Al Hmouz, H., & Arabiat, A.
(2015). Therapeutic horseback riding and children with autism spectrum disorders.
The Journal of the International Association of Special Education.16(1),42-50

Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR), as a part of animal-assisted therapy, yields several positive results in recent research. THR is an intervention utilizing horses in the treatment of individuals with disabilities. The current study attempted to add to the research regarding THR effectiveness on children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) by evaluating an existing program with the use of a standardized assessment. Forty-five children diagnosed with ASDs (ages 10–14 years) participated in the study. We hypothesized that participants in the experimental group (n = 23), compared to those on the control group (n = 22), would demonstrate significant improvement on subscales of Stereotyped Behaviors, Communication, Social Interaction, and overall Autism Index following a 12-weeks THR intervention. The results indicated that children in the expermintal group present reduction in stereotyped behaviors, and improvements in communication and social interaction domains. The results of this study suggest that THR may be an effective therapeutic option for children with ASDs.

Keywords: التربية الخاصة,  autism spectrum disorders; animal-assisted therapy; therapeutic horseback riding;students with disabilities