Recognizing and Mitigating Potential Welfare Challenges During Equine-assisted Services for Autistic Youth

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Peters, B. C. & GRANDIN, T. (2023). Recognizing and Mitigating Potential Welfare Challenges During Equine-assisted Services for Autistic Youth. In Animal-assisted Interventions (pp. 38-41). CABI. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800622616.0008

Publication date: 19 Dec 2023 Added to AutiHub: 14 Sep 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. B. Caitlin Peters
  2. TEMPLE GRANDIN *

Abstract

While equine-assisted services can often be mutually beneficial for both horses and humans, there are several welfare considerations unique to this population. This chapter outlines seven intervention strategies to mitigate potential welfare challenges: (i) get to know the youth’s communication styles; (ii) equine selection and training; (iii) practice equine safety before introducing the horse; (iv) use a gait belt and contact-guard assist (an assisting person who has one or two hands on the participant’s body but provides no other assistance); (v) introduce appropriate replacement behaviors; (vi) introduce consequences for safe and unsafe behaviors; and (vii) ensure no-horse alternatives are available. The chapter concludes with a case scenario and discussion questions.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 14 Sep 2026 14:22.

Cited references
10
With a DOI
9
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
1
1 / 10 (10.0%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
1 / 10 (10.0%)
References with detected author names
9 / 10 (90.0%)
Without detected author names
1
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
1
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
33
From DOI or external metadata
33
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
6 / 33 (18.2%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 27 / 33 (81.8%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
1 / 33 (3.0%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 1 / 6 (16.7%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 1 / 32 (3.1%).
  1. Peter Doehring , Brian Reichow , Tamara Palka , Cara Phillips , Louis Hagopian (2014). Behavioral Approaches to Managing Severe Problem Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum and Related Developmental Disorders . Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23(1), 25-40. Elsevier BV.
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  3. Robin Gabriels , Zhaoxing Pan , Briar Dechant , John A. Agnew , Natalie Brim , Gary B. Mesibov (2015). Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 54(7), 541-549. Elsevier BV.
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    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Caitlin M. Conner , Josh Golt , Rebecca Shaffer , Giulia Righi , Matthew Siegel , Carla A. Mazefsky (2021). Emotion Dysregulation is Substantially Elevated in Autism Compared to the General Population: Impact on Psychiatric Services . Autism Research, 14(1), 169-181. Wiley.
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    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. B. Caitlin Peters , Wendy Wood (2017). Autism and Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(10), 3220-3242. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3219-9 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2738139813
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Aaron J. Kaat , Luc Lecavalier , Michael G. Aman (2014). Validity of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(5), 1103-1116. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1970-0 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W1978795722
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. TEMPLE GRANDIN * (2019). Case Study: How Horses Helped a Teenager with Autism Make Friends and Learn How to Work . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2325. MDPI AG.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132325 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2955411017
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. John F. Stins , Claudia Emck (2018). Balance Performance in Autism: A Brief Overview . Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 901-901. Frontiers Media SA.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00901 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2803584610
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. Wendy Wood , Kathy Alm , Joann Benjamin , Lynn Thomas , Debbie Anderson , Lissa Pohl et al. (2021). Optimal Terminology for Services in the United States That Incorporate Horses to Benefit People: A Consensus Document . The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 27(1), 88-95. SAGE Publications.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1089/acm.2020.0415 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W3106888012
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (2020) Fact sheet 2020. Available at: https://pathintl.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PATH-facts-2022.pdf (accessed 20 January 2023).
    Type: Other
    Crossref