Horse-assisted therapy linked to lower stress in children with autism, study finds
A study from Colorado State University indicates that equine-assisted therapy significantly reduces physiological stress markers in children with autism. The research compared cortisol and alpha-amylase levels in children undergoing horse-assisted therapy versus traditional clinical settings.
Why it matters
Providing empirical evidence for alternative therapies helps improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Occupational therapy that incorporates horses helps reduce the body's stress response in autistic children, according to new research from Colorado State University.
"That power of the horse-human interaction for autistic children has often been referred to as 'magic,' but this study provides empirical data to support and explain how interacting with horses impacts autistic children physiologically," said Caiti Peters, an assistant professor in CSU's departments of Occupational Therapy and Animal Sciences. She leads research at the Temple Grandin Equine Center in Denver and Fort Collins and is a co-author on this study.
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