Child with ADHD enjoying therapeutic horseback riding in a calm environment

ADHD Breakthrough: Can Horses Really Help?

Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Pilot study explores the combined benefits of hippotherapy and medication for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder."

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a persistent neuropsychiatric condition affecting children and sometimes continuing into adulthood. It is characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial due to the potential for long-term adverse effects on academic performance, social relationships, and overall quality of life.

Traditional treatments for ADHD typically include medication, behavioral therapies, and educational interventions. However, these treatments don't always address every aspect of the condition, prompting interest in complementary therapies.

One such therapy gaining attention is hippotherapy, or therapeutic horseback riding. Hippotherapy leverages the unique connection between humans and horses to address physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges. But is it truly effective for managing ADHD symptoms? This article examines a recent study exploring the use of hippotherapy in conjunction with conventional treatments.

What Does the Research Say About Hippotherapy?

Child with ADHD enjoying therapeutic horseback riding in a calm environment

A pilot study published in the Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association investigated the clinical effects of hippotherapy and medication on children with ADHD. The researchers aimed to determine if incorporating horseback riding into a treatment plan could enhance outcomes for children already receiving medication.

The study involved an open-label randomized controlled trial with ten children aged 6 to 12 years. These participants were divided into two groups: one receiving hippotherapy and the other receiving medication. The effects of both interventions were evaluated using several measures, including:

ADHD Rating Scale (ARS) to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms
Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) to assess a range of behavioral and emotional problems
Clinical Global Impression (CGI) to evaluate the overall improvement and severity of illness
Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) to assess brainwave activity

The researchers found notable improvements in both groups. Both hippotherapy and medication led to improvements in ADHD symptoms, as measured by the ARS-I, K-CBCL, and CGI-Severity of Illness scale. While the hippotherapy group did not achieve statistically significant changes in ARS-I scores after 12 weeks, the QEEG results showed a significant difference in the theta/beta ratio in the Pz area (a region of the brain associated with attention and cognitive function) compared to baseline. The medication group also demonstrated significant differences from baseline in ARS-I, K-CBCL subscales, and QEEG.

What Does This Mean for ADHD Treatment?

The study suggests that hippotherapy could be a valuable addition to multimodal treatment approaches for children with ADHD. While the pilot study's sample size was small, the positive trends warrant further investigation with larger samples. Hippotherapy may offer a complementary strategy to enhance outcomes alongside traditional interventions.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.112, Alternate LINK

Title: The Effect Of Hippotherapy And Medication On Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Publisher: Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Authors: Jihye Song, Byongsu Jang, Jiwon Kim, Jiyoung Lee, Hye-Yeon Shin, Yunhye Oh, Kounseok Lee, Seonwoo Kim, Yun-Hee Kim, Jeong-Yi Kwon, Yoo-Sook Joung

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a neuropsychiatric condition that usually starts in childhood and can sometimes continue into adulthood. ADHD is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can negatively affect academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being if not addressed early on.

What is hippotherapy, and why is it being considered for ADHD?

Hippotherapy, or therapeutic horseback riding, is a complementary treatment that uses the connection between humans and horses to address different challenges, including those related to ADHD. It's gaining attention as a way to potentially enhance traditional treatments.

What are the ADHD Rating Scale (ARS), Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG), and why are they used?

The ADHD Rating Scale (ARS) is used to measure the severity of ADHD symptoms, while the Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) assesses various behavioral and emotional problems. The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) evaluates the overall improvement and severity of illness, and Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) assesses brainwave activity. These tools together provide a comprehensive view of the patient's condition and progress.

What does the study suggest about using hippotherapy with traditional ADHD treatments?

The study indicates that hippotherapy might be a beneficial addition to the treatment of ADHD in children, working alongside medication and other therapies. Although the study was small, the positive changes observed suggest that further research with larger groups is warranted to confirm these findings.

What does it mean when the study mentions the theta/beta ratio in the Pz area, and why is that important?

The theta/beta ratio in the Pz area, a region of the brain linked to attention and cognitive function, is significant because changes in this ratio, as measured by QEEG, can indicate improvements in attention and cognitive processing following interventions like hippotherapy. A positive shift in this ratio may suggest enhanced cognitive function.