Effects of three equine-related training modalities on inhibitory control in children aged 7-8 years: an exploratory...

Horseback riding training (HRT), horseback riding simulator training (HRST), and horse companion training (HCT) can improve physical fitness, cognitive abilities, and emotional well-being. However, their effects on inhibitory control (IC) are not well studied.

This exploratory randomized controlled trial examined the effects of HRT, HRST, and HCT on IC in children aged 7-8 years and analyzed brain neural mechanisms using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty-four children aged 7-8 years from Maple Leaf International School-Xi'an were randomly divided into three groups: the horseback riding group (HRTG), the horseback riding simulator group (HRSG), and the horse companion group (HCG), with 8 children in each group. The 24 subjects received training with HRT, HRST, and HCT. Each group received its assigned intervention: the HRTG received HRT, the HRSG received HRST and the HCG received HCT. All subjects performed the Flanker task while fNIRS data were collected.

After 12 weeks of training, the HRTG showed faster reaction times and higher accuracy (p < 0.01) in both congruent and incongruent Flanker tasks. Importantly, fNIRS data showed that HRTG significantly increased the mean change in Oxy-Hb in channels 7, 21, and 23, which are approximately over the right lateral prefrontal cortex (putative R-DLPFC region) during the congruent Flanker task.

HRT may improve IC and activate the R-DLPFC in children aged 7-8 years.