'The Horse Weaves Magic': Parents and Service Providers on the Benefits of Horse-Based Therapies for Autistic Children-an Australian Qualitative Study.

This study interviewed parents and horse therapy providers about their experiences with horse-based therapy for autistic children. Both groups saw benefits in three main areas: better physical health and social skills, protection of mental health, and suggestions for making these therapies more accessible. Providers especially noticed that children seemed happier, calmer, more resilient, and had better mental health after horse therapy sessions.

This Australian qualitative study explored perspectives of parents and service providers regarding horse-based therapies for autistic children. Twelve interviews were conducted with six parents and eight equine therapy staff to understand their experiences and perceived benefits. Three main themes emerged: physical and social benefits (including improved health, self-management, and social skills), mental health protection, and recommendations for improved accessibility. Service providers with extensive experience particularly noted benefits in promoting happiness, calmness, resilience, and positive mental health outcomes.

The study provides valuable insights into stakeholder perspectives on equine-assisted interventions for autism, though findings are based on subjective perceptions rather than objective outcome measures.

Horse-based therapies may offer multi-domain benefits for autistic children including physical, social, and mental health improvements. However, objective evaluation using standardized measures is needed. Findings suggest potential value but require rigorous research to establish efficacy and safety protocols before widespread clinical implementation.

Small qualitative sample (12 interviews total). Findings based on subjective perceptions rather than objective measures. No control group or standardized outcome assessments. Limited generalizability due to qualitative design and small sample size from single country context.

Autistic children and adolescents experience a range of co-morbidities, including diagnoses of mental illness. Animal-assisted therapies have advanced rapidly over recent years as an effective and accessible intervention for autistic children and adolescents with various health issues. Horses offer a unique opportunity for interaction as the young person can physically ride the animal, thus creating a therapy with different physical interactions from other animals. This qualitative study had two main aims: first, to understand parents' experiences of their autistic child's involvement with horse-based therapies; and second, to understand the experiences of the staff of organisations offering horse-based therapies to those on the autism spectrum.

Twelve interviews were conducted with six parents across four interviews (four mothers and two fathers), and eight staff of equine therapy services in eight individual interviews, to understand their perceptions of the child's experience with horse riding and the perceived mental health impacts. Three emergent themes were prominent among parents and service providers alike: physical and social benefits, including health, self-management skills and social skills; protecting mental health; and recommendations for improvements and accessibility of horse-based therapies. Specifically, service providers with long-standing associations with horse-based therapies saw the actual and potential benefits of horse-based therapies for autistic children, particularly in promoting happiness, calm, resilience, and good mental health.