Clear language and strong evidence are essential for advancing equine-assisted services.
Explore the peer-reviewed research and terminology guidance below that support psychotherapy, counseling, and personal development services incorporating horses.
There is a growing body of peer-reviewed research supporting for equine-assisted services for mental health, including their use in psychotherapy, counseling, and equine-assisted learning for personal growth, education, and organizational development.
Horses for Mental Health is pleased to share this curated summary of studies demonstrating the positive impact of incorporating horses in mental health and well-being services.
Click the button below to view or download research references and abstracts organized by population.
Special thanks to Nerds for Herds for compiling this valuable resource.
Explore the resources below to learn about proper terminology for equine-assisted services, including those used in mental health, psychotherapy, counseling, education, and personal development.
Using clear and accurate language is essential to:
Leaders and industry stakeholders came together to conduct a consensus-building process to establish clear and consistent terminology for the diverse services incorporating horses. This work resulted in a peer-reviewed published paper defining optimal terminology to support practitioners, consumers, researchers, and funders.
Watch this insightful webinar presented by Nina Ekholm Fry and Lynn Thomas for the APA Human-Animal Interaction Section, titled: “Horses in Therapy Services: Updates to Terminology and Concepts in the United States.”
