Equine Therapy: a treatment for autistic children



The equinoterapia or therapeutic riding impacts positively on children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). References abound. Know all the horse can achieve when used as a complementary tool and adjunctive therapy in autistic children.


·         Emotional ties are established

In rehabilitation through horses, children adapt to the animal during the sessions and the emotional bond extends to their families and social environment, because experience is associated with fun, a sense of wellbeing and positive emotions. Let us not forget that the horse does not look in a different way at the child with autism let alone judged by their condition, which stable a comfortable relationship from the start of therapy. This effect can be appreciated when comparing a child that experiences the therapy at early ages and another that experiences it later, although all conditions are different, the children that live through these experiences with friendly animals tend to be quite more social than other children with the same condition but doesn’t experience the therapy.

·         They gain self-confidence

By getting to interact and master the horse, the on the nerves state disappears slowly and also does the insecurities, anxieties, stress and fears. So hippotherapy becomes an experience that fills them with personal satisfaction and to fortify the courage, following instructions and decision-making and raise self-esteem. There are little things the children can do that gives them such a sense of achievement at such an early stage of their lives, even if they eventually forget, that feeling will never disappear from their minds, forming their resulting character as adults.


·         Body relaxation is encouraged

And with that, the operation of motor skills such as balance, posture, coordination, muscle tone and elasticity. This decreases the appearance of abnormal movements or stereotyped. Moreover, being a therapy that takes place in open, quiet and contact with nature spaces, is a propitious leisure activity.

·         All senses are awakened

Horse therapy is not based on verbal communication, but tactile communication and gestural communication with the animal. So that they put to use the sense of touch, auditory, visual and olfactory to respond to different stimuli. This also improves the communicative act of children in general, including the use of language.

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