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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Conside...
Veterinary sciences2017; 4(3); 44; doi: 10.3390/vetsci4030044

Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Considerations for Stress Assessment in Horses.

Abstract: Equine assisted interventions (EAIs) are recently facing an increasing popularity, and are characterized by a wide diversity of practices. However, information on the welfare of animals involved in this kind of activity is often lacking. Horses are highly susceptible to work stressors related to physical constraints and/or to the need to control emotions while interacting with humans. Considerations of the emotional state of horses involved in EAIs have multiple valences: for the safety of humans and animals involved, for the quality and efficacy of interventions, as well as for ethical reasons. The aim of this unsystematic narrative review is to summarize the different approaches used for the evaluation of horses' stress responses, investigate their application in the context of EAIs, and discuss some methodological considerations for researchers and practitioners involved in EAI. The sources of information are mostly based on electronic databases (i.e., Medline, Scopus and Google scholar), as well as on hand searches of the references of retrieved literature, and discussions with experts in the field. At present, a few studies have investigated horses' stress responses during EAIs, and further studies are recommended, with the final aim to derive a reliable multidimensional method for assessing a horse's reaction during therapeutic programs, ultimately helping professionals to better develop interventions by taking into consideration the animal's perspective.
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Publication Date: 2017-09-08 PubMed ID: 29056702PubMed Central: PMC5644660DOI: 10.3390/vetsci4030044Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 is about the examination of stress responses in horses involved in Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs), to ensure the welfare of the animals and improve the efficacy of interventions.

Article Overview

The study provides a narrative review that assesses the various methodologies employed to evaluate stress responses in horses engaged in Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs).

  • This paper acknowledges the increasing popularity of EAIs but also highlights a major concern; the lack of available information on the welfare of horses used in such programs.
  • Given that horses are vulnerable to stressors related to physical labour and emotional management during human interaction, understanding their emotional state during EAIs is seen as crucial not only for ethical reasons but also for the safety and efficacy of the interventions.

Research Methodology

The review bases its findings on a comprehensive analysis of literature on the subject acquired from electronic databases such as Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

  • It also encompasses a thorough examination of references from other retrieved literature and expert opinions in the field.

Key Findings and Conclusion

Upon the review, the research indicates a deficiency in studies that explore horses’ stress responses during EAIs.

  • Most existing studies lack a consistent method for evaluating a horse’s reaction to stress during therapeutic programs.
  • This research therefore strongly recommends further studies aiming at developing a consistent, multidimensional approach for assessing a horse’s reaction during EAIs.
  • The authors believe such a method will contribute significantly towards improving the design of interventions by considering the welfare of the animals involved.

Cite This Article

APA
De Santis M, Contalbrigo L, Borgi M, Cirulli F, Luzi F, Redaelli V, Stefani A, Toson M, Odore R, Vercelli C, Valle E, Farina L. (2017). Equine Assisted Interventions (EAIs): Methodological Considerations for Stress Assessment in Horses. Vet Sci, 4(3), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci4030044

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
PII: 44

Researcher Affiliations

De Santis, Marta
  • Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Assisted Interventions, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. mdesantis@izsvenezie.it.
Contalbrigo, Laura
  • Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Assisted Interventions, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. lcontalbrigo@izsvenezie.it.
Borgi, Marta
  • Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy. marta.borgi@iss.it.
Cirulli, Francesca
  • Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy. francesca.cirulli@iss.it.
Luzi, Fabio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy. fabio.luzi@unimi.it.
Redaelli, Veronica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy. veronica.redaelli@unimi.it.
Stefani, Annalisa
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. astefani@izsvenezie.it.
Toson, Marica
  • Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. mtoson@izsvenezie.it.
Odore, Rosangela
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy. rosangela.odore@unito.it.
Vercelli, Cristina
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy. cristina.vercelli@unito.it.
Valle, Emanuela
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy. emanuela.valle@unito.it.
Farina, Luca
  • Italian National Reference Centre for Animal Assisted Interventions, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy. lfarina@izsvenezie.it.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

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