant that the sessions were overseen by a qualified instructor, with each participant being taught alongside one or two other children, each of whom was helped by two or three adult helpers while they were on the horse.

Nine of the studies used a group design, usually comparing a group of people receiving EAAT to a different group receiving something else or not receiving an intervention at all. Eight of the studies used a single-case design (where there was no group receiving something else).  

One of the studies (Petty et al, 2017) was a questionnaire survey which looked at whether the participants in another study (Gabriels et al, 2015) were more likely to take more care of their own pets at home after undertaking therapeutic horseback riding.

Some of the participants in some of the studies were receiving one or more other interventions (such as speech and language therapy or medication) at the same time as they received the EAAT.
                                
*Please note: We have not included articles with less than three autistic participants, articles which did not examine the efficacy of equine-assisted activities and therapies as an intervention for autistic people, or articles which did not include real horses.

Outcomes of Studies

The overwhelming majority of the studies reported positive results. One study (Memishevikj and Hodzhikj, 2010) reported mixed effects. Two studies (García-Gómez et al, 2014; Jenkins et al, 2013) reported no significant benefits. 

The studies on therapeutic horseback riding reported a number of benefits including:  improvements in self-regulation, irritability, lethargy, stereotypic behavior, and hyperactivity, adaptive expressive language skills, motor skills, and verbal praxis/motor planning skills.

The studies on hippotherapy reported a number of benefits including: improved posture, adaptive behaviours, self-care and volition.

At this stage, we cannot determine if any particular group of participants benefited most from any particular form of EAAT.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2018

Next Review

01 Sep 2024