PSXV-20 Pilot Study: How does horse and rider vital signs respond to participation in an equine assisted psychotherapy and learning outpatient collegiate substance use recovery program?
Authors: K. Holtcamp, M. Nicodemus, Tommy M. Phillips, D. Christiansen, P. Ryan, B. Rude, K. Galarneau
Journal: Journal of Animal Science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Physiological Response to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in Substance Use Recovery Equine assisted psychotherapy and learning (EAPL) shows promise for younger adults recovering from substance use disorder, yet the physiological demands on both participant and horse remain poorly characterised. This six-week pilot study measured heart rate, respiratory rate and pain scores in four human participants and five horses engaging in weekly one-hour EAPL sessions, recording vital signs before and after each activity. Humans demonstrated significant reductions in respiratory rate and pain ratings by session end, though heart rate remained unchanged, whilst horses showed increases across heart rate, respiratory rate and facial pain indicators—suggesting markedly different physiological responses between species. A moderate correlation existed between human and horse respiration rates (r=0.65), but relationships weakened considerably for heart rate and pain scoring, indicating that equine and human stress responses during these sessions do not track closely together. For practitioners, these findings highlight an important consideration: whilst EAPL may provide measurable psychophysiological benefits to human participants, the increasing vital signs and pain indicators in horses warrant closer attention to individual equine welfare, workload tolerance and recovery protocols during therapeutic programmes.
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Practical Takeaways
- •EAPL appears beneficial for human participants' respiratory relaxation and pain reduction, but horses show signs of increased stress—consider session duration, intensity, and equine welfare monitoring
- •The disconnect between human relaxation and horse stress responses suggests current EAPL protocols may not account adequately for equine physical demand; farriers and vets should assess horses regularly for fatigue or discomfort
- •This pilot highlights need for standardized equine welfare protocols in therapeutic programs; practitioners should not assume that calm human outcomes mean the horse is equally comfortable
Key Findings
- •Human participants showed significant decreases in respiratory rate and pain scores by end of EAPL sessions, with no change in heart rate
- •Horse vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, and pain scores) increased during EAPL sessions, indicating physiological stress on the equine
- •Moderate correlation found between human and horse respiration rates (r=0.65), but weaker correlations for heart rates and pain scores
- •Physiological responses differed substantially between humans and horses during the same EAPL activities, suggesting differential physical demand on equines