###### Abstract  
Equine-assisted activities (EAAs) are considered a suitable innovative rehabilitative practice for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While standardized scales have been previously used as a tool to evaluate the effects of EAAs on different domains of functioning in ASD children, few studies have considered an ethological approach as a means to describe human-horse interactions in the context of ASD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the behavior of 19 children with ASD, in comparison with 19 typically developing children (TD), during EAA sessions. We developed an ethogram from the video recordings to assess spatial relationships, social interactions, and communicative behaviors displayed by the child toward the horse, as well as the occurrence of problem behaviors. Results indicate that children's behaviors during EAA sessions are modulated by sex and age, while previous children's experience with EAAs appeared to improve interpersonal distance and horse handling. Results from this study highlight the importance of exploring children's behavioral responses during animal-assisted activities through direct measurements. This may allow linking the quality/strength of the child-horse relationship to the benefits obtained by the child, particularly in the social/communicative domain, a core symptom of ASD. equine-assisted activities; autism spectrum disorder; ethogram; social interactions; communicative behaviors; problem behaviors Article]Equine-Assisted Activities (EAAs) for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Positive Effects Revealed Using an Ethological Approach  
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stimulation, together with recreational opportunities for individuals that enjoy the activity outdoors, make EAAs especially suitable to improve patients' overall quality of life [8]. Having the potential to stimulate multiple areas of functioning, EAAs have been considered a suitable innovative rehabilitative practice for children with neurodevelopmental disorders [9]. Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairment in social communication and social interaction (e.g., deficits in social-emotional reciprocity; deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviors; deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships), repetitive and unusual sensory-motor behaviors (e.g., stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, hyperreactivity, or hyporeactivity to sensor input) [10]. The multifactorial nature of ASD necessitates a multi-faceted therapeutic approach, and EAAs may complement other interventions that children with ASD are exposed to, including educational/behavioral therapies and pharmacotherapy [8; 11]. Social deficits represent the core impairment in individuals with autism, and the inclusion of an animal as a complementary approach for children with ASD is motivated by the fact that an animal may act as a social facilitator, improving children's social skills [12; 13]. Reported positive outcomes of EAAs for the ASD population include effects on mood [14], reduction in problem behaviors such as irritability, lethargy, stereotypy, hyperactivity [15], aggressiveness [16], improved physical, emotional and social functioning [4; 9; 13; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24], improved executive functioning [9] and improved postural stability [25]. The evaluation of the effects of EAAs on ASD children's behavior has so far relied on surveys and scales, mostly filled by parents and/or therapists before and after the EAA sessions [2; 4; 9; 13; 14; 15; 21; 22; 26]. Direct behavioral observation using an ethogram obtained from the video recordings is considered more objective than surveys and scales, but so far, few studies have used an ethological approach to assess human-horse interactions in children with ASD [27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33].