Klontz, Bradley T., et al. "The effectiveness of equine-assisted experiential therapy: Results of an open clinical trial." Society & Animals 15.3 (2007): 257-267.
This is a research document that outlines the efficacy of administering equine assisted experiential therapy. It describes the approach that is used in this form of therapy. The report by Klontz presents outcomes of a study carried out on 31 participants in regards to the horse therapy and experiential program. The participants in the study were taken through psychological measures that are undertaken before treatment and then a treatment plan is administered and evaluated to check the effectiveness preferably six months later. The results of the study reported the reduction of psychological stress as well as notable enhancement in the psychological well-being of the participants during the six month follow-up after the treatment. In addition to the study, the paper also discusses the clinical implications and the gaps that are present in the available studies and the recommendations and directions for further research.
This is an article that would not only be useful in understanding the concept of equine-assisted experiential therapy but would also enable the research in understanding how the therapy itself is administered. Besides, it would help the research by giving factual evidence of the effectiveness of equine therapy based on the observations of the implications that the therapy has on the participants. The clinical implications in the research paper are essential in comparing this type of therapy to other available therapies in the healthcare industry. The fact that it measures the gaps in the available researches implies that it gives direction in any intended research in regards to the experiential equine-assisted therapy.
Nelson, Angie, Tania Signal, and Rachel Wilson. "Equine assisted therapy and learning." Society & Animals 24.4 (2016): 337-357.
Angie et al provide an intricate look into the utilization of equine assisted therapy and learning in Australia. It takes the reader through the variations that exist worldwide among the different Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) centers. It is clear from the article that there are various practices in the states in Australia where equine assisted therapy and learning are applied. These centers apply a range of principles, foundations, training and certification processes that are applied in the training of horses used in the equine assisted therapy and learning. Besides, this article by Nelson et al try to deduce the implication of adopting this methodology of practice in many mental and health as well as learning institution and in the mainstream professional processes.
This paper presents a complex look into the practice of equine assisted therapy in Australia. While the authors provide these useful information, it is rather apparent that they do not consider the theoretical underpinnings that would make the adaptation of this approach of therapy into the mainstream. Likewise, there is no consideration for the likelihood of using horse therapy alongside other strategies of teaching. Besides, the article does not compare the therapy with other therapy strategies for psychological issues. It is quite apparent that the writer acknowledges the implication of equine assisted therapy on mental illnesses but does not consider the importance the neurological issues associated with experiential therapy. It is, however, prudent to note the fact that the horses are trained before being used in the therapy and learning process.
Coman, Drew C., et al. "Effect of Equine-Assisted Activities on Social and Sensory Functioning of Children with Autism." Brill(2017).
Coman et al. take the reader through replicated, randomized, and control trial of the equine therapy undertaken in a span of 12 weeks. The study looks at the intervention on the social and sensory functioning of children with neurological diseases mainly autism. It collaborates with the caregivers i.e. the teachers and the parents to establish the efficacy of the therapy among children with sensory issues. The study carries out a multi-layered assessment of the outcomes to support the validity of the reports given by the caregivers. The reports provide an insight into the effectiveness of the therapy among children with autism as is seen in the improved functioning and social and sensory adaptation to the change in experience. The result of the study also indicates that the activities in equine assisted therapy are a beneficial modality in delivering strategies for treating autism-specific complications.
The information in the article highlights the efficacy of the equine assisted therapy among children with autism especially in forging sensory and social functioning. However, it does not consider the other factors that may have played a role in the social breakdown in the children and the neurological disorders associated with autism. Likewise, the article does not address the fact that there may be gaps in regards to research about the administration of equine-assisted therapy in helping children suffering from neurological disorders mainly autism in the development of their sensory and social functioning. Besides, it does not underscore the application of the therapy on other forms of neurological diseases. Generally, the article gives an explicit relationship on equine-assisted therapy and sensory and social functions of children living with autism.
Bachi, Keren. "Equine-facilitated psychotherapy: The gap between practice and knowledge." Society & Animals 20.4 (2012): 364-380.
In this article, Keren Bachi underscores the fact that equine facilitated therapy is widely used. However, it is notable that this article by the author states that there are gaps in regards to the information available on this form of treatment and therapy. It is quite apparent that despite the fact that horse therapy is a form of treatment that is growing in immenseness, there does to be enough information in the same regards. The author, however, attempts to use the available information to analyze the link between aspects of equine assisted therapy and physical health. It is also apparent that the article presents an analysis of the present existing knowledge of social, emotional, and mental principles that have been applied in the EAT. The limited and erroneous knowledge in EAT is explained as lack of control groups and limited sample size in the study. In addition to that, the study highlights the fact that the existing studies are often affected by the fundamental issues such as the sample sizes and the lack of control groups, thus explaining the limited or erroneous knowledge in the field of EAT. The fact that there are challenges in these aspects imply that there are challenges in development of theories and principles that would guide the studies of horse therapy as a form of animal assisted therapy and treatment. It is also prudent to note that the author suggests an approach that would promote further knowledge development in the field.
Perhaps strength of this article is that it acknowledges the likelihood of combining theoretical underpinnings of the horse therapy to other theories such as the attachment theory. This is a leeway towards ensuring a more intricate approach especially when applying the horse therapy to children with experiential issues. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that despite the fact that the writer tries to highlight the gaps in literature regarding horse therapy, he also uses the same limited knowledge to make his deductions in the field. He highlights the social, mental, and emotional applications of the existing knowledge. However, this is an important article that gives direction in the regards to methodological concerns in the field of study regarding equine assisted therapy as well as insights on underlying process of change.
Trotter, Kay Sudekum, ed. Harnessing the power of equine assisted counseling: Adding animal assisted therapy to your practice. Taylor & Francis, 2012.
This book elaborates different aspects of equine assisted therapy. It also highlights the role of the horse and its relationship with both the client and the therapist. It explains how the horse may be used to develop a client’s mental, emotional, and physical abilities, as well as the theoretical foundations that dictate the different ways in which the EAT may be applied to the different needs of the clients. It is notable that the book not only seeks to establish the connection between the theoretical foundations of the EAT and the role of the horse in the counseling session. It also covers the history of the animal assisted therapy and the theoretical principles associated with it. It is rather apparent that the book notes the several areas in which animal assisted therapy can be applied such as in treating PTSD, depression, hyperactivity and attention deficit in both adults and children.
This book is essential in understanding the connection between the use of horses in experiential therapy and clinical counseling. It is also notable that it looks beyond the existing knowledge in the field of horse therapy but also into the efficacy of combining the therapy with other psychotherapeutic treatments and counseling. However, the book does not highlight the application of animal assisted therapy in neurological illnesses but focuses on psychological disorders.
Burgon, Hannah Louise. Equine-assisted therapy and learning with at-risk young people. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
This book gives an elaborate overview of equine assisted therapy and learning as well as a powerful account of a research study carried out to chart the experiences of seven ‘at-risk’ young people at the Therapeutic Horsemanship Center in the United Kingdom. The book begins by defining what the authors consider to be ‘at-risk’ individuals and the different ways that horse therapy can be applied to help not just to build self-confidence but also the aspects of attachment, empathy and trust driven by their relationships with horses. It is also notable that Hanna Louise Burgon highlights the different ways in which horse therapy may be combined with other forms of therapy when dealing with ‘at-risk’ individuals. In addition to that Burgon highlights how the relationship between horses and their environment assist in therapy and learning.
It is rather noteworthy that perhaps the greatest strength of this source is that it acknowledges the presence of other forms of therapy. It also gives a highlight of how the therapy can be combined with other forms of therapy. However, the writer does not appreciate the gaps in regards to the existing knowledge in equine assisted therapy and learning field. As such it is quite apparent that the information is based on the limited research findings in the same field.
Hoffman, Lisan. Equine Assisted Therapy: an experience based practice? University of Gronigen, 2016.
Hoffman, in this article, takes the reader through the various inherent concepts of horse therapy. With the case study for Netherlands, it is rather apparent that the effects of the therapy are still unknown to a large extent. This report seeks to find the effects of horse therapy with the help of horses and compares the results with the available resources and knowledge about equine assisted therapy. LisanHofman assesses the professional aspects and concepts that are often applied in horse therapy. In light of this, it is quite apparent that according to the author there are several aspects in the field of horse therapy that are not extensively researched. It is prudent to also note that the author underscores the various ways in which professionalism in handling horses may be included in the therapy sessions to get the intended effects which are also intended to get the most efficient results. The paper also recommends follow-up research that may provide practice based evidence on the efficiency of horse therapy.
While it is obvious that the paper notes the gaps in knowledge in the field of horse therapy, it is also prudent to note that the author focuses on the fact that there is little evidence from the practice that can support the efficiency of the form of therapy. In light of this, this is a source that gives a different perspective in consideration of the practice of horse therapy.
Trotter, Kay Sudekum, et al. "A comparative study of the efficacy of group equine assisted counseling with at-risk children and adolescents." Journal of Creativity in Mental Health 3.3 (2008): 254-284.
This study by Trotter analyzes the efficacy of the equine assisted therapy by comparing the different ways of application of the form of treatment and learning. In this literature, the author offers a comparison of Equine Assisted Counseling (EAC) and classroom based counseling based on efficiency. The study spans 12 counseling sessions of students at a high risk of academic and social failure to provide basis for making comparison. The results of the study indicate that EAC is more effective based on the behavioral improvements noted among students who went through EAC. There are increased positive behaviors and significant decreases in negative behaviors in their cases. Ratings of the social behaviors also showed statistically significant improvement in regards to positive relations.
While the research sought to get a comparison between the various ways in which counseling is often conducted in schools, it is rather apparent that it did not consider the difference in individual and groups therapy. It is prudent to note that different people are more reactive to diverse forms of therapy. As such, they are likely to respond to tailor-made forms of therapy. In light of this, there is a gap in understanding the difference in response to the various forms of therapy applied in both cases. This fact implies that the study does not put into consideration the diverse needs of the case study group.
Benda, William, Nancy H. McGibbon, and Kathryn L. Grant. "Improvements in muscle symmetry in children with cerebral palsy after equine-assisted therapy (hippotherapy)." The Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine 9.6 (2003): 817-825.
In a rather interesting twist, this is an article that does not consider the efficiency as a concept but presents an evidence-based account of the efficacy of equine-assisted therapy in children with cerebral palsy. In this article, the authors consider the fact that equine therapy not only assists in emotional and social functioning but also in the important functionality of limbs for the patient. It is prudent to note that this study puts into context the ways in which equine assisted therapy is put into practice to assist in muscle symmetry. The study focuses on the case of 15 children who were put through eight minutes of both hippotherapy and stationary barrel. The effects of hippotherapy on the improvement of muscle activities were better compared to the stationary barrel method. This article is more of a comparative literature for the various ways of therapy for the children with cerebral palsy. The improved muscle activities can be attributed to the horse movements and not passive stretching.
The resource would be helpful in analyzing the efficiency of hippotherapy in fostering physical movements, an aspect that is not widely considered in many studies. On the other hand, the paper only considers one neurological disorder and as such using it for an analysis of the efficiency of the process of other disorders would imply that one would assume that all neurological disorders would bear the same outcomes.
Schultz, Pamela N., G. Remick‐Barlow, and Leslie Robbins. "Equine‐assisted psychotherapy: A mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra‐family violence." Health & Social Care in the Community 15.3 (2007): 265-271.
Horse therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes horses as tools of getting the intended results. It is a form that is often used to treat experiential issues that may be related to social, emotional, psychological, or mental problems. Besides, equine assisted therapy is essential in treating neurological disorders. In this article, Pamela Schultz et al. consider the efficacy of this type of therapy among children who have experienced mental breakdowns due to violence in the family. In the article she elaborates how this form of therapy can be used to treat personality issues that may arise from violence in the family – such as self-esteem issues as well as behavioral and mental health problems associated with the trauma of violence. Horse therapy in this case is taken as a treatment process for the various mental and behavioral problems in the various children considered in the case study. The results of the study implied that there are statistical improvement in scores among children with a history of physical abuse and neglect.
It is rather apparent that the article brings into perspective the aspect of Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF). The author uses the GAF scores to assess the improvements and the efficacy of horse therapy. Nevertheless, it is prudent to note that there is no extensive elaboration of the concept of GAF by the author and as such the assumption that the reader has ample knowledge of this aspect creates space for gaps in the understanding of the literature review from the perspective of the reader. Nevertheless, it is quite ostensible that the author acknowledges the fact that the study does not consider long-term effects of the form of therapy applied.
