This document discusses the use of equine assisted therapy (EAT) as an intervention strategy in speech language pathology. It finds that EAT can help achieve traditional speech therapy goals by incorporating activities on horseback. The study analyzed cases from two equine centers in Portugal and found that children under age 7 with communication disorders like autism most benefited from inclusion of speech therapy goals in EAT programs. The research supports integrating speech therapists into EAT programs to address needs in communication, language, and speech, particularly for preschool and school-aged children with relevant diagnoses.

1. THE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY AS STRATEGY IN
SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY INTERVENTION
Pedro Melo Pestana1; Susana Vaz Freitas1, 2
1Universidade Fernando Pessoa – Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde
2Centro Hospitalar do Porto – Hospital de Santo António

2. Introduction
Speech Language Pathology
(SLP)
Equine Assisted Therapy
(EAT)
Main service Strategy
The SLP approach must be the same as traditional
(e.g., assessment, intervention, etc.)
The physician must tell us that the person is available to be on the horseback.
Using EAT strategy we must determine traditional goals of our professional area.
We just change the procedures and activities!
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

3. Traditional
therapy
Equine Assisted
Therapy
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
• SENSORY INTEGRATION
• HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND
• VOLITION/MOTIVATION
• SOCIAL INTERACTION
• NEURODEVELOPMENT
Introduction
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

4. Ruth%
Dismuke,
Blakely%
Meredith%
Bazaar%
Beth%
Macauley%
Ana%Melo%
Neves%
1981
2013
32 years
Introduction
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

5. TERMS COMMONLY USED WHEN ANIMALS
ENGAGE IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION
Introduction
equinotherapy
hippotherapy
animal
assisted
therapy
animal
assisted
activities
adaptive riding
therapeutic
riding
nature based
therapy
pet therapy
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

6. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) as:
• Intentional and therapeutic act, whereby the animal’s role is
integral in assisting with mental health, speech,
occupational therapy or physical therapy goals
• Criteria in AAT:
– Animals must meet specific criteria that fit the therapeutic goals (e.g., behavior);
– Animals considered a necessary part of the treatment;
– Therapy is conducted by a qualified professional or practitioner;
– Therapeutic intentions include physical, social, emotional, or cognitive gains;
– Therapy can occur in group or individual sessions; and, all treatment must be
assessed and documented.
Introduction
Let’s do this with Equines!
(Cole,. 2009, Kruger & Serpell, 2009)
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

7. The lack of scientific evidence in
this particular field and the
inherent difficulty to prove the
efficacy of this powerful strategy
was the motivationfor the
authors.
…in health
76
...to attain goals of SLP scope
15
Evidence levels I-III
25%
Evidence levels – IV-VI
75%
Scientific publications
about using horses…
Introduction
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

8. Some of our work out there
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

9. With this study we intend to justify the presence of a speech
therapist in an equine assisted therapy facility.
• This study aims to:
a) Understand the contribution of EAT in goal achieving of speech therapy
b) Analyze the relationship between the necessity and priority of speech language
pathology fields and its fulfillments in an EAT program
c) Analyze the relationship between the priority of speech language pathology fields
among different diagnosis and distinctive age classes.
If these hypothesis are proven, then the inclusion of a SLP in an
Equestrian Center is well justified.
Objectives
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

10. • Data collection: two Equestrian Centers from the north
of Portugal, where the therapeutic role is present.
• Transversal study, with retrospective analysis of data.
• Population: all the cases in private practice of that
Equestrian Centers.
• The speech pathologist has acquired advanced equestrian skill which
enables him to apply with confidence and safety this strategy – he is
present in every sessions
• 13 years showjumping riding;
• Level I American Hippotherapy Association
Methods
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

11. • Variables were collected and analyzed for the 24 subjects.
• Descriptive statistic measures are pointed for:
• Inferential statistic: Pearson Chi-square.
Age class
Functional
diagnosis
Need for Speech
Therapy
Presence of SLP
goals
Methods
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

12. • It was found a prevalence of
cases under the age of 7 years
old (41,7%)
<7
42%
7-13
37%
>13
21%
Distribution
Results - Age Class
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

13. • The most common functional diagnosis was the communication
disorders due to autism spectrum disorder (37,5%)
Results – Functional Diagnosis
0 2 4 6 8 10
What is the functional diagnosis?
Frequency Percent
Communication Disorder / Autism 9 37,5
Motor Speech Disorder 6 25
Comorbidity 4 16,7
Speech Sound Disorder 3 12,5
Speech Delay 1 4,2
Childhood Apraxia of Speech 1 4,2
Total 24 100
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

14. • When communication, language and speech goals are a
priority, they must probably be included in the EAT program
(x2=11,679, p=0,001).
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Yes No
Does the child benfits of Speech Therapy
goals at EAT facility?
13
0
4
7
Is Communication,
Language and Speech
goals a priority? No
Is Communication,
Language and Speech
goals a priority? Yes
Results
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

15. • It was also noticed that the identification of this priority is
different among age classes (x2=7,487, p=0,024); the oldest
subjects have other concern areas.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
<7 7-13 >13
Age Class
7 6
0
3
3
5
Is Communication,
Language and
Speech goals a
priority? No
Is Communication,
Language and
Speech goals a
priority? Yes
Results
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

16. • Correlation between the communication, language and speech goals
and types of diagnoses is significant (x2=18,294, p=0,003): all the
communication disorders due to ASD have these areas as priority, in
opposition to motor speech disorders.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Speech Sound Disorder
Communication Disorder / Autism
Motor Speech Disorder
Speech Delay
Comorbidity
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
What is the
funtional diagnosis?
1
9
1
1
1
2
6
3
Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? Yes
Is Communication, Language and Speech goals a priority? No
Results
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

17. • With a significant result, we concluded that the cases
with necessity of speech-language pathology
intervention benefits of inclusion in a EAT program that
covers these fields (x2=8,372, p=0,04).
Results
Does the child benefits of Speech
Therapy goals at EAT facility? Total
Yes No
Does the patient needs
conventional speech
therapy?
Yes 17 4 21
No 0 3 3
Total 17 7 24
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

18. • This research underscores the importance of
integrating a speech therapist in the team of an
Equine Assisted Therapy program, with greater
relevance in preschool and school ages.
• More requested by patients with communication
disorders due to ASD,
– although they have a role in all established diagnoses
involving communication, language and speech
impairments.
Conclusions
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

19. Final considerations
• Knowledge fields: Speech
Pathology; Classical riding; Equine
Assisted Therapy
• Although it is difficult, we need to
research more, due to the results
attained until this right moment.
melopestana@gmail.com
Speech Language Hippotherapy Blog (English)
http://slhippotherapy.blogspot.com
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

20. IALP 2019 in Portugal!!
FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013

21. FP134 – Melo Pestana and Vaz Freitas – IALP 2013