The Benefits of Hippotherapy for the Autistic Population

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects the development of the brain. Individuals with Autism tend to have difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication, sensory processing, and understanding or reading social cues. Some children may have difficulty concentrating on tasks, making and maintaining eye contact, completing basic skills such as eating, dressing, brushing their teeth, or bathing.

When a child is diagnosed with autism, they are often referred to receive behavior analytic interventions, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. However, Hippotherapy has been making waves as a treatment tool to help individuals accomplish therapeutic objectives.

Autism Hippotherapy has been shown to improve one’s balance, strength, and motor coordination. Some studies also report gains in language, sensory regulation and social skills; children often form a bond with the horse they ride. This then motivates children to perform skill-building tasks.

A study conducted by Bass, Duchowny, and Llabre in 2009, showed that children who rode horses as therapy showed improvements in several social skills after 12 weeks of therapy. The researchers found that the children became more socially motivated and improved in sensory seeking and sensitivity.  Many children with autism have trouble integrating their senses and sensing where their bodies are in space. Hippotherapy is a great way to help a child gain a sense of body awareness while improving sensory integration.

Other reported benefits of hippotherapy for children with autism include:

• Relaxing tight muscles

• Building muscle strength

• Improving fine motor coordination

• Sharpening hand/eye coordination

• Improvements in Posture & Flexibility

• Improving Communication (improving one’s ability to breathe makes it easier for a person to speak)

• Gaining self-control

• Gaining self-confidence

• Improving concentration (especially for those who have difficulty staying on task with activities)

• Improving socialization (Aspen, 2011)

Some may wonder how hippotherapy can be used to encourage speech in a child; however during a typical session the rider is motivated to communicate with both the therapist and the horse. Therapists have reported non-speaking children using words when prompted to use the horse’s name or are asked to get the horse moving.

Equine therapy gives children with autism a sense of themselves and their bodies while increasing their contact and interaction with the surrounding world. A child’s self-confidence will increase once they have formed a sense of competence by learning how to interact and work with their horse.  It should be noted that hippotherapy is not only a therapeutic program for the autistic population but has multiple benefits for children, adolescents, and adults with other intellectual or developmental disabilities.