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Therapeutic Horseback Riding Outcomes of Parent-Identified Goals for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ABA′ Multiple Case Design Examining Dosing and Generalization to the Home and Community

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Abstract

We examined whether different doses of therapeutic riding influenced parent-nominated target behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (a) during the session (b) at home, and (c) in the community. We used a single subject multiple Baseline, multiple case design, with dosing of 1, 3, and 5 times/week. Three boys with ASD, 6–8 years of age participated, and counts of target behaviors were collected in each setting and phase of the study. Compared to Baseline, 70 % of the target behaviors were better during Intervention and improvement was retained in 63 % of the behaviors during Withdrawal. Increased doses of therapeutic riding were significant for magnitude of change, and the effect of the therapeutic riding sessions generalized to home and community.

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Acknowledgments

This study could not have been implemented without an anonymous Grant to the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Occupational Therapy, the participation of the parents and boys, and the therapeutic riding staff of Nickers ‘n Neighs Therapeutic Riding Center.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Young Joo Kim

    Present address: Integrated Resources, Inc., 4 Ehtel Road, Suite 403B, Edison, NJ, 08817, USA

  2. Kuwar B. Rajora

    Present address: Kindred Healthcare, CESLC-Hebrew Home, 6121 Montrose Road, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA

  3. Delma D’Silva

    Present address: Kindred Rehab SVCS Inc., DBA Rehab Care, 680 South Fourth Street, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), University of Pittsburgh, 5012 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA

    Margo B. Holm, Joanne M. Baird, Young Joo Kim, Kuwar B. Rajora & Delma D’Silva

  2. Nickers ‘N Neighs, 260 Mountain Trails Lane, Acme, PA, 15610, USA

    Lin Podolinsky

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Webster Hall, Suite 300, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Carla Mazefsky

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Webster Hall, Suite 300, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Carla Mazefsky & Nancy Minshew

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Webster Hall, Suite 300, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Nancy Minshew

Authors
  1. Margo B. Holm
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  2. Joanne M. Baird
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  3. Young Joo Kim
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  4. Kuwar B. Rajora
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  5. Delma D’Silva
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  6. Lin Podolinsky
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  7. Carla Mazefsky
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  8. Nancy Minshew
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Margo B. Holm.

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Holm, M.B., Baird, J.M., Kim, Y.J. et al. Therapeutic Horseback Riding Outcomes of Parent-Identified Goals for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An ABA′ Multiple Case Design Examining Dosing and Generalization to the Home and Community. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 937–947 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1949-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1949-x

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