Equine-assisted services are often theorized to induce a calm/regulated state in autistic youth, but little evidence is available to support this treatment theory.

This program of research aims to elucidate immediate physiological and behavioral responses of autistic youth to 1) riding a horse, 2)grooming a horse, 3)a no-horse control condition.

Further, we are also measuring equine responses to riding, grooming, and a no-human control, which can guide workload decisions in equine-assisted services horses.

This program of research is funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and the Carl and Caroline Swanson Foundation