THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EQUINE THERAPY ON MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Equine therapy is a relatively newer form of therapy now used to treat a multitude of ailments, including PTSD, depression and anxiety. Using a horse as a therapeutic tool, whether it is by doing groundwork, grooming the horse, or riding, has been found to offer physical and psychological comfort that wouldn't normally be present in traditional therapies and allow the patient to focus on other tasks at hand while relating certain situations faced with the horse to their everyday life. Furthermore, equine therapy allows patients to step away from the current stigmas they would face surrounding traditional mental health services. While there are a myriad of new studies full of quantitative and qualitative data relating to the efficacy of equine therapy, the field is still underdeveloped. It lacks congruence and regulation that would allow it to be seen in a higher regard compared to other research in animal-assisted therapies and traditional therapies.