Abstract
Objective: To investigate in the scientific literature the effects of equine therapy in patients with cerebral palsy. Methods: This is an integrative review of studies available in the Scielo and Virtual Health Library databases, published between the years 2010 and 2017 in the Portuguese and English languages, in which there were 9 studies. Results: It can be verified in several researches that equine therapy was able to improve functional capacity, gross motor function, self-esteem, capacity for self-care, communication, social cognition. The horse is able to generate and transmit to the patient several movements in a sequenced and simultaneous way, in this sense the equotherapy in patients with cerebral palsy is able to provide the postural control, through the stimulation of the normal reactions and through repetitive stimuli of coordination of the posture. Conclusion: Therefore, it can be verified that equotherapy has benefits in the treatment of functional and even social and emotional changes in patients with cerebral palsy.