The Importance of Comparative Psychology in Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies

Kieson, Emily

doi:10.46867/ijcp.2018.31.01.07

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 68 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…During the intervention the patients got to know the horses they had chosen as their therapy horses. A bonding and trust between the participant and the horse in therapy ( 65 , 66 ) and “ I miss Allu (name of the horse)” was recognized through the participant interveiw. Vice versa, as the horses became accustomed to the work, trusted the therapy assistant and the therapist, working was made predictable and safe, building a collective trust within the session ( 67 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact on physical performance, pain and psychological wellbeing of chronic low back pain patients during 12-weeks of equine- facilitated therapy intervention

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Equine - Facilitated Therapy (EFT), an equine environment, and horses themselves can meet many physical and mental health needs beyond diagnostic categories. The horse's ability to produce a walk-like movement and the participant's ability to connect to non-judgemental living creatures, both of which can benefit participation and construct a positive self-image for chronic pain patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of EFT on perceived physical performance, level of pain, pain acceptance, depression and anxiety, and quality of life within a 12-week intervention for chronic low back pain (LBP) patients. Twenty-two LBP patients received EFT led by physical therapists as part of the public health services. A mixed method design combining quantitative and qualitative methods was employed to detect the outcome of the intervention. The data were collected via questionnaires, interviews, and patient data repositories. An interview was voluntary for participants and included questions of one's health, visits to the pain clinic during 6 months and an open-ended question about the intervention. The coding of the data was completed independently by two persons using thematizing. The welfare of the attending horses was taken into consideration in basic training and for the research setting. Statistical analysis and paired t-tests detected the changes during a 12-week intervention. The results suggest a significant increase in Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) levels of satisfaction with self-selected performances. The Raitasalo's version of Beck's Depression Inventory (RBDI) level of anxiety and Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ) did not change, whereas a decline in the amount of perceived RBDI depression was found combined with increased levels of SF-36 Mental Change Scores and COPM satisfaction with performance. Only two of the 22 participants returned with reoccurring symptoms after 6 months to the pain clinic. The participant interviews revealed three important domains of experience during coding: physical-, psychological-, and social that link to the research question and suggest impact for the recovery from the human-animal interaction.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact on physical performance, pain and psychological wellbeing of chronic low back pain patients during 12-weeks of equine- facilitated therapy intervention

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Behavioural Issues in Horses Working in Human Mental Healthcare Services

Schroeder

2023

Animal Behaviour and Welfare Cases

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Horses commonly engage in physical contact with their conspecifics through mutual grooming, which serves several important functions for social communication and comfort. However, horses may react differently to social contact with humans. When such contact is unwanted, horses may display calming, displacement, or more significant stress-related behaviours. This can impact their welfare while simultaneously posing safety risks for the humans involved. Understanding and addressing horse behaviour during interactions with humans is critical across the equestrian industry, and particularly when horse-human interactions are incorporated into human healthcare and educational services. This hypothetical case study explores a horse’s negative behavioural changes in response to grooming activities used in a substance use treatment programme for adolescents. The case concludes with a description of strategies for pinpointing the underlying reasons for the horse’s behaviours and proposed courses of action to enhance the horse’s overall experience of human contact. This case underscores the complexity of horse-human interactions, emphasizing the need for behavioural assessment as an essential tool for improving horse welfare within the realm of animal-assisted interventions. Information © The Author 2023

show abstract

Exploring the Social Reinforcing Value of Brushing in Equine-Assisted Services: A Comparative Study with Food Reinforcement

Schroeder

Arant

Hekkert

et al. 2023

Human-Animal Interactions

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Brushing is one of the most common human-horse interactions in Equine-Assisted Services (EAS). Previous research has shown both positive and negative effects of brushing on horses’ behavior and physiological states. One of the primary reasons horses are included in services such as mental and behavioral healthcare is to provide human clients with positive relational experiences; however, more empirical research is needed to determine if horses also receive socially derived benefits from their interactions with human clients. Therefore, we set out to determine whether brushing can function as a social reinforcer for horses utilized in EAS in comparison to food reinforcement. Six EAS horses from a university-based Premier Accredited Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International center in the Southwestern Region of the United States participated in a single-subject reversal ABCABC design experiment, in which stimuli (A: Brushing, B: Food, and C: Control [Extinction]) were provided contingent on an arbitrary behavior (nose touch to the experimenter’s closed fist). All horses exhibited maximal or near-maximal responding in the food condition, but low responding in the brushing and control conditions. Data indicated that brushing was not an effective reinforcer for horses compared to food, and this could suggest brushing is a low-value reinforcer. Alternatively, it is possible to access to food at relatively short intervals in time during the experiment may have impacted the reinforcing value of brushing. Human-animal interaction proponents are increasingly calling attention to the need to ensure that equine-inclusive healthcare services address horse welfare, including the promotion of positive welfare experiences. Results from this study support the need for more research on identifying optimal interactions that can promote mutual benefits to both humans and horses participating in EAS.

show abstract

The Importance of Comparative Psychology in Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies

Cited by 3 publications

References 68 publications

The impact on physical performance, pain and psychological wellbeing of chronic low back pain patients during 12-weeks of equine- facilitated therapy intervention

The impact on physical performance, pain and psychological wellbeing of chronic low back pain patients during 12-weeks of equine- facilitated therapy intervention

Behavioural Issues in Horses Working in Human Mental Healthcare Services

Exploring the Social Reinforcing Value of Brushing in Equine-Assisted Services: A Comparative Study with Food Reinforcement

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About