NCT02301195

Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Measuring the Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on School-Age Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 209 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 6 Years – 16 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study is being carried out to learn more about the effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR) for children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This treatment is very popular and horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities has been used as a form of therapy in the United States for over forty years. However, very little research has been done to find out whether or not THR is effective as a therapy for children with an ASD. This study is being done to see if THR will improve the agitation behaviors, coordination, and communication skills of children and adolescents with an ASD. This study is also being done to find out if the horse is necessary for children and adolescents with an ASD to improve.

Detailed description

This study expands previous preliminary equine-assisted intervention research, including the authors' 10-week Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) intervention pilot, by evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on self-regulation, socialization, communication, adaptive, and motor behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: One hundred and twenty-seven participants (ages 6-16 years) were randomized by nonverbal IQ standard scores (\< 85 or \> 85) to one of two 10-week small groups: THR intervention; or barn activity (BA) control group without horses. Both interventions used similar methods, and the fidelity of the THR intervention was monitored. Participants were evaluated within one month pre- and post-intervention by raters blind to intervention conditions and caregiver questionnaires. Weekly during the intervention, caregivers rated participants' behaviors during the preceding week.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Child Development Disorders, Pervasive

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Therapeutic horseback riding	Inclusion of horses as part of the therapeutic experience
OTHER	Barn Activity Intervention	Equine-focused educational activities in small group setting without horses

Timeline

• Start date: 2010-10-01
• Primary completion: 2014-06-19
• Completion: 2014-06-19
• First posted: 2014-11-25
• Last updated: 2021-10-08