The Potential for Healing: Evaluating the Impact of Equine-Assisted Services

This qualitative study explored the many important ways that humans benefit from interactions with animals and the potential healing properties of the human-animal bond. Of interest was the nature of equine therapy. Studies examining the impact of equine therapy are minimal. Thus, this research evaluated equine therapy interventions at three Midwestern equine therapeutic farms using semi-structured interviews (N = 21) with a grounded theory analysis of respondent's experiences. Five themes resulted, demonstrating the impact of equine experiences along with a substantive theoretical model. Themes include environmentally healing setting, physical engagement, horses as healing, action-oriented interventions, and uniquely dramatic transformation. This research acknowledges and validates the role of equine therapy in social work and offers evidence that equine therapy is cathartic and healing. Future research will address the efficacy of the work across the diverse applications of this emerging practice.