Some books & articles referencing EAL are accessible in the public domain.

As EAL therapy is still emerging in Western medicine’s acceptance as a complementary health approach, the literature published in this field is limited compared to other therapies. However, we must start somewhere…

I am very excited to share that a new publication has commenced in 2024 - specifically in response to expressed interest and need for quality equine-assisted service research. For more information, please go to this press release at this link: EQUUS

• Articles

  • Abbey, B. (2013). How can equine assisted therapy re-pattern the limbic system? Arabian Horse Reading Literacy Project. Retrieved Jan 14 2022 from https://www.arabianhorsereading.com/pdfs/How%20can%20equine%20assisted%20therapy%20repattern%20the%20limbic%20system.pdf

  • Anderson, D. (2004). The Human-Companion Animal Bond, The Reference Librarian, 41(86), 7-23, DOI: 10.1300/J120v41n86_02

  • Arrazola, A., and Merkies, K. (2020). Effect of Human Attachment Style on Horse Behaviour and Physiology during Equine-Assisted Activities–A Pilot Study. Animals. MDPI AG, 10(7), p. 1156. doi: 10.3390/ani10071156

  • Baus, H. (2017). Equine Assisted Learning for special populations. Master’s Thesis. Humboldt State University. Retrieved July 2021: https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=projects

  • Bexell, S. M., Clayton, S., & Myers, G. (2019). Children and animals: The importance of human-other animal relationships in fostering resilience in children. Transforming trauma: Resilience and healing through our connections with animals, 217-240. (Chapter in book available online.)

  • Brandt, K. (2004). A language of their own: An interactionist approach to human-horse communication. Society and Animals, 12, 299–316. Retrieved June, 2021. https://www.animalsandsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/brandt.pdf

  • Burgon, H.L. (2011). 'Queen of the World': experience of 'at-risk' young people participating in equine-assisted learning/therapy. J Soc Work Pract. 25:165–83. Retrieved 24 July from doi: 10.1080/02650533.2011.561304; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02650533.2011.561304

  • Chardonnens, E. (2009). The Use of Animals as Co-Therapists on a Farm: The Child—Horse Bond in Person-Centered Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 8(4), 319-332, DOI: 10.1080/14779757.2009.9688496. Retrieved on 14 Jan 2022 from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/14779757.2009.9688496?casa_token=KZcku7z8pBkAAAAA:5msLHGBIZcUdxW_tYF7Fmmt3TRBXnTFjmItiWRJDo47RoMceqYooAwNoSkN3dra8Gi6wSWfuXJo

  • Coffin, J. (2019). The Nguudu Barndimanmanha Project-Improving Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Aboriginal Youth Through Equine Assisted Learning. Front. Public Health, 7:278. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00278/full

  • Ecker, S. and Lykins, A. (2019). Effects of short-term human-horse interactions on human heart rate variability: A multiple single case study. People and Animals, 2(1). Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/paij/vol2/iss1/2

  • Ewing, C.A., MacDonald, P.M., Taylor, M. et al. (2007). Equine-Facilitated Learning for Youths with Severe Emotional Disorders: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study. Child Youth Care Forum 36, 59–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-006-9031-x

  • Fine, A., and Anderson, S. (2021). A Commentary on the Contemporary Issues Confronting Animal Assisted and Equine Assisted Interactions. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, (103436), pp. 0737 - 0806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103436

  • Fry, N. E. (2019). Horses in the treatment of trauma. Transforming trauma: Resilience and healing through our connections with animals, 265-298. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2x00vgg.12 (Chapter in book available online.)

  • Hauge, H., Kvalem, I.L., Enders-Slegers, M-J., Berget, B., & Braastad, B.O. (2015). Persistence during tasks involving horses in relation to social support, general self-efficacy and self-esteem in adolescents. Anthrozoos, 28:333–47. doi: 10.1080/08927936.2015.11435406

  • Hemingway, A., Carter, S., Callaway, A., Kavanagh, E. & Ellis, S. (2019). An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention. Animals. MDPI AG, 9(6), p. 303. doi: 10.3390/ani9060303

  • Holmes, C.M.P., Goodwin, D., Redhead, E.S., & Goymour, K.L. (2012). The benefits of equine-assisted activities: an exploratory study. Child Adolesc Soc Work J. 29:111–22. doi: 10.1007/s10560-011-0251-z

  • Huopalainen, A. (2022). More-than-Human Leadership? Studying Leadership in Horse–Human Relationships, in Linda Tallberg and Lindsay Hamilton (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Animal Organization Studies, Oxford Handbooks. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192848185.013.6

  • Jegatheesan, B. (2014). IAHAIO WHITE PAPER 2014, updated for 2018.

  • Kendall, E. & Maujean, A. (2015). Horse Play: A Brief Psychological Intervention for Disengaged Youths. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10(1), 46-61, DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2014.962720

  • Koris, R., Hanna-Maija Alalauri, & Pihlak, Ü. (2017). Learning leadership from horseback riding – more than meets the eye. Development and Learning in Organizations, 31(3), 11-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-06-2016-0045

  • Marchand, W.R., Andersen, S.J., Smith, J.E., Hoopes, K.H., & Carlson, J.K. (2021). Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Current State, Challenges and Future Directions. Chronic Stress, 5: 1-11. Retrieved 29 Sept 2021 from https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547021991556

  • Maujean, A., Pepping, C.A., & Kendall E. (2015). A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Psychosocial Outcomes, Anthrozoös, 28:1, 23-36, https://doi.org/10.2752/089279315X14129350721812

  • Pendry, P., Smith, A.N., & Roeter, S.M. (2014). Randomized trial examines effects of equine facilitated learning on adolescents' basal cortisol levels. Hum Anim Interact Bull. 2:80–95. From https://www.keulseweg.nl/media/onderzoek12.pdf

  • Perkins, B. L. (2018). A pilot study assessing the effectiveness of equine-assisted learning with adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 13(3), 298-305. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2018.1427168

  • Sable, P. (1995). Pets, Attachment, and Well-Being across the Life Cycle. Social Work, 40(3), 334-341. Retrieved July 24, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23718087

  • Scopa, C., Contalbrigo, L., Greco, A., Lanatà, A., Scilingo, E.P., & Baragli, P. (2019), Emotional Transfer in Human-Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions. Animals, Nov 26; 9(12):1030. doi: 10.3390/ani9121030. PMID: 31779120; PMCID: PMC6941042

  • Srinivasan, S. M., Cavagnino, D. T., & Bhat, A. N. (2018). Effects of equine therapy on individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Review journal of autism and developmental disorders, 5, 156-175. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6178825/

  • VanFleet, R., & RPT-S, C. D. B. C. (2019). The Power of Play and Animals: Animal Assisted Play Therapy as an Integrative Practice Model for Mental Health Treatment. New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond. 189. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2x00vgg.9 (Chapter in book available online.)

  • Waite, C., & Bourke, L. (2013). “It's different with a horse”: horses as a tool for engagement in a horse therapy program for marginalised young people. Youth Stud Aust. 32:15–24. Retrieved July 23 from https://skerrettequine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Horse-therapy-for-young-people.pdf

  • Wilson, K., Buultjens, M., Monfries, M., & Karimi, L. (2017). Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy for adolescents experiencing depression and/or anxiety: A therapist’s perspective. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22(1), p16-33. Retrieved 29 Sept 2021 from https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104515572379

  • Yorke, J., Adams, C., & Coady, N. (2008). Therapeutic value of equine-human bonding in recovery from trauma. Anthrozoos, 21(10), 17–30. Accessed at https://doi.org/10.2752/089279308X274038

• Books

  • Baker, C. (2021). The heart of a horse; life lessons from horses and other animals. Murdoch Books.

  • Esposito, N., and Fournier, A. (2023). How change happens in equine-assisted interventions: A theory of horses, humans, and psychotherapy. Routledge.

  • Fine, A. (2019). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Foundations and guidelines for animal-assisted interventions. Academic press.

  • Fine, A. (Ed.). (2010). Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice. Academic press.

  • Hallberg, L. (2018). The clinical practice of equine-assisted therapy; Including horses in healthcare. Routledge.

  • Hallberg, L. (2008). Walking the way of the horse; Exploring the power of the horse-human relationship. New York: Bloomington.

  • Hamilton, A. (2011). Zen mind zen horse; The science and spirituality of working with horses. Storey Publishing.

  • Kirby, M. (2021). Equine therapy exposed: Real life case studies of equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning with everyday people and horses. AWARE Publishing.

  • McNicholas, J., & Collis, G. (2006). Animals as social supports: Insights for understanding animal-assisted therapy. In A. Fines (Ed.), Handbook on animal-assisted therapy: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice (2nd ed., pp. 49–71). Academic Press. Accessed May 2021 from: http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/31161/1/100.Kath%20Engebretson.pdf#page=68

  • Sheade, H. E. (2020). Equine-assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy: Healing Through Horses. Routledge.

  • Schoen, A. and Gordon, S. (2015). The compassionate equestrian. Trafalgar Square.

If you discover an article or book that is not listed here and can be shared, please contact us.