Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies and Autism Ranking:

Audience

EAAT are used with a wide range of people, including people with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, Down syndrome and so on. 

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International states that autistic children and adults can participate in a variety of EAAT including riding, driving, vaulting, hippotherapy, and equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP).  

Some organisations, such as the Three Gaits, Inc. Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, recommend that EAAT is not used for children under the age of two. This is because their neurological systems are not mature enough to deal with the sensory input which is produced by sitting astride a moving horse and because they may lack the neck control necessary to hold up the head with the additional weight of a helmet when on a moving horse.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2018

Next Review

01 Sep 2024