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Home / Equine Research Bank / Int J Environ Res Public Health / The Impact of a Horse Riding Intervention on the Social Func...
International journal of environmental research and public health2017; 14(7); 776; doi: 10.3390/ijerph14070776

The Impact of a Horse Riding Intervention on the Social Functioning of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract: This paper reports a case-control study of a horse riding intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A sample of 26 children, aged 6 to 9 years, were assigned to either the intervention ( = 12) or control group conditions ( = 14). Pre- and post-tests were carried out using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS2) and the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Community Edition (ABC-C). An observational measure of compliance and behaviour during the horse riding sessions was completed for the intervention group. There was a significant reduction in the severity of ASD symptoms and hyperactivity from pre- to post-test for the intervention group only. These results indicate that the intervention improves some aspects of social functioning for children with ASD.
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Publication Date: 2017-07-14 PubMed ID: 28708075PubMed Central: PMC5551214DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14070776Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research paper discusses how a horse-riding intervention impacted children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and found that the activity significantly reduced ASD symptoms and hyperactivity.

Objective & Methodology

  • This research studied the effects of a horse riding intervention on social functioning in children with ASD.
  • The study used the case-control method and involved 26 children aged 6 to 9. The children were divided into two groups – one group participated in the horse riding intervention (12 children) and the other group was the control group that didn’t participate in the intervention (14 children).
  • The severity of ASD symptoms was assessed before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention using two tools – the Childhood Autism Rating Scale, Second Edition (CARS2), and the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Community Edition (ABC-C).
  • A separate observational measure was carried out specifically for the intervention group during the horse riding sessions to assess compliance and behavior.

Findings

  • The results showed a significant reduction in the severity of ASD symptoms and hyperactivity in the group that participated in the horse riding intervention. This reduction was assessed from pre- to post-test.
  • The control group, which did not participate in the horse riding intervention, did not display such a reduction.
  • There were no specific observations or findings reported from the compliance and behavior measure carried out during horse riding sessions.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that the horse riding intervention improves certain aspects of social functioning for children with ASD. The paper suggests that further research may be needed to fully understand the scope and limitations of such interventions.

Cite This Article

APA
Harris A, Williams JM. (2017). The Impact of a Horse Riding Intervention on the Social Functioning of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 14(7), 776. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070776

Publication

International journal of environmental research and public health
ISSN: 1660-4601
NlmUniqueID: 101238455
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 7
PII: 776

Researcher Affiliations

Harris, Androulla
  • Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK. androulla_harris@hotmail.com.
Williams, Joanne M
  • Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK. jo.williams@ed.ac.uk.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • United Kingdom

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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