The benefits of a horse-human bond have been known since ancient times but this bond as the basis for formal mental health modalities has only emerged in the last few decades. Equine Assisted Services (EAS) practitioners know it works and now science is investigating how it works. Below are some research articles that have delved into the science behind EAS. We salute these pioneering researchers!
Communicating Resilience among Adolescents with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)
Elizabeth A. Craig, Leanne Nieforth & Cynthia Rosenfeld
Western Journal of Communication
Volume 84, 2020 – Issue 4
Abstract
This qualitative study explored communicative processes of resilience in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) among young women with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Utilizing communicative resilience, findings suggest that adults, peers, and equines assist adolescents in (a) crafting normalcy, (b) building new communication networks, (c) legitimizing negative feelings while foregrounding positive action, (d) putting alternative logics to work through goal-oriented talk, and (e) cultivating identities of empowerment. Communication messages and processes in equine assisted therapy are considered, specifically, how relationship building with humans and equines fosters resilience among adolescents with ACEs.
A Comparative Study of the Efficacy of Group Equine Assisted Counseling With At-Risk Children and Adolescents
(Journal of Creativity in Mental Health Volume 3, 2008 – Issue 3)
ABSTRACT
This study demonstrates the efficacy of Equine Assisted Counseling (EAC) by comparing EAC to classroom-based counseling. Students (n = 164) identified as being at high risk for academic and/or social failure participated in 12 weekly counseling sessions. Within-group paired sample t-test results comparing pre- and post-treatment scores for externalizing, internalizing, maladaptive, and adaptive behaviors determined that the EAC made statistically significant improvements in 17 behavior areas, whereas the RD group showed statistically significant improvement in 5 areas. Between-groups ANCOVA results indicated that the EAC showed statistically significant improvement in 7 areas when compared directly to RD. Repeated measures ANOVA of the EAC participants’ social behavior ratings showed statistically significant improvement with increases in positive behaviors and decreases in negative behaviors.
Neural changes following equine-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A longitudinal multimodal imaging study
(Journal of Traumatic Stress Wiley – October 26, 2020)
Abstract
Background: While effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exist, many individuals, including military personnel and veterans fail to respond to them. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT), a novel PTSD treatment, may complement existing PTSD interventions. This study employs longitudinal neuro-imaging, including structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), resting state-fMRI (rs-fMRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to determine mechanisms and predictors of EAT outcomes for PTSD.
Method: Nineteen veterans with PTSD completed eight weekly group sessions of EAT undergoing multimodal MRI assessments before and after treatment. Clinical assessments were conducted at baseline, post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Results: At post-treatment patients showed a significant increase in caudate functional connectivity (FC) and reduction in the gray matter density of the thalamus and the caudate. The increase of caudate FC was positively associated with clinical improvement seen immediately at post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. In addition, higher baseline caudate FC was associated with greater PTSD symptom reduc-tion post-treatment.
Conclusions: This exploratory study is the first to demonstrate that EAT can affect functional and structural changes in the brains of patients with PTSD. The findings suggest that EAT may target reward circuitry responsiveness and produce a caudate pruning effect from pre- to post-treatment.
KEYWORDS
equine assisted therapy, neuroimaging, PTSD, resting state fMRI
Equine-assisted psychotherapy with traumatized couples—improvement of relationship quality and psychological symptoms
(Journal of Marital and Family Therapy – February 2020)
Abstract
Many traumatised individuals suffering from deployment related PTSD report severe problems in their relationships. Up until now, the therapeutic interventions used by the German Armed Forces have rarely targeted these problems through the integration of partners. For this reason, a Program designed specifically for couples was developed. In this prospective study equine-assisted psychotherapy was applied to soldiers and their spouses. The study population consisted of n = 36 couples, divided in n = 20 therapy group with a inpatient equine-assisted intervention and a 16-couples control group. After the intervention, numerous significant improvements occurred in the therapy group in the areas of current, somatic and communication problems, depressive symptoms and partnership quality but not in the control group. PTSD was reduced significantly on the sub-scale associated with nega-tive thoughts. These results show that the intervention is an effective way to improve partnership quality and reduce the stressors that the partners of afflicted service members face.
KEYWORDS
couples < populations, intervention/technique < clinical, outcome < research
Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans with PTSD: Manual Development and Preliminary Findings
(Military Medicine – May/June 2020)
Abstract
Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has attracted great interest despite lacking empirical support, a manual, and a standardized protocol. Our team of experts in EAT and PTSD developed an eight-session group EAT treatment protocol for PTSD (EAT-PTSD) and administered it to two pilot groups of military veterans to assess initial effects.
Materials and Methods
We describe the development of the treatment manual, which was used with two pilot groups of veterans. Protocol safety, feasibility, and acceptability were assessed by reported adverse events, treatment completion rates, and self-rated patient satisfaction. Preliminary data on PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms and quality of life were collected pretreatment, midpoint, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow up.
Results
No adverse events were recorded. All patients completed treatment, reporting high satisfaction. Preliminary data showed decreases in clinician-assessed PTSD and depressive symptoms from pre to post-treatment and follow-up (medium to large effect sizes, d = .54–1.8), with similar trends across self-report measures (d = 0.72–1.6). In our pilot sample, treatment response and remission varied; all patients showed some benefit post-treatment, but gains did not persist at follow-up.
Conclusions
This article presents the first standardized EAT protocol. Highly preliminary results suggest our new manualized group EAT-PTSD appears safe, well-regarded, and well-attended, yielding short-term benefits in symptomatology and quality of life if unclear length of effect. Future research should test this alternative treatment for PTSD more rigorously.
Equine‐Assisted Therapy for Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
(Journal of Traumatic Stress Wiley – March 17, 2015)
Abstract
THIS LINK SHOWS ABSTRACT AND CITING
We tested the efficacy of the Equine Partnering Naturally© approach to equine‐assisted therapy for treating anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were 16 volunteers who had experienced a Criterion A traumatic event, such as a rape or serious accident, and had current PTSD symptoms above 31 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL‐S; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, 1993). Participants engaged in tasks with horses for 6 weekly 2‐hour sessions. Immediately following the final session, participants reported significantly reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, d = 1.21, less severe emotional responses to trauma, d = 0.60, less generalized anxiety, d = 1.01, and fewer symptoms of depression, d = 0.54. As well, participants significantly increased mindfulness strategies, d = 1.28, and decreased alcohol use, d = 0.58. There was no significant effect of the treatment on physical health, proactive coping, self‐efficacy, social support, or life satisfaction. Thus, we found evidence that the Equine Partnering Naturally© approach to equine‐assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Future research should include larger groups, random assignment, and longer term follow‐up.
The Horse as a Therapist: Effects of an Equine Program Without “Therapy” on the Attention and Behavior of Youth Disengaged from Traditional School
Michael Francis Norwood, Ali Lakhani, Annick Maujean, Martin Downes, Simone Fullagar, Bonnie L. Barber, and Elizabeth Kendall.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.ahead of printhttp://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2020.0500
- Online Ahead of Print:May 4, 2021
Abstract
Background: Equine-assisted therapy may promote positive behavior change in young people “at risk.” However, it is not always clear what therapeutic content is involved and if a trained therapist is included. The therapeutic effects of the key part of the “therapy,” the horse, are not understood.
Objectives: To investigate the impact of an equine program without a therapist on attention and behavioral outcomes of young people “at risk.”
Design: A within subjects pre-post design. A small sample also completed a control period.
Setting/location: A small riding center in a rural area of outer Brisbane, Australia.
Subjects: Twelve- to 17-year olds (N = 50; 20 girls; mean age 13.88), attending nontraditional flexischool.
Intervention: A 5-week program of 2-h long sessions of equine activities that did not include a trained therapist or specific therapeutic content.
Outcome measures: Teacher-report measures of externalizing and internalizing behavior were reported before and after the program through the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
Results: A paired samples t test resulted in the statistically significant reduction of the BRIEF Global Executive Score between pre and post participation in the equine program (mean difference = −5.89), t(36) = −3.377, p = 0.002 and the SDQ Hyperactivity score (mean difference = −0.727), t(43) = −2.244, p = 0.030. Equine activities may reverse a trajectory of worsening problems. This may especially affect symptoms related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Conclusion: Equine programs may offer an alternative method to reduce poor behavior and improve attention in young people. Benefits in attention may occur even without specific therapeutic content or therapist involvement. It is proposed that some of these benefits come directly from the horse and the interactions with the horse; others are contextual.