The Behavioral Cost of Care: Changes in Maintenance Behavior during Equine-Assisted Interventions

Abstract

This study examined human–animal symbiosis in an animal-assisted intervention through observations of animal maintenance behaviors. The rise of psychotherapy, learning, and recreation incorporating animals warrants exploration of the welfare of the animals involved in these interventions. The analysis of welfare in multispecies engagements can be discussed in terms of symbiosis. Regarding an intervention’s animal provider (e.g., therapy horse) and human recipient (psychotherapy client), the balance of cost and benefit is important. Research describing human and animal interactive behavior during interventions is limited, whether focusing on client outcomes or animal welfare. The present study adapted ethological methods to study humans and animals in an equine-assisted intervention, observing equine maintenance behaviors and equid–human interactive behavior. Maintenance behaviors were recorded before, during, and after equine-assisted (psychosocial) learning sessions with youth, providing 1600 observations. Equine alertness, eating behavior, and ambulation varied significantly before, during, and after the equine-assisted sessions. Such interruptions of typical behavior are an important aspect of welfare and unit of analysis when examining symbiotic relationships. A total of 267 sequences of equid–human approach–response behavior were also recorded, indicating that human–animal interaction was predominantly from humans toward equids. Equids’ dominant response to human approach was no response, followed by avoidance, while humans’ dominant response to equid approach was reciprocation. The findings are discussed in terms of symbiosis and animal welfare.

Equoterapia E a Bioética: O Uso Do Cavalo Como Ferramenta Terapêutica Para Pessoas Com Deficiência Ou Necessidades Específicas

“…Já a pesquisa realizada por Fournier et al (2024), buscou aplicar uma simbiose entre humanos e animais como um quadro para avaliar o bem-estar animal em intervenções assistidas por equinos.…”

“…Esses achados apontam para potenciais desequilíbrios na relação de custo-benefício, indicando que os benefícios percebidos pelos clientes humanos podem ocorrer às custas dos equídeos, especialmente no que diz respeito a interrupções nos comportamentos de manutenção e a predominância de interações controladas pelos humanos. O estudo ressalta a necessidade de pesquisas adicionais para avaliar a confiabilidade e a relevância clínica dessas descobertas, destacando a importância de considerar variáveis contextuais, como carga de trabalho e estado de saúde, ao avaliar o impacto das intervenções assistidas por equinos no bem-estar dos equídeos (Fournier et al, 2024).…”