Equine-Assisted Interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: the animal point of view

INTRODUCTION: Introduction. An increasing number of studies have begun to examine the beneficial effects of intervention strategies based on the exploitation of the emotional aspects of human- animal relationships for different clinical populations (Animal-Assisted Interventions, AAIs; Cirulli et al. 2011). In particular, AAIs with horses (also known as Equine Assisted Interventions, EAIs) are gaining popularity as complementary treatment for children and adults with mental or physical disabilities, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Borgi et al. 2016). Notwithstanding such popularity, little information is available on the animal’s behavioural reaction during these programs (Kaiser et al. 2009). With the aim at evaluating the general welfare of horse during EAIs, in this study we applied an ethological approach to assess stress-related behaviours shown by animals during structured activities with children with ASD. MATERIALS&METHODS: Materials & Methods. Nineteen horses were recruited from four different Riding centres. They were 13 males and 6 female, mean age 14±5.3. Horses underwent therapeutic sessions with children with ASD (n=19) and control sessions with typically-developing (TD) children (n=19) comparable for age and sex to the ASD group. For each horse the order of sessions was randomized and the same standardized protocol was applied including both activities on the ground and riding (Borgi et al 2016). After literature study and pilot observations, an ethogram was developed to identify and record stress-related behaviours in horses (Kaiser et al. 2006, Hall et al. 2013). Sessions were videotaped and horse behaviour was recorded continuously and scored by two independent observers by means of a dedicated software (Boris; Friard & Gamba 2016). A repeated measures ANOVA was carried out to compare horse’s reaction (frequency of stress -related behaviours) during sessions with children with ASD and with TD children and during different activities. RESULTS: Results. Overall, horses showed a low frequency of stress-related behaviours during the sessions. No significant differences in frequency of behaviours were found when horses were interacting with children with ASD or with the control group (TD children). Independently of the child participating to the session (ASD vs. TD), some activities appeared to cause more stress to the horse, in particular those involving groundwork (i.e. grooming) and stationary exercises, as well as mounting and dismounting phases of the session. By contrast, during other activities - such as leading the horse around the arena on a rope or riding the horse - we observed less frequency of stress-related behaviours in the animals. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Discussion. Results suggest that for horses in a therapeutic riding program, being involved in activities with children with ASD is no more stressful than being involved in the same setting with TD children. Our study aimed at deriving a reliable method for assessing horse’s reaction during therapeutic programs, ultimately helping professionals to better develop interventions taking into consideration the animal’s perspective. Notwithstanding the large use of EAI approaches, information on behaviour and welfare of animals involved is often lacking, an aspect which could impair effectiveness and reduce the overall impact of such practices. This appears particularly important in the case of inclusion of animals like horses, which are highly susceptible to work stressors related to physical constraints and/or to the need to control emotional reactions while interacting with humans (Hausberger et al. 2009). Future studies should correlate stress-related behaviours shown by the animal with the behaviours and the relational style displayed by the child during the equine- assisted session, in order to appraise in which contexts the horse is more likely to show discomfort. Acknowledgments. Funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca corrente IZS VE 13/2013 “Riabilitazione equestre in bambini con disturbo dello spettro autistico: monitoraggio e valutazione del benessere animale”.