Table 2.

Summary of equine-assisted treatment interventions and results.

Author (Year)	Intervention	Results
Asselin et al. [29]	Therapeutic horseback riding (2 years)	• Improved core strength, posture, and balance • Decreased lower limb spasms • Regained awareness of legs • Increased confidence, trust, motivation for exercise, enjoyment of outdoors, • Social benefits
Choi et al. [35]	Hippotherapy (25–30 min sessions)	• No significant group changes in balance indices. Subgroup improvements: • C3/C4 injuries WDI ↑ (7.6 ± 2.9 to 8.9 ± 2.9); Brown-Sequard WDI ↑ (7.3 ± 3.3 to 9.2 ± 3.3).
Knight & Coffey [31]	Two 6-week horseback riding programmes (30–45 min sessions, weekly)	• Right hip angle at heel strike ↓ across sessions. • Stride length ↓ (0.91 to 0.83 m first session; 0.78 to 0.71 m second). Positive maintenance for hip/knee angles despite spasticity. Joint angles: • Left ankle +15° heel strike/toe-off (second session).
Lechner et al. [27]	Hippotherapy-K (25–30 min, avg. 11 sessions)	Ashworth scores: • 93% of sessions immediate ↓, 6% no change, 1% ↑. • Mean ASV significantly reduced (p < 0.001). • Greatest decreases in participants with baseline ASV > 38 (−10 points or more).
Lechner et al. [36]	Hippotherapy vs. Bobath roll, rocking seat, control (8 sessions, 4 weeks)	Ashworth scores: • Hippotherapy significantly ↓ vs. control (median −8.0 to +0.5). Self-reported pain: • Hippotherapy greater ↓ (VAS − 4.6 to −0.05 cm, p ≤ 0.05). Well-being: • Significant ↑ only with hippotherapy (p = 0.048). • No long-term effects ≥4 days post-intervention.

↑ = increase(d).

↓ = decrease(d).

WDI = Weight Distribution Index.

ASV = Ashworth value.

VAS = Visual Analog Scale.