An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention.
Authors: Hemingway Ann, Carter Sid, Callaway Andrew, Kavanagh Emma, Ellis Shelley
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Hemingway et al. (2019) combined physiological measurement and qualitative analysis to elucidate how equine-assisted interventions work, specifically investigating the role of emotional arousal in facilitating learning amongst young people with chronic mental health and behavioural difficulties who had not benefited from conventional talk-based therapies. Nine participants aged 18–24 engaged in equine sessions whilst the researchers monitored skin conductance responses (an objective marker of emotional arousal) and subsequently reviewed video footage of their own experiences, identifying moments when their emotional state shifted; simultaneously, a cross-disciplinary team of five researchers independently coded the sessions to pinpoint critical learning episodes. All participants demonstrated increased skin conductance responses during task-setting interactions with the horse and reported improved mood progression throughout the intervention, with emotional arousal consistently coinciding with significant learning moments. These findings suggest that the therapeutic mechanism operates through heightened emotional engagement triggered by the relational demands of working with the horse—a distinction that moves beyond anecdotal claims and offers equine professionals a scientifically grounded understanding of why these interventions can succeed where verbal approaches have failed. The dual methodology (real-time physiological data combined with retrospective emotional recall) provides a replicable framework for future research into embodied learning, whilst the practical implication is clear: emotional engagement, rather than instruction alone, appears central to behavioural and psychological change in this population.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Equine-assisted interventions may work through emotional engagement pathways rather than traditional talk-based mechanisms, offering an alternative for clients unresponsive to conventional therapy
- •Task-based interaction with horses (asking them to perform) appears to be the critical element triggering therapeutic emotional responses; practitioners should emphasize active engagement over passive contact
- •Measurable physiological responses (skin conductance) can validate perceived emotional benefits, potentially strengthening evidence-based practice protocols for equine interventions in mental health settings
Key Findings
- •All nine participants showed positive temporal mood changes as the equine intervention progressed
- •Significant learning episodes were associated with powerful skin conductance responses (physiological arousal markers)
- •Emotional arousal occurred specifically when participants asked the horse to perform a task
- •Mixed-method approach combining real-time psychophysiology and video-based experiential recall successfully captured the emotional landscape of the intervention