ADHD Interventions

Since equine-assisted therapies (treatments that involve activities with horses and other equines to promote human physical and mental health) have become increasingly popular for managing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, the aim of this 2020 study was to assess the effectiveness of these therapies on the behavioral, psychological, and physical symptoms of ADHD. A systematic search of several research databases identified relevant studies for this review. Across the 10 studies that met the inclusion criteria, behavioral, psychological, and physical outcome measures appeared to improve in general following participation in the equine-assisted therapy. However, it is emphasized that caution should be taken when interpreting these findings since the studies also had limitations in methodologies. To summarize, equine-assisted therapies may be beneficial for children with ADHD, but additional research is needed to make definitive recommendations.