{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,13]],"date-time":"2026-06-13T17:47:14Z","timestamp":1781372834624,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,13]],"date-time":"2020-02-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1581552000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) has a positive effect on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning of children with disabilities. Parents\u2019 reports of the effects of THR on their children support professionals in individualizing the THR program. With this qualitative study, we aimed to explore parents\u2019 perceptions of changes in the basic life needs of their children with disabilities after six months of THR lessons and to survey parents\u2019 explanations for the causes of these changes. The study involved parents of 13 children with disabilities who were enrolled in a six-month THR program. Parents continuously monitored their children and wrote a report on possible changes in their child\u2019s needs according to Virginia Henderson\u2019s need theory. Qualitative content analysis of parents\u2019 reports indicated only positive changes in 11 children. Most codes were identified in categories \u201crelationships and communication with other people\u201d and \u201cmovement and posturing\u201d. Other categories identified codes such as easier breathing, a better quality of sleep, better appetite, better elimination of stool and urine, more independence in clothing and maintaining personal hygiene, and greater interest in play and learning. Parents\u2019 reports are further supported by the assessments of professionals. Most parents think THR is responsible for the noticeable improvements in their children\u2019s quality of life.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17041213","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,14]],"date-time":"2020-02-14T10:09:57Z","timestamp":1581674997000},"page":"1213","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Parental Perception of Changes in Basic Life Needs of Children with Disabilities after Six Months of Therapeutic Horseback Riding: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5833-1131","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Robert","family":"Lovri\u0107","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8289-0710","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nikolina","family":"Far\u010di\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"},{"name":"University Hospital Centre Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1199-3768","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u0160tefica","family":"Mik\u0161i\u0107","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aleksandra","family":"Gvozdanovi\u0107 Debeljak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Elementary School Ljudevit Gaj Osijek, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia"},{"name":"Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Stickney, M.A. (2010). A Qualitative Study of the Perceived Health Benefits of a Therapeutic Riding Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Kentucky]. Available online: http:\/\/uknowledge.uky.edu\/gradschool_diss\/40."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"279","DOI":"10.5535\/arm.2019.43.3.279","article-title":"Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on cognition and language in children with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability: A preliminary study","volume":"43","author":"Kwon","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ann. Rehabil. Med."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"707","DOI":"10.2522\/ptj.20110081","article-title":"Hippotherapy\u2014An intervention to habilitate balance deficits in children with movement disorders: A clinical trial","volume":"92","author":"Killian","year":"2012","journal-title":"Phys. Ther."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"307","article-title":"\u201cWhen he\u2019s up there he\u2019s just happy and content\u201d: Parents\u2019 perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding","volume":"26","author":"Boyd","year":"2017","journal-title":"Afr. J. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8749.2002.tb00815.x","article-title":"Horseback riding in children with cerebral palsy: Effect on gross motor function","volume":"44","author":"Sterba","year":"2002","journal-title":"Dev. Med. Child Neurol."},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"37","article-title":"Equine-assisted therapy as an intervention for motor proficiency in children with autism spectrum disorder: Case studies","volume":"38","author":"Bradley","year":"2016","journal-title":"SAJR SPER"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1261","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-009-0734-3","article-title":"The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social functioning in children with autism","volume":"39","author":"Bass","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2015.04.007","article-title":"Randomized controlled trial of therapeutic horseback riding in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"54","author":"Gabriels","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Butt, M. (2017). Parents\u2019 and Facilitators\u2019 Perceptions of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in an Equine-Assisted Learning Programme. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Stellenbosch University]. Available online: https:\/\/pdfs.semanticscholar.org\/845b\/56f418218213167050dc046ed126fdf7dcd9.pdf."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Scialli, A.L. (2002). Parent Perceptions of the Effectiveness of Therapeutic Horseback Riding for Children with Varying Disabilities. [Ph.D. Thesis, Lynn University]. Available online: https:\/\/spiral.lynn.edu\/etds\/204."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"21","article-title":"The impact of an equine facilitated learning program on youth with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"3","author":"Erdman","year":"2015","journal-title":"Hum. Anim. Interact. Bull."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2190","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-013-1773-3","article-title":"The association between therapeutic horseback riding and the social communication and sensory reactions of children with autism","volume":"43","author":"Ward","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"901","DOI":"10.1089\/acm.2010.0547","article-title":"The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on 5 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A pilot study","volume":"17","author":"Cuypers","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Altern. Complement. Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1542\/pir.21.8.265","article-title":"The child behaviour checklist and related forms for assessing behavioural\/emotional problems and competencies","volume":"21","author":"Achenbach","year":"2000","journal-title":"Pediatr. Rev."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1897","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-014-2062-5","article-title":"Effects of equine assisted activities on autism spectrum disorder","volume":"44","author":"Lanning","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Autism Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"113","article-title":"Therapeutic riding: An educational tool for children with disabilities as viewed by parents","volume":"54","author":"Miller","year":"2004","journal-title":"J. South. Agric. Educ. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.5055\/ajrt.2008.0012","article-title":"The impact of the \u2018Stirrup Some Fun\u2019 therapeutic horseback riding program: A qualitative investigation","volume":"7","author":"Elliott","year":"2008","journal-title":"Am. J. Recreat. Ther."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-8749.2008.03245.x","article-title":"A randomized controlled trial of the impact of therapeutic horse riding on the quality of life, health and function of children with cerebral palsy","volume":"51","author":"Davis","year":"2009","journal-title":"Dev. Med. Child Neurol."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Alligood, M.R. (2017). Nursing Theorists and Their Work, Mosby Elsevier. [9th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Henderson, V. (2004). ICN Basic Principles of Nursing Care, International Council of Nurses."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"443","article-title":"Integrating nursing theory and process into practice: Virginia Henderson\u2019s need theory","volume":"8","author":"Younas","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Caring Sci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"252","DOI":"10.1097\/PEP.0b013e31825c1a7d","article-title":"Physiological demands of therapeutic horseback riding in children with moderate to severe motor impairments: An exploratory study","volume":"24","author":"Bongers","year":"2012","journal-title":"Pediatr. Phys. Ther."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.1007\/s10488-013-0528-y","article-title":"Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research","volume":"42","author":"Palinkas","year":"2015","journal-title":"Adm. Policy Ment. Health"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.npls.2016.01.001","article-title":"How to plan and perform a qualitative study using content analysis","volume":"2","author":"Bengtsson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nurs. Open"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.1177\/1754073915586225","article-title":"Approach and avoidance as organizing structures for motivated distance perception","volume":"8","author":"Balcetis","year":"2016","journal-title":"Emot. Rev."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1016\/j.concog.2014.04.007","article-title":"Varieties of cognitive penetration in visual perception","volume":"27","author":"Vetter","year":"2014","journal-title":"Conscious. Cogn."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x","article-title":"The qualitative content analysis process","volume":"62","author":"Elo","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Adv. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.5539\/jel.v2n3p79","article-title":"Effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding on social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder in Shiraz, Iran","volume":"2","author":"Ghorban","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Educ. Learn."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nedt.2017.08.013","article-title":"Changes in nursing students\u2019 expectations of nursing clinical faculties\u2019 competences: A longitudinal, mixed-methods study","volume":"59","author":"Marjanac","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nurse Educ. Today"},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"644","article-title":"A preliminary analysis of therapeutic horseback riding","volume":"1","author":"Nelson","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Soc. Sci. Educ."},{"key":"ref_31","first-page":"372","article-title":"Perceptions of parents about equine therapy for children with intellectual disabilities","volume":"1","author":"Surujlal","year":"2011","journal-title":"Afr. J. Phys. Health Educ. Recreat. Dance"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/02673843.2013.779587","article-title":"Equine-assisted activities and the impact on perceived social support, self-esteem and self-efficacy among adolescents\u2013An intervention study","volume":"19","author":"Hauge","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Adolesc. Youth"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"248","DOI":"10.4102\/ajod.v5i1.248","article-title":"The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on heart rate variability of children with disabilities","volume":"5","author":"Nqwena","year":"2016","journal-title":"Afr. J. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/J003v14n01_01","article-title":"The effects of therapeutic riding on sitting posture in individuals with disabilities","volume":"14","author":"Land","year":"2002","journal-title":"Occup. Ther. Health Care"},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"103","article-title":"The effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding in children with spastic cerebral palsy","volume":"21","author":"Cherng","year":"2009","journal-title":"Adapt. Phys. Act. Q."},{"key":"ref_36","first-page":"12","article-title":"Therapeutic horseback riding: Its effects on gait and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy","volume":"11","author":"Low","year":"2005","journal-title":"Sci. Educ. J. Ther. Rid."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1080\/J006v26n03_05","article-title":"Sleep issues in children with physical disabilities and their families","volume":"26","author":"Wright","year":"2006","journal-title":"Phys. Occup. Ther. Pediatr."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tolaymat, A., and Liu, Z. (2017). Sleep disorders in childhood neurological diseases. Children, 4.","DOI":"10.3390\/children4100084"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1627","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(09)61376-3","article-title":"Autism","volume":"374","author":"Levy","year":"2009","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"17","article-title":"Defecation-specific behaviour in children with functional defecation issues: A systematic review","volume":"21","author":"Booth","year":"2017","journal-title":"Perm. J."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"667","DOI":"10.1038\/nrurol.2013.213","article-title":"Urinary incontinence in children with special needs","volume":"10","year":"2013","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Urol."},{"key":"ref_42","first-page":"1857","article-title":"The effect of therapeutic horseback riding on sensory processing of children with autism","volume":"14","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.3109\/09638288.2012.687033","article-title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of equine assisted activities and therapies on gross motor outcome in children with cerebral palsy","volume":"35","author":"Tseng","year":"2013","journal-title":"Disabil. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Hasan, S.I. (2017). Links between Physical and Mental Health: Assessment of Therapeutic Riding\u2019s Effect on Children with Special Needs. [Bachelor\u2019s Thesis, Brescia University College]. Available online: https:\/\/ir.lib.uwo.ca\/brescia_psych uht\/2."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2013.02.008","article-title":"An experimental analysis of the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the behavior of children with autism","volume":"7","author":"Jenkins","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Autism Spectr. Disord."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Swart, L., de la Ray, C., Duncan, N., and Townsend, L. (2008). Adolescence. Psychology: An Introduction, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"1505","article-title":"Effect of therapeutic horseback riding on posture in children with cerebral palsy","volume":"68","author":"Bertoti","year":"1988","journal-title":"Phys. Ther."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/17\/4\/1213\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T08:57:35Z","timestamp":1760173055000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/17\/4\/1213"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,13]]},"references-count":47,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph17041213"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph17041213","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,13]]}}}