Equine-Assisted Learning for Children with Trauma and their Caregivers.

Equine-assisted learning (EAL) programs were evaluated for their effectiveness in improving emotional and behavioral outcomes in children who have experienced trauma and supporting their caregivers through a concurrent psycho-educational series. The study found improvements in children’s behavior and emotional health as well as enhanced family functioning and parenting knowledge for caregivers.

Study Purpose and Population

• The research aimed to assess the impact of an equine-assisted learning intervention on children exposed to trauma and their caregivers.
• Participants included children referred by social services and law enforcement due to trauma exposure and their caregivers.
• The children and caregivers represented families dealing with the effects of trauma-related challenges.

Intervention Details

• Children took part in the “Resilience Reins” program, a seven-week psycho-educational equine-assisted learning intervention.
• The intervention focused on developing children’s competencies in emotion regulation, communication, and self-efficacy.
• Sessions involved unmounted work with horses, which means activities were conducted on the ground without riding.
• Caregivers participated concurrently in the “Parent Café,” a six-week psycho-educational series designed to deliver social support and parenting information.
• The Parent Café was developed by Be Strong Families and targeted protective factors such as family functioning, social and concrete support, nurturing/attachment, and parenting knowledge.

Measurement and Data Collection

• Data were collected before and after the interventions using two main instruments completed by caregivers:
• The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), assessing children’s social behavior, peer relationships, conduct problems, emotional health, and hyperactivity.
• The Be Strong Protective Factors Survey, measuring family environment factors including resiliency, support systems, nurturing behaviors, and parenting knowledge.
• A total of 151 caregivers participated in the assessments.

Data Analysis Methods

• Repeated Measures Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to detect changes over time across multiple dependent variables.
• Paired samples t-tests were conducted to compare pretest and posttest scores for specific measures.

Key Findings

• Children showed significant improvements in:
• Conduct problems — indicating reduced behavioral issues.
• Hyperactivity — reflecting better attention and activity regulation.
• Emotional problems — showing enhanced emotional well-being.
• Caregivers demonstrated significant gains in:
• Family functioning and resiliency — suggesting stronger family dynamics.
• Parenting knowledge — indicating improved understanding of child development and trauma-informed parenting strategies.
• Among older boys whose caregivers attended the Parent Café, additional positive outcomes included:
• Improvements in peer relationship problems.
• Increase in prosocial behaviors — behaviors that benefit others and promote positive social interactions.

Implications

• The integration of equine-assisted learning with psycho-educational support for caregivers may be an effective trauma-informed intervention.
• The use of horses in therapeutic activities can engage children in learning emotional regulation and communication skills in a unique manner.
• Simultaneously supporting caregivers through education and social support can enhance the family’s protective factors, potentially contributing to sustained improvements for children.
• This combined approach addresses both the needs of children who experienced trauma and the parenting context, highlighting the importance of caregiver involvement.

Limitations and Future Directions

• The study design does not specify a control group, which limits conclusions about causality.
• Future research could include randomized controlled trials to better establish efficacy.
• Long-term follow-up would be valuable to assess the durability of observed improvements.
• Exploring mechanisms by which equine-assisted learning impacts emotional and behavioral outcomes would deepen understanding.