Research Highlights

EAGALA is committed to empirical research as an important tool in identifying best practices. Studies consistently found statistically positive change on clinical outcome measures as a result of EAP and EAL. Below are some of the many studies conducted to date;

In a 12 week comparative study of 205 ‘at-risk’ students (Grade 3-8)

• Students were considered ‘at-risk’ if they had serious behavioural issues, learning difficulties, or social adjustment concerns.
• Pre- and post- measures were taken using both the BASC Self Rating Parent Rating scales.
• A Psychosocial Session Form was also completed at the end of each session.
• Participants in EAP made statistically significant improvements in 17 areas.
• Participants in the empirically supported award-winning school based counselling program made statistically significant improvement in 5 areas.

At Risk Youth/Children – Trotter, K., Chandler, C., Goodwin-Bond, D., & Casey, J. (2008). A comparative study of the efficacy of group equine assisted counseling with at-risk children and adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, Vol. 3(3), 254-284.

Intra-family Violence

• EAP was used with 63 children who had been witness to family violence situations.
• Participants had been diagnosed with disorders such as ADHD, mood disturbances (including depression), PTSD and adjustment disorder.
• The study tested the efficacy of EAP over approximately 19 sessions.
• All 63 children showed significant improvement in their Global Assessment    of Functioning (GAF) scores from pre- to post intervention.
• Children in the group who had a history of physical abuse and neglect in addition to experiencing intra-family violence had a statistically significant greater percentage improvement in GAF scores after treatment.

Children/Intra-family violence – Schultz, P., Remick-Barlow, G.A., Robbins, L. (2006). Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence. Health and Social Care in the Community (2007) 15(3), 265-271.

Review of EAP Study

• A clinically significant increase of 82% improvement in mood conduct and psychotic disorder was found in adolescents participating in equine-assisted family therapy.
• Youth offender’s repetition of offences were reduced after equine-assisted therapy.
• Children with ADD have been reported to focus for longer periods of time when leading or grooming horses.
• Confidence and self-esteem increased through successful completion of the horse-oriented task.

Review of EAP – Frewin, K. & Gardiner, B. (2005). “New age or old sage? A review of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.” The Australian Journal of Counselling Psychology, 6, pp13-17.

Social Competence

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine if an 11 week EAL program enhanced children’s social competence (Grade 5-8). 64 children were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group.
• Pre- and post- measures were taken by parents of both groups. The experimental group participated in once-weekly, 90-minute EAL sessions of individual, team, and group-focused equine facilitated activities.
• The EAL had significant positive effects in terms of various aspects of social competence, including improvements in self-awareness, self-management, personal responsibility, decision making, goal directed behaviour, and relationship skills.

Pendry, P., & Roeter, S. 2013. Experimental Trial Demonstrates Positive Effects of Equine Facilitated Learning on Child Social Competence. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 1(1): 1-19.

Cortisol Levels / Trauma

• In a randomised trial, children had significantly lower basal cortisol (stress hormone) measures after 11 weeks of engaging with horses than those on the waitlist group (Lower basal cortisol levels constitute a protective influence against the development of psychopathology and health problems).
• A program evaluation study found the EAGALA Model is an effective approach when working to alleviate trauma symptoms for children and adolescents who had been sexually abused, resulting in a significant reduction in undesirable behaviours and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Cortisol level and mental health – Pendry, P. (Ph. D.), Smith, A., and Roeter, S. (2014). Randomized trial examines effects of equine facilitated learning on adolescents’ basal cortisol levels. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin 2014, Vol. 2, No 1, 80-95.

Trauma – Kemp, K. et.al (2013). “Equine Facilitated Therapy with children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: A program evaluation study.” Journal of Child and Family Studies.

PTSD / Violent Behaviour

• An evaluation on Veterans participating in an EAGALA program revealed a 72% reduction in symptoms of PTSD. The program further revealed 50% of veterans with PTSD experienced reduction in symptoms that were clinically significant.
• A clinical study revealed EAP reduced violent behaviour in chronic psychiatric inpatients and had significant improvement compared to the canine therapy group and the psychoeducation group.
• A reduction in violent behaviour continued to be sustained for several months after treatment and concluded EAP may be an effective therapeutic modality for long-term psychiatric patients at risk of violence.

Veterans with PTSD – PEACE Ranch, Equine Assisted Veterans Services (EAVS) December 2013 Report, www.eagala.org.

Violence – Nurenberg, J.R. et.al (2014). “Animal-Assisted Therapy With Chronic Psychiatric Inpatients: Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Aggressive Behavior.” Psychiatric Services in Advance, Oct. 1, 2014.