English article: Therapeutic riding enhances quality of life and state of mind of children and juveniles with different psychiatric or medical disorders

Abstract

The effect of eight sessions of therapeutic riding on the quality of life
and state of mind of 28 children with different psychiatric or medical
disorders was investigated. Quality of life was assessed before and after
the intervention, current state of mind before and after each therapy
session. The reports of the children themselves as well as those of
the parents showed a significant increase in the child’s quality of life,
and an influence of the parent’s attachment status on this effect. Current
state of mind was improved after each therapeutic session. The
effects were independent from the child’s relationship to animals.