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Topic:Equine-Assisted Therapies
Equine-Assisted Therapies (EAT) involve the use of horses in therapeutic settings to support physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. These therapies are implemented in various forms, including therapeutic riding, equine-assisted psychotherapy, and hippotherapy. Horses are integrated into the therapeutic process to facilitate interactions that may promote improvements in motor skills, emotional regulation, and social functioning. The unique characteristics of horses, such as their responsiveness to human behavior and non-verbal communication, are leveraged in these interventions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, outcomes, and applications of equine-assisted therapies in diverse populations.
[Dynamics of hip joint biomechanics in patients with coxarthrosis at the time of hippotherapy]. The problems of degenerative-dystrophic abnormalities stimulate the development of new skills and methods of treatment and rehabilitation of the diseases. The goal of the study was to determine the efficacy of hippotherapy in patients with coxarthrosis, according to functional and biomechanical parameters. Hippotherapy involves the utilization of horseback riding to stimulate the patient's normal reactions and locomotion; to improve the balance and coordination of movement, normalize muscle tension, and eliminate pathological reflexes. The advantage of the hippotherapy is in the specific postu...
Influence of equine conformation on rider oscillation and evaluation of horses for therapeutic riding. To obtain basic knowledge about selecting horses for therapeutic riding, the influence of equine conformation on rider oscillation and relationships between these factors and the evaluation on horses as the therapeutic riding were studied. Thirty-five riding horses were used. Equine conformation was estimated by 24 indices. Rider oscillation was measured by an accelerometer fixed at the rider's waist. The spatial position of the oscillation was estimated by a double integration of the acceleration. Horses were evaluated for therapeutic riding by a Riding for the Disabled Association instructor...
Retrospective comparison of caffeine and doxapram for the treatment of hypercapnia in foals with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Despite a lack of data regarding their efficacy, both caffeine and doxapram have been recommended for treatment of hypercapnia in equine neonates with central nervous system damage. Objective: Caffeine and doxapram alleviate hypercapnia in foals with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Methods: Sixteen foals treated with either caffeine (n = 8) or doxapram (n = 8). Methods: Information on age, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood gas parameters, duration of therapy, and outcome was abstracted from each medical record. Results: Therapy with doxapram resulted in a signific...
Determination of MMP-2 and -9 activities in synovial fluid of horses with osteoarthritic and arthritic joint diseases using gelatin zymography and immunocapture activity assays. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2 and -9 activities have been found elevated in synovial fluid from various joint diseases in man. However, in the horse few data are available. Objective: To explore the clinical significance of MMP-2 and -9 activities in synovial fluid of horses with different forms of joint diseases. Methods: Gelatin zymography and MMP-2 and -9 immunocapture activity assays were applied on synovial fluids from control joints and joints with aseptic joint disease (AJD) and septic arthritis (SA). Additionally, MMP-2 and -9 activities were measured in samples from SA to monitor...
The effect of hippotherapy on postural control in sitting for children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this single subject research study was to examine the effects of a once weekly, 10-week hippotherapy program for three children, ages 27-54 months, with cerebral palsy. Participants were rated as Level V on the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The Sitting Dimension of the Gross Motor Function Measure was used to establish a baseline of sitting abilities, and was administered every 2 weeks during intervention. The Sitting Assessment Scale and the Gross Motor Function Measure were administered before, after, and 4 weeks postintervention. Parental perceptions of the hipp...
The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury. To determine the effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare it with the effects of other interventions. Methods: Crossover trial with 4 conditions. Methods: Swiss paraplegic center. Methods: A volunteer sample of 12 people with spastic SCI (American Spinal Injury Association grade A or B). Methods: Hippotherapy, sitting astride a Bobath roll, and sitting on a stool with rocking seat. Each session lasted 25 minutes and was conducted twice weekly for 4 weeks; the control condition was spasticity measurement without inter...
The horse as the healer-a study of riding in patients with back pain. A total of 24 patients, considerably disabled in daily activities by back pain, participated in an Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) programme. The patients also had several health problems in addition to their current pain. The programme emphasised the principles of body awareness. The study is aimed at investigating not only whether symptom reduction would be achieved, but also at identifying qualities of EAT that were particularly beneficial for the patients' well being. The study was performed according to action research principles. The treatment reduced the pain and lessened other symptoms. ...
Effects of hippotherapy on postural stability, in persons with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of hippotherapy as an intervention for the treatment of postural instability in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: A sample of convenience of 15 individuals with MS (24-72 years) were recruited from support groups and assessed for balance deficits. Methods: This study was a nonequivalent pretest-posttest comparison group design. Nine individuals (4 males, 5 females) received weekly hippotherapy intervention for 14 weeks. The other 6 individuals (2 males, 4 females) served as a comparison group. All participants we...
Heart rate response to therapeutic riding in children with cerebral palsy: an exploratory study. The study was designed to document the heart rate response to therapeutic riding in children with cerebral palsy having mild-to-severe disability. Methods: Participants consisted of eight youth riders with cerebral palsy, divided into two groups: ambulatory and wheelchair dependent. The riders received continuous digital heart rate monitoring during 10 weekly 20-minute therapeutic horseback riding sessions. Results: The averaged resting, median, and peak heart rate values, as well as the peak percentage heart rate reserve values, were significantly higher in the wheelchair-dependent group. Con...
[The role of horse-therapy in improvement of children with Down syndrome]. Many years of experience in horse-therapy show that this is the efficient method of rehabilitation of disabled children, also with Down syndrome. This method improves not only proficiency, but also mental sphere and social functions of children. 3 cases of children with Down syndrome in age 7-8 years rehabilitated by horse-therapy, and other methods (physical exercises, swimming, talking exercises) through 1-3 year have been described. In every case adding horse-therapy to other methods of rehabilitation gave measurable advantages both in physical sphere and also in mental and social spheres. ...
Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is a specialized form of psychotherapy using the horse as a therapeutic tool. This modality is designed to address self-esteem and personal confidence, communication and interpersonal effectiveness, trust, boundaries and limit-setting, and group cohesion. Substantial numbers of children witness family violence. There is evidence that violence between parents has adverse effects on the children in the family. These children are at greater risk of behavioural problems and mental health disorders, including anxiety, anger, depression and suicidal ideations, wit...
Horseback riding as therapy for children with cerebral palsy: is there evidence of its effectiveness? A systematic review of the literature on horseback riding therapy as an intervention for children with cerebral palsy (CP) was carried out. The terms horse, riding, hippotherapy, horseback riding therapy, equine movement therapy, and cerebral palsy were searched in electronic databases and hand searched. Retrieved articles were rated for methodological quality using PEDro scoring to assess the internal validity of randomized trials and the Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale to assess cohort studies. PICO questioning (Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes) was used to identi...
Does horseback riding therapy or therapist-directed hippotherapy rehabilitate children with cerebral palsy? Quantitative (not qualitative) studies were sought investigating whether horseback riding used as therapy improves gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Eleven published studies on instructor-directed, recreational horseback riding therapy (HBRT) and licensed-therapist-directed hippotherapy were identified, reviewed, and summarized for research design, methodological quality, therapy regimen, internal/external validity, results, and authors'conclusions. Methodological quality was moderate to good for all studies; some studies were limited by small sample size or lack of no...
[Doping in sports]. Drugs used by athletes for the improvement of results are described and classified with respect to chemical structure and pharmacological action. The main groups of drugs treated as doping are considered and the WADA requirements to prohibited preparations are formulated. The main effects produced by drugs on the athletes and animals (race horses, fight dogs, etc ) are described and the measures of therapy against side effects are outlined.
Healing with horses: fostering recovery from cancer with horses as therapists. Nearly 10 years ago, I looked at a poster exhibit for a nonprofit organization's camping experience for cancer survivors. One of the images in particular remains with me to this day. It was of an elderly man wearing a cowboy hat and the great grin on his wrinkled face as he stood next to a beautiful sorrel horse. The woman at the poster told me the story behind the picture: The man had advanced cancer and had already entered a hospice program, even though he was still physically active. He'd told many people that his biggest regret in life was that he'd never gotten to ride a horse. The photog...
Stress-related behaviors among horses used in a therapeutic riding program. To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps. Methods: Observational study. Methods: 14 horses in a therapeutic riding program. Methods: An ethogram of equine behaviors was created, and horses were observed while ridden by 5 groups of riders (recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, at risk chi...
Effects of a therapeutic riding program on at-risk and special education children. To determine the effects of a therapeutic riding program on psychosocial measurements among children considered at risk for poor performance or failure in school or life and among children in special education programs. Methods: Observational study. Methods: 17 at-risk children (6 boys and 11 girls) and 14 special education children (7 boys and 7 girls). Methods: For the at-risk children, anger, anxiety, perceived self-competence, and physical coordination were assessed. For the special education children, anger and cheerfulness were measured, and the children's and their mothers' perceptions ...
Evaluation of therapeutic riding (Sweden)/hippotherapy (United States). A single-subject experimental design study replicated in eleven patients with multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether therapeutic riding (TR, Sweden) hippotherapy (HT, United States) may affect balance, gait, spasticity, functional strength, coordination, pain, self-rated level of muscle tension (SRLMT), activities of daily living (ADL), and health-related quality of life. Eleven patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were studied in a single-subject experimental design iSSED) study, type A-B-A. The intervention comprised ten weekly TR/HT sessions of 30 minutes each. The subjects were measured a maximum of 13 times. Physical tests were: the Berg balance scale, t...
Mechanical horseback riding improves insulin sensitivity in elder diabetic patients. The present study was undertaken to analyze the acute and chronic effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity in elder diabetic patients using a horseback riding therapeutic equipment (Joba). The acute effects of exercise were examined by means of a single session of Joba riding that lasted for 30 min. The average glucose infusion rates (GIR) before and during exercise were regarded as an index of the insulin action in peripheral tissues by the euglycemic clamp. The chronic effects of exercise were studied by training the elder diabetic patients for 12 weeks using the Joba apparatus. The insuli...
Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy refers to the use of the movement of the horse asa treatment tool by physical therapists, occupational therapists,and speech-language therapists to address impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities in clients with neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction, such as cerebral palsy. Hippotherapy is used as part of an integrated treatment program to achieve functional outcomes. Hippotherapy engages the client in activities on the horse that are enjoyable and challenging. In the controlled hippotherapyenvironment, the therapist modifies the horse's movement and carefully grades sens...
Equine glaucoma. Glaucoma is a diverse group of vision-impairing disorders that have as a common bond an elevation of intraocular pressure(IOP) to a level incompatible with the health of the eye. Glaucoma can be congenital, primary, or secondary. Congenital equine glaucoma is associated with developmental abnormalities of the iridocorneal angle or, in many cases, with the more severe anterior segment dysgenesis.
