Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Equine assisted therapy is being used successfully in patients with different psychic and motor pathologies. In the present work, different physiological and behavioral parameters have been evaluated in horses and patients with psychomotor alterations during equine assisted therapy sessions. After a first anticipatory phase in which signs of stress were observed in the behavior of the horses, with increased heart and respiratory rates as well as increased blood pressure, the horses relaxed in the phase of interaction with the patients on the ground. Later, in the phase of interaction with the patient on horseback, physical activity increased the heart and respiratory rates in the horses, but these parameters decreased after finishing the sessions (recovery phase). The patients also showed some anticipatory stress with increased heart rate in the first phase, but they relaxed during the interaction phases on the ground and on horseback. In addition, the quality of sleep improved on the days of therapy. On the other hand, the patients improved their fine and gross motor function, as well as the parameters related to the cognitive, emotional and affective-social areas. The benefits in the patients had a positive influence on the quality of life of their families. ABSTRACT: Different welfare indicators were studied in three patients with psychomotor alterations and in two horses throughout 9–10 equine assisted therapy sessions in each patient. In horses, heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, temperature and behavioral signs were studied. In patients, heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, sleep quality, psychomotor and emotional parameters were analyzed. Data collection was recorded in the anticipatory phase (15 min before the start of the session), two interaction phases (after 30 min of horse-patient interaction on the ground and on horseback, respectively) and the recovery phase (15 min after the end of the session). During the anticipatory phase, most of physiological parameters of patients and horses and the stress behavioral signs of horses increased, followed by a relaxing phase during the horse-patient interaction on the ground. In horse-patient riding phase the heart and respiratory rates of the horses again increased. These results showed that the horses did not seem to suffer stress attributable to the therapy sessions, but only an increase in their parameters associated with activity and external stimuli. The patients improved their gross and fine motor skills, their cognitive and perceptual-sensitive parameters and it led to an improvement in the life quality of their families.