Autism and Horses: Understanding Equine-Assisted Services Together.

Caiti Peters studies equine-assisted services, particularly the efficacy of integrating horses into occupational therapy for autistic youth. Thus far, her research has found that integrating horses into occupational therapy can improve self-regulation and social outcomes for autistic children. 

Caiti is an occupational therapist with a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science at CSU, and her research has been featured in publications including Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Frontiers in Pediatrics and the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.  

Maude holds a master's degree in psychoeducation from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières and is a riding instructor. During her master's studies, she had the opportunity to apply the experiential approach to psychoeducation and to experiment various intervention methods, such as working with horses, dogs, and the outdoors.

By combining her expertise as an instructor in therapeutic riding (CANTRA) and Western riding (Cheval Québec), she developed an innovative project in collaboration with Ranch Kiméyan, using horseback riding and psychoeducation to support recovery. The therapeutic riding services are available to clients of all ages and address a variety of needs, both physical and psychological. The connection between the community and network partners, fostered by this inclusive project, is now central to the mission of both Ranch Kiméyan and the Kiméyan Foundation.

Stéphanie is a licensed psychoeducator and a full professor at the Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology of the Université du Québec en Outaouais, researcher at the Institut universitaire en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l'autisme and a member of the Transforming Autism Care Consortium. She is the co-founder and director of GRAADA (Grounded Research for Autistic Adolescents and Adults), whose mission is to make scientific knowledge about autism more accessible to French-speaking communities.

Stephanie's research focuses on stress, the social representations of autism, stigma, and inclusive practices. She is currently leading the interdisciplinary project My Stress Is Your Stress, funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec. This project examines how horse-training methods used in equine-assisted services influence the well-being of both horses and autistic children from a One Health perspective.

Photo credit: Institut universitaire en DI-TSA

Dr. Marion Desmarchelier graduated from the National Veterinary School of Lyon in 2003. She initially practiced in mixed animal practice, then specialized in small animals and exotic pets.

She subsequently specialized in zoological medicine, then in behavioral medicine. She is a graduate of the American College of Zoological Medicine, the European College of Zoological Medicine (Zoo Health Management), and the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

She is a professor of behavioral medicine at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Montreal. Her research interests include the welfare of all animal species, from bees to whales, psychopharmacology, and the human-animal bond.