Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies and Autism Ranking:

Risks and Safety

Hazards

Potential hazards are similar to those of other therapies involving the use of animals.  In this instance the dangers are magnified by the size of the animal, the risks of serious injury in the event of a fall or if the horse steps on a child.

Contraindications

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.

They also suggest that EAAT may not be appropriate for some people with specific conditions such as

• orthopedic  conditions, such as cranial deficits, joint subluxation/dislocation, and spinal instability/abnormalities
• neurologic conditions such as hydrocephalus/shunt, seizures, spina bifida
• some medical or psychological conditions such as  allergies, heart conditions, hemophilia

If in doubt, you should consult your doctor and/or therapist.

Notes

Cranial deficits (deficits in the brain cavity); hemophilia (condition characterised by inability to make blood clots); hydrocephalus (excessive fluid in the brain); shunt (hole or a small passage which moves, or allows movement of, fluid from one part of the body to another); seizures, spina bifida (condition characterised by incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord); subluxation (dislocation).

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Dec 2018

Next Review

01 Sep 2024