Research Projects

CTRC is excited to announce that we will be teaming up with The Children's Hospital to conduct a research study focusing on the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on children and adolescents with autism or Asperger's. Primary investigator for the study is Robin Gabriels, Psy.D. Clinical Director of Neuropsychiatric Special Care Program at The Children's Hospital and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. This study will being in the summer of 2008 and run through the spring of 2009.

Horses Provide Therapy For Autistic Children - Children's Hospital Study Looks Into The Benefits as reported on by CBS 4 Denver

What is the purpose of this study?
This study is being carried out to look at the effects of horseback riding as therapy for children and adolescents with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities has been used as a form of therapy in the United States for over forty years. Very little research has been done to find out whether or not therapeutic horseback riding is effective as a therapy. This study is being done to see if this therapy has a positive effect on the agitation behaviors, movement ability, and daily living skills of children and adolescents with autism.

Who can be involved in this study?
This study is for children and adolescents ages 6 to 17 years and they have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger's. In addition, the child or adolescent can not have had previous exposure to therapeutic horseback riding within the past 3 years and they can not have ridden a horse for more then two week in the past 3 years.

What is the setup of this study?
This study will examine the effects of THR for 30 children ages 6-17 with an autism spectrum diagnosis. The study’s primary aim is to evaluate the effects of 10 weekly THR one-hour sessions in three core areas of functioning: self regulation, adaptive skills and physical coordination, stability and motor planning/praxis. The secondary aims are to examine participants’ ongoing change/improvement trends in self-regulation and examine dose response by assessing half of the participants who receive an additional 10 weeks of THR. Fourteen standardized assessment measures will be employed.

Read the amazing results of the study here, proven success!