Volunteer Engagement within Equine Assisted Services.
Authors: Vincent Aviva, Morrissey Meghan, Acri Mary, Guo Fei, Hoagwood Kimberly
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Volunteer Engagement in Equine Assisted Services Forty-one volunteers at a PATH Intl-accredited adaptive riding centre participated in a 10-session intervention programme whilst leading horses for riders with various cognitive, physical, and social-emotional needs, with researchers measuring physiological stress markers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and affiliative bonding (oxytocin) via saliva samples collected before and after sessions. Although oxytocin and alpha-amylase showed non-significant positive trends whilst cortisol remained stable, the more striking finding emerged from post-intervention surveys: volunteers reported high satisfaction and acknowledged their critical safety role, yet described experiencing a nuanced form of stress linked to their sense of responsibility rather than negative affect. This paradox—elevated alpha-amylase (indicating activation) coupled with stable cortisol and increasing oxytocin (indicating social bonding)—suggests volunteers experience what might be termed eustress, a physiologically engaged but emotionally positive state. Understanding the complex emotional and physiological demands placed on volunteers matters considerably for equine therapy practitioners: recognising this dual activation-bonding dynamic can inform better volunteer support structures, retention strategies, and safety protocols, particularly crucial given the sector's dependence on volunteer commitment for programme sustainability and rider welfare.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Understand that volunteers experience managed stress levels during adaptive riding sessions—their raised alpha-amylase reflects engagement and responsibility, not harmful stress, and is paired with affiliative bonding markers
- •Recognize volunteers as essential safety partners in equine-assisted services; their internalized accountability directly impacts rider-horse safety outcomes
- •Design volunteer programs that acknowledge and support the dual emotional experience of responsibility and reward to build sustainable, long-term volunteer engagement
Key Findings
- •Volunteer cortisol levels remained stable while alpha-amylase showed a non-significant positive trend and oxytocin increased, suggesting managed stress with simultaneous affiliative bonding
- •Volunteers perceived their role positively and reported enjoyment in assisting riders despite internalized responsibility for safety
- •All 41 saliva samples were successfully collected across four time points during the 10-session intervention
- •Volunteers experienced complex emotions balancing safety responsibility with meaningful human-horse bonding experiences