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Horseback Riding for Autistic Children

Autistic children enrolled in horseback riding therapy, or "hippotherapy" have shown dramatic results in social and relational skill improvement. Autism is a sub-category of a larger disorder called Pervasive Developmental Disorder and includes verbal and non-verbal communication impairments, a hyper-focus on specific interests and repetitive speech patterns. Animal-assisted therapy is relatively new to the treatment of autism, but the results have proven beneficial. Allowing children to open up to an animal may assist them in opening up to their peers and families.

  1. First Scientific Study

    • In 2009, the first comprehensive study of autism and horseback riding was published in the Journal of Autism and Development Disorders. The study found that children who rode horses as therapy showed improvement in social skills after 12 weeks in therapy. The children improved in sensory seeking, sensitivity and social motivation. They were also less distracted.

    Rhythmic Movement

    • The rhythmic movement of the horse has shown to be beneficial to the autistic child. One expert, Ruth Dismuke-Blakely, says the movement of the horse itself has a neurological impact on the child. In her study, verbal communication improved in autistic children who rode for 18 to 25 minutes once a week for eight weeks. She cautions that too much riding may negatively impact the autistic child, causing more erratic behavior.

    Horse Chosen Riders

    • In some equine therapy programs, instead of the child being assigned to a particular horse, the child is led to a variety of horses and the horses' reactions are watched. If the horse nuzzles the child with its nose, it is chosen. The results of the child's improvement have shown this method to be beneficial.

    Positive Learning Environment

    • The children in the horseback riding therapy programs learn new things at a rapid pace. They gain exposure to the new physical sensations of the horse and learn how to ride effectively. They also interact with counselors and other children throughout the program and must learn how to communicate about something completely new to them. This learning environment casts a positive light on learning and may enable them to embrace traditional learning with more acceptance.

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