What Is Therapeutic Riding As a Treatment for Autism

Question: What Is Therapeutic Riding As a Treatment for Autism

Answer: Therapeutic riding, also called equine assisted therapy, is an umbrella term for a whole set of therapeutic activities related to horses. Each of these horse-related therapeutic activities has a slightly different purpose. For example:

• Hippotherapy - a technique which uses the horse as a means to manage sensory input and build balance and muscle strength.
• Therapeutic Horsemanship - actually teaches equestrian skills while also working on cognitive and emotional issues such as discipline, self-esteem and self-control.
• Equine Facilitated Learning - uses horses and horseback riding as a tool for building social, cognitive and emotional skills.
• Vocational Rehabilitation - builds vocational skills around a special interest in the care of horses and related areas.
• Therapeutic Driving - builds skills and self-control in the context of carriage driving.

A good deal of evidence has found that horse-related therapy can be useful for individuals with neurological and muscular impairments (cerebral palsy, muscular sclerosis, Down syndrome). So far, though, little direct evidence is specifically helpful for symptoms of autism. Nevertheless, anecdotal evidence combined with common sense suggests that it is certainly worth exploring -- particularly if your child likes horses, and horse-related therapy is easily available.

Which type of therapeutic riding is best for your child? Of course, the choice depends upon your child's particular needs and abilities. Hippotherapy is most useful for an individual with significant sensory issues and/or muscle weakness -- and both are fairly common symptoms of autism. Therapeutic horsemanship may be a terrific step toward competitive riding for a child or teen who is ready for a more challenging opportunity. And of course, vocational training is ideal for a teen or young adult with autism who has decided that horses are his particular area of fascination.

Interested in getting started in therapeutic riding? To find a therapist, start at the American Hippotherapy Association's website, where you'll find a directory of service providers. Alternatively, look in local directories, call local stables, and ask other parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. It's crucial to only work with a certified professional.

_Sources:

AC All, GL Loving, LL Crane. Animals, Horseback Riding, and Implications for Rehabilitation Therapy.. The Journal of Rehabilitation, 1999.

Catherine Candler. Sensory Integration and Therapeutic Riding at Summer Camp: Occupational Performance Outcomes. Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 1541-3144, Volume 23, Issue 3, 2003, Pages 51 – 64.

Macauley B, Gurierrez K. The effectiveness of hippotherapy for children with language-learning disabilities. Communications Disorders Quarterly 2004; 25(4):205-217.

Rollandelli, PS and Dunst CJ (2003) Influences of Hippotherapy on the Motor and Social-Emotional Behavior of Young Children with Disabilities. Bridges. Practice-Based Research Syntheses. Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development. Puckett Institute. Vol 2, (1); pp1-14.

Website of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation.