Parent Perceptions of Psychosocial Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Parents say horseback riding lifts mood, talk, and friendships for autistic kids, and newer reviews back them up.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Tan et al. (2018) talked to six parents whose autistic children rode horses. Kids were 3 to 14 years old.
Parents shared stories about changes they saw after the riding sessions. No tests or scores were used.
What they found
Every parent said the horse sessions helped. They saw better mood, calmer meltdowns, more talking, and stronger friendships.
Parents also felt their kids liked themselves more after riding.
How this fits with other research
McDaniel Peters et al. (2017) looked at 33 studies and found the same wide benefits. Their review includes the 2018 parent stories, so the two pieces fit like puzzle pieces.
Meera et al. (2024) went further. They show riding also boosts balance and strength. Together, the papers say horses help body and mind.
Lee et al. (2020) asked parents about a STEAM club, not horses, and heard the same happy themes. The method matches, so the positive parent voice is not tied to one program.
Why it matters
You now know parents see quick social-emotional wins from riding. Use this when families ask about animal programs. Pair it with Benazir’s motor data to show full-body benefits. Keep sessions short and fun, then ask parents what they see. Their words can guide your next goals.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This research explored parents' perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of their children's experience of receiving equine-assisted interventions (EAI). Participants were the parents of six children (aged 3-14) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcript data was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis: (1) child's improved self-concept and enhanced emotional well-being, (2) child's improved self-regulatory ability, (3) social benefits for the child, and (4) unexpected outcomes. EAI was perceived by the parents as having several levels of psychosocial benefits for their children. These benefits may also extend to parents and family through ecopsychological and "flow on" effects associated with the children's involvement in EAI programs.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2018 · doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3399-3