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. 2016 Jan;46(1):1-9.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-015-2530-6.

Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Marta Borgi  1 , Dafne Loliva  2 , Stefania Cerino  3 , Flavia Chiarotti  4 , Aldina Venerosi  4 , Maria Bramini  5 , Enrico Nonnis  5 , Marco Marcelli  6 , Claudia Vinti  7 , Chiara De Santis  8 , Francesca Bisacco  9 , Monica Fagerlie  10 , Massimo Frascarelli  2 , Francesca Cirulli  11
Affiliations

Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Marta Borgi et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

In this study the effectiveness of an equine-assisted therapy (EAT) in improving adaptive and executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was examined (children attending EAT, n = 15, control group n = 13; inclusion criteria: IQ > 70). Therapeutic sessions consisted in structured activities involving horses and included both work on the ground and riding. Results indicate an improvement in social functioning in the group attending EAT (compared to the control group) and a milder effect on motor abilities. Improved executive functioning was also observed (i.e. reduced planning time in a problem-solving task) at the end of the EAT program. Our findings provide further support for the use of animal-assisted intervention programs as complementary intervention strategies for children with ASD.

Keywords: Animal-assisted interventions; Autism spectrum disorder; Horses; Rehabilitation.

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