Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is marked by deficits in social interaction and repetitive patterns of behavior (APA, 2013). There is little consensus among clinicians about which treatments are most effective at helping to reduce these difficulties (Bellini, Henry, & Pratt, 2010; Kanne, Randolph, & Farmer, 2008).
One rapidly growing field in ASD treatment is the use of live animals to improve social functioning and mitigate clinical symptoms. Therapeutic horseback riding (TR), for instance, improves many of the physical and mental deficits that accompany ASD. TR has proven effective in improving posture (Jenkins & Reed, 2013), motor skills (Gabriels et al., 2013), and physical activity (Bass et al., 2009) in individuals with autism. It also has been shown to reduce irritability (Gabriels et al., 2013; Gabriels et al., 2015), improve attention and reactions to sensory input (Ward et al., 2013; Bass et al., 2009), and decrease levels of cortisol (Sanchez et al., 2013). TR is a treatment option that could be effective in decreasing negative symptoms for individuals with autism.
– Ellie Harrison