Comparison of effects of three types of facilitated horse–human interactions on stress levels of humans and horses. — ASN Events
  1. Schedule
  2. Session 5C: Effects of animal-assisted therapy on animals
  3. Comparison of effects of three types of facilitated horse–human interactions on stress levels of humans and horses.

Comparison of effects of three types of facilitated horse–human interactions on stress levels of humans and horses. (#48)

Ann Baldwin 1 , Barbara K Rector 2 , Ann C Alden 2
  1. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
  2. Adventures in Awareness, USA

Introduction: Equine facilitated learning (EFL) helps develop life skills for educational, professional and personal goals. Although EFL appears to benefit people (McCormick & McCormick, 1997), few quantitative physiological data are available. Effects of three EFL activities (grooming, “Con Su Permiso” [observing bodily feelings and sensations that arise from focusing on the horse], and “Rock Back & Sigh” [approaching horse, rocking back and sighing when horse pays attention and inviting horse to follow off-lead] on heart rate variability (HRV) of horse and human were compared. Heart rate variability is an established marker of autoregulation, or ability to maintain homeostasis, and is diminished by stress.

Methodology: Each activity took place at a different location with different facilitators, participants and horses. Each involved 24 humans (age >55 yrs, mainly female) and 3-4 horses (geldings or mares of various ages/breeds). Before, during and after the activity, HRV was measured for 5 minutes on horses and humans using pulse monitors strapped around the chest/girth. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA statistics.

Main Results: During grooming and “Con Su Permiso” human heart rate and HRV significantly increased compared to baseline: “Con Su Permiso”, HR: 84.2 ± 7.0 vs 74.5 ± 8.9(SD) bpm, p<0.001 and HRV: 38.9 ± 12.2 vs 28.8 ± 9.8 (SD) ms, p=0.02; Grooming, HR: 81.2 ± 11.9 vs 75.0 ± 10.1(SD) bpm, p<0.001 and SDRR: 58.6 ± 26.1 vs 36.5 ±17.8(SD) ms, p<0.001. The %HRV in the very low frequency range (%VLF) also significantly increased in both cases (p<0.001). During “Rock Back & Sigh” only HR significantly increased from 79.8 ± 12.9(SD) to 92.4 ± 17.8(SD), p<0.001. In almost all horses during EFL activities HR and HRV slightly increased with mean %VLF ranging from 51% to 88%, indicating no sign of stress.

Principal Conclusions and Implications for Field: Engaging with horses without trying to influence their behaviour improves human autoregulation and increases %VLF leading to lower susceptibility to inflammation and PTSD (Lampert et al, 2008; Shah et al, 2013). A more challenging activity, involving changing a horse’s behaviour, does not necessarily produce these benefits, although the horses still remain unstressed.

  1. McCormick, A. and McCormick, M. 1997. Horse Sense and the Human Heart: What Horses Can Teach Us About Trust, Bonding, Creativity, and Spirituality. Published by HCI.
  2. Lampert, R., Bremner, J.D., Su, S. et al. 2008. Decreased heart rate variability is associated with higher levels of inflammation in middle-aged men. Am Heart J. 156(4): 759.e1-7.
  3. Shah, A.J., Lampert, R., Goldberg, J., Veledar, E., Bremner, J.D. and Vaccarino, V. 2013. Posttraumatic stress disorder and impaired autonomic modulation in male twins. Biol Psychiatry. 73(11): 1103-10.