The clients' experience of equine therapy : towards the development of a theoretical model of the perceived psychotherapeutic effects

• Main Author: Hockley, Jemma H.
• Published: University of East London 2009
• Subjects: 636.1
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.532944

There has been a growth in the use of animal based interventions to support people who have experienced mental distress. Equine Therapy is one such intervention which uses interactions with horses to create psychotherapeutic change. This study explores the experiences of mental health service users who have taken part in Equine Therapy with the aim of further understanding the possible psychotherapeutic benefits. Eight participants were recruited from three Equine Therapy programmes currently running in the United Kingdom. Individual interviews were conducted with participants and then transcribed and analysed using grounded theory (Glaser and Strauss, 1967). This method allowed for a preliminary model of the experience of Equine Therapy to be generated. The participants identified core aspects of Equine Therapy which helped them to change in ways that were ultimately supportive of their mental and physical wellbeing. The findings of the current study suggest that Equine Therapy is a unique experience which can support psychotherapeutic change in individuals and lead to improvements in their quality of life.