Equine-Assisted Learning for Children with Trauma and their Caregivers

Animal-assisted therapies, including work with horses, are increasingly incorporated into interventions aiming to promote health and well-being for individuals exposed to trauma. This study evaluates an equine-assisted learning (EAL) intervention with children who have experienced trauma and their caregivers. Children and caregivers were referred for participation by social service agencies and law enforcement based on reports of children's exposure to trauma. Children participated in a seven-week psycho-educational EAL Intervention, Resilience Reins, which aims to improve children's competencies and perceptions in emotion regulation, communication, and self-efficacy. All sessions include unmounted work with horses. While children participated in the Resilience Reins program, caregivers were invited to participate in the Parent Café, a six-week psycho-educational series, developed by Be Strong Families, that aimed to provide parents/caregivers with social support and information on key protective factors for parenting children who have experienced trauma. At pretest and posttest, caregivers (n = 151) completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which assesses children's social behavior, peer relationships, conduct, emotional health, and hyperactivity. They also completed the Be Strong Protective Factors Survey, which includes measures of family functioning/resiliency, social support, concrete support, nurturing and attachment, and knowledge of parenting/child development. Repeated Measures MANOVA and paired samples t-tests were used to examine the data for changes over time on the measures. The results indicated significant improvement in family functioning and parenting knowledge. Children improved in conduct problems, hyperactivity, and emotional problems. Older boys whose caregivers participated in the Parent Café also experienced improvement in peer problems and prosocial behavior.