Evidence Table: Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Equine Assisted, Animal Assisted Therapies

1. Evidence Table
Table 1. Summary of studies: Interventions and participants
Study Control Total
Intervention/time Population Ages
Authors Intervention n
Hippotherapy: 45 min/session x
None
1 session/wk x 16 wks
2000 (Each participant Children with 4-6
Session included donning 3
Taylor1 served as his/her autism yrs
helmet, mounting, 20-30 mins on
own control)
horse, dismounting
One week summer day camp: None Children with
2003 Therapeutic horseback riding (Each participant sensory 5-13
12
Candler2 Sensory integration intervention served as his/her modulation yrs
Camp arts and crafts own control) disorder
None Children with
2004 Hippotherapy: 60 min/session x (Each participant language-
3 9-12
Macauley3 2 sessions/wk x 6 wks served as his own learning
control) disabilities
Therapeutic horseback riding: 60
min/wk x 10 wks Children with
2004 4-10
Session included 30 mins pre- Wait-list autism or PDD- 12
Stoner4 yrs
mounted activities and 30 mins NOS
mounted activities
None
OT incorporating animals:
(Each participant Children with 7-13
2006 Sams5 average 28.5 mins/session x 1 22
served as his/her autism yrs
session/wk x 15 wks
own control)
Therapeutic horseback riding: 60
min/wk x 12 wks
Session included 5 mins Children with 4-10
2009 Bass6 Wait-list 34
mounting/dismounting, 10 mins ASD yrs
warm-up, 15 mins riding skills, 20
mins mounted games, 10 mins
horsemanship/grooming

2. Table 2. Summary of Studies: Research methods
Level of Treatment Control Rx
Study Authors Research Design Rx n
Evidence Duration n
2000 Taylor1 Single subject A-B-B design IV 16 wks 3 0
One-Group Pretest-Posttest
2
2003 Candler Design IV 1 wk 12 0
O1 X O2
One-Group Pretest-Posttest
2004 Macauley3 Design IV 6 wks 3 0
O1 X O2
Pretest-Posttest Control
Group Design
2004 Stoner4 II 10 wks 6 6
R O1 X O2
O1 O2
One-Group Pretest-Posttest
5
2006 Sams Design IV 15 wks 22 0
O1 X O2
Pretest-Posttest Control
6 Group Design
2009 Bass III 12 wks 19 15
R O1 X O2
O1 O2

3. Table 3. Summary of Studies: Outcomes, measures, and results
Study Outcome of Measurement Tool Result Clin Statistics Level of
Authors Interest Signif Evidence
2000
Motivation/Volition PVQ + NR NS IV
Taylor1
COPM (modified for
NR IV
2003 Occupational summer camp setting)
Candler2 performance - Performance + p=.001
- Satisfaction + p=.001
21-item questionnaire NR IV
2004 Speech and
- parents + p<.000
Macauley3 language abilities
- participants - p<.02
SP
2004 +
Sensory processing 1 question with 3 NR NR II
Stoner4 +
possible answers
2006 Social interactions Number of behaviors + large p<.01
IV
Sams5 Language use Number of behaviors + small p<.05
SRS + none p=.017
2009 Bass6 Social functioning III
SP + small p<.01
Legend for Table 3
PVQ Pediatric Volitional Questionnaire + Result favored animal therapy
COPM Canadian Occupational Performance - Result did not favor animal
Measure therapy
SP Sensory Profile NR Not reported
SRS Sensory Responsiveness Scale ND No difference
NS Not significant

4. List of References:
1. Taylor, R. R., Kielhofner, G., Smith, C., Butler, S., Cahill, S. M., Ciukaj, M. D., & Gehman,
M. (2000). Volitional change in children with autism: A single-case design study of the
impact of hippotherapy on motivation. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 25, 192-
200.
2. Candler, C. (2003). Sensory integration and therapeutic riding at summer camp: Occupational
performance outcomes. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 23 (3), 51-64.
3. Macauley, B. L., & Gutierrez, K. M. (2004). The effectiveness of hippotherapy for children
with language-learning disabilities. Communication Disorders Quarterly, 25 (4), 205-217.
4. Stoner, J. B. (2004). Riding high. Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners, 20 (13),
42.
5. Sams, M. J., Fortney, E. V., & Willenbring, S. (2006). Occupational therapy incorporating
animals for children with autism: A pilot investigation. American Journal of Occupational
Therapy, 60 (3), 268-274.
6. Bass, M. M., Duchowny, C. A., & Llabre, M. M. (2009). The effect of therapeutic horseback
riding on social functioning in children with autism. Journal of Autism and
Developmental Disorders, 39, 1261-1267.