title: The Efficacy of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies on Improving Physical Function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the physical benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and hippotherapy and suggest directions for future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of databases for peer-reviewed articles related to equine-assisted activities and therapies. Databases included MEDLINE via EBSCO, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Academic Search Complete. Articles were limited to those with full-text access published in English since 1987.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute and residual improvements in physical benefits, such as gross motor function (e.g., walking, running, jumping), spasticity, muscle symmetry, posture, balance, and gait occur in adults and children with varying disabilities. The benefits appear to be greatest following multiweek interventions with one or more sessions per week. Modest acute cardiovascular responses are observed during equine-assisted activities and therapies with little or no evidence for training improvements in heart rate or blood pressure at rest or during riding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present body of literature provides evidence that equine-assisted activities and therapies are an effective means of improving many measures of physical health. However, more controlled trials are urgently needed to strengthen the current knowledge base, establish dose-response characteristics of equine-assisted activities and therapies, and explore the physiologic basis for the promising results suggested from the literature.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Kinesiology, Texas Woman's University , Denton, TX.
authors.forename: B Rhett
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.affiliation: 2 Baylor Laboratories for Exercise Science & Technology, Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, Baylor University , Waco, TX.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Grandjean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult