Equine‐assisted therapies using horses as healers: A concept analysis

Abstract

Abstract Aims A concept analysis was conducted to clarify the attributes, antecedents and meaning of equine‐assisted therapy and present an operational definition. Design Concept analysis. Methods Walker and Avant's concept analysis method was used to analyse equine‐assisted therapy, using horses as healers by defining and enumerating the attributes, antecedents, consequences and empirical referents. Example cases are presented. Results Defining attributes include the following: a human participant with an equine physically present to assist the human participant, a treatment or intervention as a result of the interactions between an equine and a human participant, a purposeful and regulated interaction and a positive health outcome goal from the interaction. Antecedents include a live horse with a human physically able to interact with the horse, a facilitator and accessibility to an equine‐assisted therapy (EAT) programme. Consequences include improved balance, well‐being, quality of life, trust, spasticity, self‐efficacy, self‐esteem, nurse presence, pleasure and a sense of accomplishment.

Keywords

• concept analysis
• equine‐assisted therapy
• hippotherapy
• horses
• therapeutic horseback riding