Schedule

The opening remarks will be presented in French, and translated into English.

The presentation will be in English, then translated into French. Dr. Temple Grandin, an internationally renowned American professor, scientist, and lecturer, is recognized worldwide for her groundbreaking work in animal science and her remarkable commitment to autism. Beyond her scientific achievements, Dr. Grandin is a highly sought-after speaker and an inspiration to millions of people around the world. Her keynote address will discuss her journey and her reflections on the evolving understanding of autism.

Take a break and mingle with your peers during our coffee break. Online, attend virtual scientific poster presentations. Move from room to room and the event's website and take the opportunity to chat and ask questions directly to the authors of the various studies.

The presentation will be in English, and translated into French The evidence base supporting the efficacy of equine-assisted services for autistic youth has expanded substantially over the past decade. In this presentation, Dr. Peters will first examine theoretical mechanisms underlying the benefits of human-equine interaction for autistic youth. She will then present findings from her program of research on occupational therapy incorporating horses, including results from several randomized controlled trials demonstrating improvements in emotion regulation and social outcomes. Situating these findings within the broader literature, Dr. Peters will conclude that equine-assisted services are rooted in evidence and represent an engaging approach for supporting emotion regulation and social development in autistic youth.

The demonstration will be presented in French, then translated into English. This demonstration will offer participants the opportunity to witness the relational potential that horses bring to individuals. During therapeutic riding sessions, the bond between rider and horse is a powerful driving force. By combining various tools to meet autistic individuals' needs, therapeutic riding sessions become a genuine opportunity for personal growth and fulfillment. This demonstration will allow participants to experience a part of this intervention and support context, and to better understand the role of the horse as well as the importance of adaptations in a person-centred approach.

Join us for a lunch break; a great opportunity to network, reflect on the morning's work, and prepare for the afternoon sessions. From 12:30 to 1:00 PM, attend virtual scientific poster presentations online. Move virtually from room to room and take the opportunity to chat with the authors and ask questions.

Explore exhibitors and a dynamic display of student research projects. Presenters will be on hand to explain their work, answer questions, and participate in insightful discussions. Perfect for broadening your perspective on current scientific advancements.

The presentation will be in French, and translated into English. Professor Fecteau will present the preliminary results of the study "My Stress Is Your Stress: The Impact of Therapeutic Horse Training on the Well-being of the Horse and the Autistic Child." Her presentation will address the effects of horseback riding on the physiological systems of autistic children and adolescents.

The presentation will be in French, and translated to English. With the rise of animal-assisted interventions, the welfare of animals involved in these programs is becoming increasingly important. For obvious ethical reasons, it is essential to ensure optimal living, working, and health conditions for these partners. However, assessing animal welfare remains complex, and evolving scientific knowledge regularly leads to a reassessment of certain practices. Horses used in therapeutic riding face particular challenges, including the risk of orthopedic pain, the variability of the riders involved, and the need to adapt to sometimes unpredictable behaviors. Several traditionally accepted practices are now being questioned, even though challenging them and implementing concrete changes remains difficult in practice. This presentation will review the main challenges related to the welfare of horses in therapeutic riding, present some recent scientific data in this field, and discuss potential courses of action aimed at improving the welfare of these horses.

A closing cocktail is planned from 4pm onwards to allow participants to network and end this symposium in style.