The Role of the Horse in an Equine-Assisted Group Intervention-as Conceptualized by Persons with Psychotic Conditions

Abstract

Adopting positive health interventions is necessary to promote self-image, improve well-being, support meaningful social interaction and reduce loneliness, with benefits for psychological and physical health for persons with psychotic conditions. Raised awareness of the potential benefits of involving horses in these kinds of interventions is warranted. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the role of the horse in equine-assisted interventions (EAI) as conceptualized among persons with psychotic conditions. Interviews were conducted with eight persons with psychotic conditions who had participated in an EAI, and data were analyzed following conventional qualitative content analysis. The results illustrate how the horse united the group and facilitated personal maturity both at a group level and at a personal level. In the group the horse facilitated interaction and became a healthy and normal topic of discussion. The interaction between the horse and others helped the participants to become aware of and reflect on behaviors of oneself and of others. At an individual level, the horse helped to develop participants’ identities and growth by offer mutual friendship. With its size and calming way of being, the horse evoked a healing power among participants who identified characteristics of themselves in the horse. Through its clear body language and communication, the horse facilitated personal maturity and development among the participants that would not have occurred without the horse’s presence.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to those who participated in the EAI and generously shared their experiences. Thanks also to Anchor English for proofreading the manuscript. The authors also want to express gratitude to the Swedish Postcode Foundation for financial support of the practical implementation of the intervention.

Disclosure statement

The authors have confirmed that all authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship credit (www.icmje.org) as follows: (1) substantial contributions to the conception and design of or acquisition of data or analysis and interpretation of data, (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content, and (3) final approval of the version to be published.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg Sweden.