Innovative Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Intervention for Adolescent Addiction Treatment: A Pilot Study

Background: Adolescent substance use continues to rise in the United States, and innovative interventions are needed to increase treatment outcomes. The need for innovative, complementary approaches to adolescent addiction treatment is felt. Equine facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) has demonstrated to be an innovative intervention. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the impact of an innovative EFP intervention on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes of adolescents with addiction. Patients and Methods: Ten adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder referred from local providers participated in a six-session EFP group intervention. The study utilized a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design. The study used the Adolescent Behavior survey, Patient Health questionnaire 9, and generalized anxiety disorder 7 scales that were completed by the participants at baseline and upon completion of the six sessions. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare the pretest and posttest scores. Results: The results demonstrated a significant increase in adolescent behaviors associated with Glasser’s connecting habits, including listening, trusting, supporting, encouraging, respecting and accepting, and negotiating differences. The results also demonstrated a significant reduction in depressive and anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the potential efficacy of the innovative EFP intervention integrated into a choice theory-driven treatment strategy for improving psychosocial and behavioral concerns related to adolescent addiction. Future studies should consider research design alterations to increase the generalizability and interpretation of results. Further, future studies should include a qualitative or mixed-method design to elucidate the participants’ perception of the role of the equine as part of the intervention process.

Effect of Human Attachment Style on Horse Behaviour and Physiology during Equine-Assisted Activities–A Pilot Study

Equine-assisted activities (EAA) for human well-being and health rely on human–horse interactions for therapeutic effect. At-risk participants with mental and emotional difficulties can show poor social skills and functioning relationships, potentially leading to unsuccessful human–horse interaction in EAA. This study addresses the effect of the attachment style (AS) of at-risk adolescents on horse physiology and behaviour during an equine-facilitated learning (EFL) program. Thirty-three adolescents participated in a 10-week EFL program with nine therapy horses (the same therapy horse per adolescent throughout the program). Adolescent AS was categorized into secure (n = 7), preoccupied (n = 11), dismissing (n = 1), or fearful (n = 12) using an Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structure questionnaire. Horse heart rate (HR) and behaviour (affiliative and avoidance behaviours) in response to adolescents were recorded during grooming and riding. Over time, horses with fearful AS adolescents showed consistently more affiliative behaviours compared to those with preoccupied AS adolescents during grooming, and more constant HR and avoidance behaviours compared to those with secure AS adolescents during riding. These results suggest that a more predictable and less stressful physiological and behavioural response of therapy horses toward participants in EAA with emotional and behavioural difficulties can be mediated by a human insecure attachment style.

Mind Full or Mindful? A cohort student of Equine-Facilitated Therapy for Women Veterans

Background: The purpose of the evaluation was to understand, through participant self-report, the assets and challenges of partnering with equines for female Veterans seeking to increase skills in their mindfulness practice. Methods: Surveys were administered to participants to gain insight into self-identified mindfulness pre- and post-equine intervention. All measures were anonymous with only the date included to indicate the cohort. The study included three measures post-consent: The Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Mindfulness Scale, and the Program Evaluation. Results: The Mindfulness Survey responses were averaged for pre- intervention, then for post- intervention. The pre- intervention survey responses ranged from 2.3 to 6.5 with a response range of 0 to 10 (M=4.59, SD=1.29). The post- intervention survey responses ranged from 6.7 to 9.2 (M=8.2, SD=0.69). A paired sample t-test found a significant difference in the scores from pre- intervention to post- intervention conditions (t=-9.43, df=13, p<.001). In the evaluations, participants shared that their favorite moments were (Q3): grooming and Breathe With (an activity to match breathing to the horse’s breathing). In the question asking what the participants will take away from the program (Q9) one participant shared, “The horses have taught me a lot about myself”; a common theme across respondents. Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that Veterans’ interactions with equines impacts the participants’ mindfulness throughout their experiences at Fieldstone Farm. The Veterans established a significant increase in their mindfulness scores post-equine intervention.