Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Intervention in Institutionalized Children: Case Studies

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Child Development

Background:

• Institutionalized children often exhibit behavioral issues and underdeveloped socio-emotional skills, crucial for life adaptation.
• Equine-assisted services (EAS) offer a therapeutic approach to enhance psychomotor and socio-emotional development.

Observation:

• A 17-session individual equine-assisted services (EAS) intervention with a psychomotor focus was conducted.
• Participants included three institutionalized children receiving weekly 45-minute sessions.
• Quantitative and qualitative assessments were performed pre- and post-intervention.

Findings:

• The EAS intervention led to significant improvements in socio-emotional competencies.
• Key improvements were observed in intrapersonal skills, self-regulation, and self-control.
• Enhanced intentionality of movement and context-appropriate gestures were also noted.

Implications:

• Equine-assisted services (EAS) present a promising therapeutic and educational strategy for institutionalized children.
• This approach can contribute to improved mental health and overall well-being in this vulnerable population.
• Findings support the integration of EAS into care frameworks for children in institutional settings.