NCT05846932Completed
Preliminary Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Integrating Horses on Self-regulation in Youth With Autism
Preliminary Efficacy of Occupational Therapy Integrating Horses on Self-regulation in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 2 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about occupational therapy integrating horses for autistic youth. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does occupational therapy integrating horses improve self-regulation in autistic youth * Does occupational therapy integrating horses affect salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase Participants will receive 10 weeks of occupational therapy, and will be asked to provide saliva samples each week. Researchers will compare occupational therapy integrating horses to occupational therapy in a clinic to see if integrating horses affects self-regulation.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 72 (actual)
- First submitted
- 7 Apr 2023
- Start date
- 21 Mar 2023
- Primary completion date
- 23 Apr 2025
- Lead sponsor
- Colorado State University
- Diseases
- Autism
- NCT number
- NCT05846932
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 72
- From 21 Mar 2023 to the primary completion date, 23 Apr 2025
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- smoke or regularly use steroids
- receive outpatient occupational therapy
- have 10+ hours horseback riding experience in the previous 6 months
- have a sibling previously enrolled in the study
Other illness
- history of animal abuse or phobia of horses
Other
- weigh more than 200 pounds
Who the study is looking for
- meet clinical cut-offs for ASD on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition(ADOS-2) and Social Communication Questionnaire (≥ 11)
- nonverbal IQ≥65 on Leiter International Performance Scale Third Edition (Leiter-3)
- verbally fluent defined by meeting standard administration criteria for ADOS-2 module 3
- score \>10 on the irritability subscale of the aberrant behavior checklist
- able to tolerate a helmet and ride a horse for 10 minutes while following safety rules
- and able to provide a saliva sample
Age in the registry: 6 years to 11 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple Grandin Equine Center Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Denver | United States | Unknown status |
Related publications
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.