Equine Gait Research Articles

Genomic insights into the genetic diversity, lateral gaits and high-altitude adaptation of Chakouyi (CKY) horses

Chakouyi (CKY) horses from the Qinghai‒Xizang Plateau are well known for their unique lateral gaits and high-altitude adaptation, but genetic mechanisms underlying these phenotypes remain unclear. This study presents a comparison of 60 newly resequenced genomes of gaited CKY horses with 139 public genomes from 19 horse breeds. Population structure analyses (admixture, PCA, and neighbor-joining tree) reveal a close genetic relationship between CKY and other highland breeds (Tibetan and Chaidamu horses). Compared with other Chinese breeds, CKY horses present reduced nucleotide diversity (θπ) and lower inbreeding (FROH coefficient), suggesting possible selective pressures. A key region on chromosome 23 (Chr23: 22.3–22.6 Mb) is associated with the lateral gaits and harbors a highly prevalent nonsense mutation (Chr 23: 22,391,254 C > A, Ser301STOP) in the DMRT3 gene, with an 88% homozygosity rate, which is strongly correlated with the distinctive gait of CKY horses. Furthermore, selection signals reveal that the EPAS1 gene is related to high-altitude adaptation, and the CAT gene contributes to altitude resilience in CKY horses. These findings suggest that preserving genetic diversity is essential for maintaining the unique gaits and high-altitude adaptations of CKY horses.

Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review.

To provide an overview of available research about effects of horseshoes on equine kinetics and kinematics. The terms, "horse/equine," "hoof," "shoes/horseshoes," "kinetics," and "kinematics" were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library for manuscripts from first availability to 2024. Independent reviewers used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to map and extract evidence-based data from sources. Metrics included participant demographics, research methods, major findings, and study limitations. Knowledge gaps were also identified. A total of 46 studies were included. Most utilized non-lame horses to compare original shoe designs or modifications to unshod or a standard open-heel shoe. Horse demographics and gait, study design and outcome measures varied widely. Prevalent data collection equipment included force platforms and pressure plates, wearable force measuring technology, and videography. Many studies reported shoeing effects on limb forces and motion, but there was little consensus among unrelated studies. Common limitations included insufficient data resolution, no randomization, small sample size, single breed, and outcome measures specific or unique to the study. Knowledge gaps included data collection from all limbs and the impact of conformation and limb and hoof morphology and health condition on outcomes. Information from manuscripts that met inclusion criteria confirmed distinct, variable effects of shoe characteristics on equine gait parameters. Details from published work can serve as resource for clinical decisions and to guide standardization among investigations on shoe configuration effects on equine motion.

PSII-11 Temporal variables of the four-beat stepping gaits of the Mountain Pleasure Horse

Abstract The Mountain Pleasure Horse (MPH) is the oldest gaited horse breed in North America with genetic testing finding the breed is ancestral to all other American gaited horse breeds according to the MPH Association (MPHA). Further, the breed is classified as “threatened” according to the Livestock Conservancy with only 2,670 purebred MPHs living today. To expand numbers, the registration books for the MPHA were opened in 2009; however, 5 yr later the books were closed due to negative consequences including potential changes within the gait. Therefore, to ensure the preservation of the gait of the MPH, the objective of this study was to define the temporal variables of the four-beat stepping gaits of the purebred MPH. The six horses utilized for this study were MPHA registered with permanent registration status and were verified to be purebred using blood typing and pedigree tracing with pedigrees tracing back to the foundation sires on both sides of the pedigree as identified by the MPHA. Horses were ridden by their respective trainers at a flat walk and saddle rack following MPHA judging guidelines with those strides utilized for the study being selected by representatives of the breed association. A total of 10 strides for each horse (n = 60) for each gait were selected. Student’s paired t-tests were utilized to determine differences in temporal variables between gaits with P-value set at 0.05. Comparisons were also made within gaits using student’s paired t-test to determine differences between lateral and diagonal variables. Both gaits had a lateral footfall pattern that alternated between bipedal and tripedal support. The saddle rack was performed at a faster velocity than the walk with a longer stride length and shorter stride and stance durations (Table 1). Advanced placements and bipedal support were similar between gaits with lateral and diagonal variables similar within gaits (Flat Walk Lateral-Diagonal Comparisons: Advanced Placement; P = 0.31, Bipedal Support; P = 0.08; Saddle Rack Lateral-Diagonal Comparisons: Advanced Placement; P = 0.23, Bipedal Support; P = 0.11), thus, indicating the gaits had a regular rhythm with no couplets. These variables assist in distinguishing between the gaits of the MPH and between those performed by other gaited horse breeds.

3D Modelling and Simulation Based on Kinematic Analysis for Hippotherapy

The engineering perspective on the physiology and anatomy of living things has led to the emergence of the science of biomechanics. Developing computer technologies have made it possible to examine the behaviour of living things in more detail and to develop technologies that enable kinetic and kinematic analysis of movements to imitate real limbs. In this study, the natural gaits of horses (Walk, Canter and Trot) were analysed with image processing techniques, kinematic analyses were made and three-dimensional solid models were created. Giving movement ability to the extracted solid models was carried out with the simulation software prepared on the Matlab-SimMechanic platform. By comparing the findings obtained as a result of image processing and simulation, the success of transferring the movements to a developed system was evaluated. After mathematical equations were created in the MATLAB environment, the equations were tested on the developed system and their performance rates were determined. With the developed system, joint angles, ability to reach the correct position and movement ability were analysed and it was shown how the mathematical equations required to perform the movements could be derived. As a result, a design process model for movement analysis, simulation and control of different living groups is presented with the equations obtained by formulating the information obtained from the developed system.

Warm-Up Strategies and Effects on Performance in Racing Horses and Sport Horses Competing in Olympic Disciplines.

Warm-up is a standard component of exercise preparation, intended to lower the risk of injury and improve performance. Comprehensive evidence-based guidelines per discipline are missing. This scoping review aimed to describe the physiological effects and strategies of active warm-up in horses according to different equestrian disciplines. The search strategies identified 479 papers for review. After application of selection criteria, 23 articles published from 1996 to January 2024 were included of which 12 discussed the effects of warm-up on physiological parameters and 11 discussed warm-up strategies in different disciplines. As shown in humans, warm-up enhanced aerobic capacity and increased blood and muscle temperatures, independently from its intensity. Riders emphasized the importance of warm-up to prepare horses for physical work and to increase their reactiveness to aids. A canter or trot was the preferred gait in elite or non-elite dressage horses, respectively, while the walk was in show jumping horses. Warm-up duration and intensity increased with increasing competitive level, but a longer and/or more intensive warm-up did not affect the final score. Dressage riders warmed up their horses for a longer time compared to show jumping riders. Future studies should objectively establish the most profitable warm-up strategies per equestrian discipline and level.

Characteristics of horse gait during swimming exercise in swimming pool

Horses are frequently brought to the pool, although little is known about how they swim. One aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of the horses’ gait while swimming in a pool; another objective was to search for significant correlations between morphology, signalment, and swimming style. Videoclips were obtained for 39 horses during swimming, along with data regarding breed, age, sex, discipline, reason for swimming (i.e., rehabilitation or training), weight, height at the withers, elbow and stifle, scapulohumeral and coxofemoral angle, and croup inclination. The videos were examined to determine the sequence and maintenance of limb movement, position of the carpus at the end of protraction of the front limb, and height of the croup. Eighteen horses were classified as pacers, 19 as disconnected pacers, two as “rear engine” swimmers depending on their most prominent limb sequence. Seventeen horses maintained the same swimming pattern throughout the entire session, 22 horses did not. Twenty-one horses kept the carpus flexed at the end of protraction of the forelimb, 18 horses kept it extended. Nineteen horses kept the croup horizontal, 13 kept it lower, and seven kept it higher than the withers. Rear engine horses were excluded from the data analysis because of their low prevalence. Inexperienced horses had a higher prevalence of maintenance of the swimming style, rehabilitating horses kept the croup predominantly horizontal or lower than the withers.

Horse gait analysis using wearable inertial sensors and machine learning

Equestrian sports require horses to possess physical and mental attributes such as agility, strength, balance, and gymnastic skills. Performance analysis is critical in evaluating a horse’s performance, which involves assessing athleticism, gait quality, jumping ability, and general health. Assessing the kinematics of horses is crucial for selecting, training, and managing sports horses. Understanding a horse’s gait pattern and detecting Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) help diagnose lameness in the horse. Traditional gait analysis methods are performed visually, which can be biased due to subjectivity and human error. Optical motion capture (OMC) technology for equine gait analysis is expensive and ideal for indoor use. Wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) offer a cost-effective alternative for analyzing kinematic parameters. This study has devised novel wearable sensor devices for horses and riders to measure forces acting on the legs and body of the horse and the orientation of their legs during field performance. Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) were measured using 100g accelerometer data from each leg to assist owners and riders in analyzing the magnitude of forces and detecting any anomalies. Machine-learning models were developed to classify horse movements, such as jumps, stands, gallops, and trots, using features extracted from the data collected by wearable sensor devices. These models were compared to identify the most effective model for accurately classifying horse movements. This approach provides a valuable tool for recognizing patterns and trends in the data, enabling owners and riders to make informed decisions about training and management strategies.

The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits.

This article traces the characteristics, origin, distribution, and function of alternative lateral horse gaits, i.e., intermediate speed lateral-sequence gaits. Such alternative lateral gaits (running walk, rack, broken pace, hard pace, and broken trot) are prized by equestrians today for their comfort and have been found in select horse breeds for hundreds of years and even exhibited in fossil equid trackways. After exploring the evolution and development of alternative lateral gaits via fossil equid trackways, human art, and historical writings, the functional and genetic factors that led to the genesis of these gaits are discussed. Such gaited breeds were particularly favored and spread by the Scythians, Celts, Turks, and Spaniards. Fast and low-swinging hard pacing gaits are common in several horse breeds of mountainous areas of East and North Asia; high-stepping rack and running walk gaits are often displayed in European and North and South American breeds; the broken pace is found in breeds of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Western North America, and Brazil in South America; and the broken trot occurs in breeds of North Asia, South Asia, the Southern United States, and Brazil in South America, inhabiting desert or marshy areas.

Inertial Sensor Technologies-Their Role in Equine Gait Analysis, a Review.

Objective gait analysis provides valuable information about the locomotion characteristics of sound and lame horses. Due to their high accuracy and sensitivity, inertial measurement units (IMUs) have gained popularity over objective measurement techniques such as force plates and optical motion capture (OMC) systems. IMUs are wearable sensors that measure acceleration forces and angular velocities, providing the possibility of a non-invasive and continuous monitoring of horse gait during walk, trot, or canter during field conditions. The present narrative review aimed to describe the inertial sensor technologies and summarize their role in equine gait analysis. The literature was searched using general terms related to inertial sensors and their applicability, gait analysis methods, and lameness evaluation. The efficacy and performance of IMU-based methods for the assessment of normal gait, detection of lameness, analysis of horse-rider interaction, as well as the influence of sedative drugs, are discussed and compared with force plate and OMC techniques. The collected evidence indicated that IMU-based sensor systems can monitor and quantify horse locomotion with high accuracy and precision, having comparable or superior performance to objective measurement techniques. IMUs are reliable tools for the evaluation of horse-rider interactions. The observed efficacy and performance of IMU systems in equine gait analysis warrant further research in this population, with special focus on the potential implementation of novel techniques described and validated in humans.

34 A comparison between computer vision application and a body-mounted inertial sensor system for equine gait analysis and lameness quantification

Lameness is a chief concern for horse owners; however, systems that accurately and objectively evaluate lameness are currently limited to equine veterinarians. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the degree of correlation in key indicators of lameness between a novel and sophisticated mobile phone computer vision (CV) application employing artificial intelligence technology versus a lameness evaluation methodology using a wireless body-mounted, inertial sensor system (ISS). The 2 methodologies were evaluated in conjunction with a study utilizing 27 Quarter horse yearlings (mean ± SEM; 561 ± 3 d). A grain-based horse feed formulated without added microbials (SafeChoice® Original, Nutrena) was fed to all horses at 1% BW/d (as-fed) twice daily in 12 h intervals for 76 d. Horses were allowed ad-libitum access to Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay and fresh water. For the 76 d period, horses were exercised on a progressive workload from moderate to heavy using mean heart rate for 30 min per d, 5d/wk using a free-stall exerciser. Horses underwent a baseline lameness assessment using ISS and CVtechnologies simultaneously on d 0 of the study, followed by 2 additional lameness assessments on d 76 (pre- exercise bout, and post- exercise bout). Data from lameness evaluations were analyzed using PROC Corr in SAS v9.4 to evaluate matching outputs (e.g., pushoff difference, head impact difference, hind pushoff difference, and hind impact difference) across both lameness detection systems. Positive correlations were noted between the ISS and CV systems when different regions were analyzed including the head pushoff difference (r = 0.87, P ≤ 0.01); head impact difference (r = 0.76, P ≤ 0.01); hind pushoff difference (r = 0.81, P ≤ 0.01); and hind impact difference (r = 0.87, P ≤ 0.01). Regardless of measurement recorded, there are strong positive relationships between the 2 systems. This suggests that the novel CV system detects and quantifies equine lameness that is highly correlated to the ISS system for several key indicators used to localize and assess degree of lameness in horses.

Validation of Alogo Move Pro: A GPS-Based Inertial Measurement Unit for the Objective Examination of Gait and Jumping in Horses.

Quantitative information on how well a horse clears a jump has great potential to support the rider in improving the horse's jumping performance. This study investigated the validation of a GPS-based inertial measurement unit, namely Alogo Move Pro, compared with a traditional optical motion capture system. Accuracy and precision of the three jumping characteristics of maximum height (Zmax), stride/jump length (lhorz), and mean horizontal speed (vhorz) were compared. Eleven horse-rider pairs repeated two identical jumps (an upright and an oxer fence) several times (n = 6 to 10) at different heights in a 20 × 60 m tent arena. The ground was a fiber sand surface. The 24 OMC (Oqus 7+, Qualisys) cameras were rigged on aluminum rails suspended 3 m above the ground. The Alogo sensor was placed in a pocket on the protective plate of the saddle girth. Reflective markers placed on and around the Alogo sensor were used to define a rigid body for kinematic analysis. The Alogo sensor data were collected and processed using the Alogo proprietary software; stride-matched OMC data were collected using Qualisys Track Manager and post-processed in Python. Residual analysis and Bland-Altman plots were performed in Python. The Alogo sensor provided measures with relative accuracy in the range of 10.5-20.7% for stride segments and 5.5-29.2% for jump segments. Regarding relative precision, we obtained values in the range of 6.3-14.5% for stride segments and 2.8-18.2% for jump segments. These accuracy differences were deemed good under field study conditions where GPS signal strength might have been suboptimal.

Equine Gait Recognition using Wearable Technology for Endurance Monitoring: A Preliminary Study

To overcome limitation in equine gait monitoring, a low-cost monitoring device is needed especially for long-distance event performance monitoring. Current devices capture horse gait in limited range of distance, limited duration usage and expensive. Mobile application such as Androsensor has shown a great potential in horse gait recognition. However, further study is still warranted in order to determine the reliability of this kind of mobile application for performance monitoring especially for long-distance event such as endurance. In this study, a validation test of Androsensor mobile application for equine gait patterns recognition was conducted before the data can be applied for long-distance performance monitoring. Two horses (Thoroughbred) were used in this preliminary study. A unit of inertia measurement unit sensor (IMU) (Delsys Trigno Avanti Sensor) with 150 Hz sampling rate and a mini smartphone installed with Androsensor apps with 200 Hz sampling rate were attached together on horse forelimb pastern to compare the acceleration of horse gait signal captured by both devices. The data captured by both devices were analyzed. The correlation coefficient between an established device (IMU) and the Androsensor apps have shown a good correlation with higher correlation coefficient (r > 0.5) for walk, trot and canter. This finding indicates that the Androsensor mobile application has a great potential to be used in equine gait research and performance monitoring. It also can offer a wide function in this field as it is cheap and wearable.

Horse Gait Terms in Turkic Languages of Siberia (Compared to Mongolic Languages)

Purpose. Russian and foreign linguists studied the influence of Turkic languages on the grammatical and lexical composition of Mongolic languages. Material from monuments and modern living languages of Siberia shed light on the role of the early Turkic and Mongolic language in the development of the modern linguistic landscape of the region, specifying its place in the Altai linguistic family from a cultural perspective. Horse is a sacred animal for all Turkic and Mongolic speaking nomads that take an important place in their economy and culture, with all its characteristics being featured in the lexicon of the languages under comparison. Researchers also examined a wide range of Mongolian words reflecting various sex- and age-specific terms for livestock and its color as well as keeping and pasturing practices, pasture characteristics, livestock economy, etc. The lexicon characterizing horse movement in Turkic and Mongolic languages has not been the subject of comparative analysis in modern Turkic studies. Thus, the paper describes and analyzes the lexico-semantic group of words that represent the terms for the pattern of natural movement of horse in Turkic and Mongolic languages.Results. To achieve the research objectives we used the synchronous descriptive, comparative, contrastive-typological, and where possible comparative-historical methods. The study defined the structure and semantics of linguistic units, revealing considerably more similarities than differences in the plane of expression in both Turkic languages of Siberia and Mongolic layers of vocabulary.Conclusion. Yakut demonstrates both the Turkic and Mongolic layers, which is characteristic of all languages under comparison. Also, there are later borrowings from Buryat, e.g. the verbs denoting ‘amble’.

Could Horse Gait and Induced Pelvic Dynamic Loads in Female Equestrians Be a Risk Factor in Pudendal Neuralgia?

Pudendal Neuralgia (PN) is a rare, debilitating disease caused by damage to the pudendal nerve, which innervates the anus, rectum, perineum, lower urinary tract, and genitalia. Although its etiology remains scientifically unknown, a number of sports practices, including horse-riding, are reported as triggering and/or aggravating factors. The present work summarizes the experimental measurements of the contact pressure at the interface between the rider and saddle, for a population of 12 experienced female riders. These tests reveal that dynamic horseback-riding leads to high levels of peak pressures in the perineal region, which confirms that the practice of equine sports may cause neuropathologies such as PN. All collected data will be used as boundary conditions in a future numerical 3D model aimed at locating the possible areas of pudendal nerve crushing.

Efficient Development of Gait Classification Models for Five-Gaited Horses Based on Mobile Phone Sensors.

Automated gait classification has traditionally been studied using horse-mounted sensors. However, smartphone-based sensors are more accessible, but the performance of gait classification models using data from such sensors has not been widely known or accessible. In this study, we performed horse gait classification using deep learning models and data from mobile phone sensors located in the rider's pocket. We gathered data from 17 horses and 14 riders. The data were gathered simultaneously from movement sensors in a mobile phone located in the rider's pocket and a gait classification system based on four wearable sensors attached to the horse's limbs. With this efficient approach to acquire labelled data, we trained a Bi-LSTM model for gait classification. The only input to the model was a 50 Hz signal from the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope that was rotated to the horse's frame of reference. We demonstrate that sensor data from mobile phones can be used to classify the five gaits of the Icelandic horse with up to 94.4% accuracy. The result suggests that horse riding activities can be studied at a large scale using mobile phones to gather data on gaits. While our study showed that mobile phone sensors could be effective for gait classification, there are still some limitations that need to be addressed in future research. For example, further studies could explore the effects of different riding styles or equipment on gait classification accuracy or investigate ways to minimize the influence of factors such as phone placement. By addressing these questions, we can continue to improve our understanding of horse gait and its role in horse riding activities.

Relação da qualidade do sêmen com endogamia e marcha de cavalos crioulos colombianos

ABSTRACT: High consanguinity among equines has negative effects on semen quality, thus resulting in low motility and high levels of abnormality in the spermatozoa. However, such a relationship has not been studied in Colombian Creole horses, which have been subjected to particular selection practices focusing mainly on their gait. This research assessed the relationship of semen quality to inbreeding and gait of Colombian Creole horses. Semen was collected from 50 horses using the artificial vagina method. Sperm motility and kinematics were assessed with a computerized analysis system (SCA®). Sperm vitality (SV) and abnormal morphology (AM) were assessed via the eosin-nigrosin staining test. Functional membrane integrity (FMI) was assessed via the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Genealogies and consanguinity analysis was conducted using the Breeders Assistant for Horses program. An average of 3.6 ± 0.4 % was reported for the inbreeding coefficient (Ft). A decrease in sperm motility and kinematics was reported, which was associated with an increase in consanguinity (P < 0.05). Furthermore, differences in consanguinity were found based on gait. Similarly, a relationship between horse gait and semen quality (P < 0.05) was found. Authors concluded that semen quality of Colombian Creole horses has been affected by inbreeding and its relationship with genetic selection based on gait.

Timing of Vertical Head, Withers and Pelvis Movements Relative to the Footfalls in Different Equine Gaits and Breeds.

Knowledge of vertical motion patterns of the axial body segments is a prerequisite for the development of algorithms used in automated detection of lameness. To date, the focus has been on the trot. This study investigates the temporal synchronization between vertical motion of the axial body segments with limb kinematic events in walk and trot across three popular types of sport horses (19 Warmbloods, 23 Iberians, 26 Icelandics) that are known to have different stride kinematics, and it presents novel data describing vertical motion of the axial body segments in tölting and pacing Icelandic horses. Inertial measurement unit sensors recorded limb kinematics, vertical motion of the axial body at all symmetrical gaits that the horse could perform (walk, trot, tölt, pace). Limb kinematics, vertical range of motion and lowest/highest positions of the head, withers and pelvis were calculated. For all gaits except walk and pace, lowest/highest positions of the pelvis and withers were found to be closely related temporally to midstance and start of suspension of the hind/fore quarter, respectively. There were differences in pelvic/withers range of motion between all breeds where the Icelandic horses showed the smallest motion, which may explain why lameness evaluation in this breed is challenging.

The Effect of 12 Weeks of Saddle Horse Conversion Training on Thoroughbred Horse Gait

The unwanted horse problem is the most serious issue confronting the equestrian industry. Thus, it is recommended that retired racehorses switch to become saddle horses for ‘the second life of a racing veteran’ because training and using retired Thoroughbred racehorses as saddle horses is the most cost-effective option. The current study aimed to analyze the effects of saddle horse conversion training on gaits of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Our study included 12 retired Thoroughbred racehorses. These Thoroughbred racehorses performed the retraining 20–50 min a day, five times per week for three months. There are some critical findings in this study. The results show that the decreased stride length of each foot decreased the displacements of the center of mass and the center of the head. In addition, after retraining, there was a significant decrease in the head–neck angle and displacement between the center of the head and the center of the neck. These changes in the horse’s movements mean that the habitual movements for racing are gradually changed to optimal movements for a saddle horse.

Teaching Video NeuroImage: Peculiar Hobby Horse Gait in Huntington Disease-like 2.

A 59-year-old woman presented at age 48 years with abnormal hand movements, which became generalized 1 year later, along with a clumsy gait. Two years later, severe apathy and minor auditory hallucinations ensued. Her father died undiagnosed with involuntary movements at age 82 years, and 2 of her 6 sisters have also had a similar clinical picture. Neurologic examination revealed generalized chorea and an unusual dystonic gait pattern remarkably similar to the hobby horse gait, described in DYT-TUBB4A (DYT-4), which is characterized by a toe walking stiff-legged and skipping gait1 (Video 1). Walking backward improved the gait. Diagnostic workup revealed acanthocytes and mild caudate atrophy (Figure 1). A pathogenic 46 CTG/CAG repeat expansion on the JPH3 gene allowed the diagnosis of Huntington disease–like 2, an autosomal dominant Huntington disease phenocopy characterized by chorea, dystonia, and parkinsonism.2 This case expands underlying conditions recognized to cause the HHG (please see the Supplement, [links.lww.com/WNL/B931][1]). [1]: http://links.lww.com/WNL/B931

Psychological Benefits of Equine-Facilitated Activities for Children Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy

Equine-facilitated activities (EFA) are generally considered to be an alternative treatment method by using the natural body form, gait and behavior of horses. EFA have been used for many years to treat and to improve the living conditions of people with disorders or disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy (CP), arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral and psychiatric disorders. This study aims to examine the effects of adaptive riding (AR), which is a subdiscipline under EFA, on anxiety, empathy, aggression, and emotional regulation of children diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Maternal depression and anxiety level measurements were also included in the study. Twenty children with CP, between 7 and 10 years old and their mothers participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups (intervention and control) consisting of 10 participants. Pre and post measurements were implemented at the beginning and at the end of 8 weeks of AR intervention. The Screen for Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, Bryant Index of Empathy Measurement for Children and Adolescents, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to measure the psychological and emotional status of the participants and depression, anxiety levels of mothers. Aggression, anxiety, and maternal depression decreased; empathy and emotional regulation improved in the intervention group. No significant differences found in the control group. This study provides strong evidence that an 8-week AR intervention has positive effects on children with cerebral palsy. Significant improvements regarding both maternal and children’s psychological and emotional aspects showed how an alternative therapy with animals can be constructive.