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Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Considerations for Stress Assessment in Horses
Marta De Santis1, Laura Contalbrigo2, Marta Borgi3
1Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Assisted Interventions, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. mdesantis@izsvenezie.it.
Veterinary Sciences
|October 24, 2017
Summary
Equine assisted interventions (EAIs) require more research into horse welfare. Understanding equine stress responses is crucial for safety, intervention efficacy, and ethical practice in EAIs.
Area of Science:
- Animal Welfare Science
- Equine Behavior
- Therapeutic Interventions
Background:
- Equine assisted interventions (EAIs) are increasingly popular but often lack comprehensive animal welfare data.
- Horses are sensitive to work-related stressors, including physical constraints and emotional regulation during human interaction.
- Assessing equine emotional states is vital for human/animal safety, intervention quality, and ethical considerations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for evaluating horse stress responses.
- To examine the application of these methods within EAIs.
- To discuss methodological considerations for EAI research and practice.
Main Methods:
- Unsystematic narrative review.
- Literature search of electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar).
- Hand searches of references and expert consultations.
Main Results:
- Limited studies currently investigate horse stress responses during EAIs.
- Further research is needed to establish reliable methods for assessing equine stress in therapeutic settings.
Conclusions:
- A multidimensional approach is recommended for assessing horse reactions during EAIs.
- Developing such methods will enhance the animal's perspective in therapeutic program design.
- This will ultimately improve intervention strategies and animal welfare in EAIs.
