Research in Pediatrics: Horseback Riding Reduces Hyperactivity in Children With Autism

Therapeutic horseback riding significantly reduces hyperactivity and improves emotional regulation in children with autism who have co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses, according to new research published in Pediatrics. The study provides strong evidence that structured equine activities can help manage challenging behaviors, offering a potential alternative or supplement to traditional drug therapy.

University of Colorado Anschutz Study Results

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz and Children’s Hospital Colorado. Investigators examined children with autism and co-occurring psychiatric conditions who were divided into three groups: a horse riding group, a non-riding barn activities group focused on learning about horses, and a waitlist control group. Children in the riding group experienced significantly greater improvements in hyperactivity compared to participants in the other groups.

Both equine-assisted intervention groups, including those who rode horses and those who only participated in barn activities without direct horse contact, showed notable improvements over the waitlist control group. These benefits spanned areas such as irritability, emotional regulation, and social functioning. There is something about riding a horse that is particularly helpful for kids with hyperactivity, said Robin Gabriels, senior author and principal investigator.

For kids with autism and hyperactivity, equine-assisted therapy might be a good way to augment existing treatments.

Robin Gabriels

Replicating Findings Across Different Riding Centers

The current study builds on earlier research from Colorado that analyzed the effects of eight to ten weeks of therapeutic horseback riding. To test whether those initial findings could be reproduced in a different setting, researchers partnered with Riding to the Top, a therapeutic riding center near Windham, Maine, that is smaller than Hearts & Horses in Colorado.

By utilizing a different group of instructors, horses, and children at a separate facility across the country, the research team aimed to verify the consistency of the behavioral outcomes. We wanted to see if we could replicate what we found in Colorado at another riding center across the country, Gabriels said, noting that obtaining similar results at both centers is encouraging.

Evaluating Alternatives for Children Without Horse Contact

The study also investigated whether children could gain behavioral benefits without direct contact with live animals. Researchers tested activities where participants learned about horses using a life-sized stuffed toy horse at the riding center, providing an alternative for children who are not yet ready or able to ride.

According to the study authors, horses are highly accepting animals that respond directly to human body language. That interaction can provide children with opportunities to practice communication, emotional regulation and other skills in a very different environment, Gabriels explained.

Focusing on High-Intervention Risk Groups

Approximately 50 percent of the participants in the previous Colorado research carried both an autism diagnosis and an additional psychiatric diagnosis. The latest trial specifically targeted this higher-intervention risk group to determine if structured horse-based programs could effectively address complex behavioral profiles.

The study authors emphasize that these findings do not indicate that every child with autism will benefit from equine therapy. However, the results add to a growing body of evidence supporting structured animal-assisted activities as a useful component of a broader treatment approach, particularly for children who respond well to outdoor environments and active engagement.