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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(7); 1156; doi: 10.3390/ani10071156

Effect of Human Attachment Style on Horse Behaviour and Physiology during Equine-Assisted Activities-A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Equine-assisted activities (EAA) for human well-being and health rely on human-horse interactions for therapeutic effect. At-risk participants with mental and emotional difficulties can show poor social skills and functioning relationships, potentially leading to unsuccessful human-horse interaction in EAA. This study addresses the effect of the attachment style (AS) of at-risk adolescents on horse physiology and behaviour during an equine-facilitated learning (EFL) program. Thirty-three adolescents participated in a 10-week EFL program with nine therapy horses (the same therapy horse per adolescent throughout the program). Adolescent AS was categorized into secure (n = 7), preoccupied (n = 11), dismissing (n = 1), or fearful (n = 12) using an Experiences in Close Relationships - Relationship Structure questionnaire. Horse heart rate (HR) and behaviour (affiliative and avoidance behaviours) in response to adolescents were recorded during grooming and riding. Over time, horses with fearful AS adolescents showed consistently more affiliative behaviours compared to those with preoccupied AS adolescents during grooming, and more constant HR and avoidance behaviours compared to those with secure AS adolescents during riding. These results suggest that a more predictable and less stressful physiological and behavioural response of therapy horses toward participants in EAA with emotional and behavioural difficulties can be mediated by a human insecure attachment style.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-08 PubMed ID: 32650381PubMed Central: PMC7401529DOI: 10.3390/ani10071156Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article explores how the attachment style of adolescents with emotional or mental health difficulties can influence the behavior and physiology of therapy horses used in equine-assisted activities.

Objective of the Study

  • The main aim of this study was to examine how the attachment style of at-risk adolescents can impact the behavior and physiology of horses during equine-assisted activities, specifically during an equine-facilitated learning (EFL) program.

Participants and Methods

  • This study involved thirty-three adolescents who were partaking in a ten-week EFL program.
  • Nine therapy horses were involved in the program.
  • To assess the attachment style of the participating adolescents, the researchers used the Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structure questionnaire. The attachment styles were then categorized as secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or fearful.
  • The study analyzed the behaviour of the horse (based on affiliative and avoidance behaviours), as well as the horse’s heart rate, in response to the adolescents during grooming and riding activities.

Findings

  • The study found that horses paired with adolescents showing a fearful attachment style, exhibited more affiliative behaviour during grooming as compared to those paired with adolescents having a preoccupied attachment style.
  • Additionally, these horses paired with fearful attachment style adolescents showed a more constant heart rate and avoidance behaviours during riding compared to horses paired with adolescents with a secure attachment style.

Conclusion

  • The outcomes of this study suggest that the attachment styles of human participants in EAA can influence the physiological and behavioural responses of therapy horses.
  • Particularly, more predictable and less stressful behavioural responses by therapy horses towards participants can be seen when the human participant has an insecure attachment style.

Cite This Article

APA
Arrazola A, Merkies K. (2020). Effect of Human Attachment Style on Horse Behaviour and Physiology during Equine-Assisted Activities-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel), 10(7), 1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071156

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
PII: 1156

Researcher Affiliations

Arrazola, Aitor
  • Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
  • Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Merkies, Katrina
  • Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
  • Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

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