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. 2019 Sep 27;7(1):58-67.
doi: 10.1002/nop2.377. eCollection 2020 Jan.

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

Sharon White-Lewis  1
Affiliations

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

Sharon White-Lewis. Nurs Open. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare associated with this manuscript.

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