Stress-related behaviors among horses used in a therapeutic riding program.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether therapeutic riding resulted in higher levels of stress or frustration for horses than did recreational riding and whether therapeutic riding with at-risk individuals was more stressful for the horses than was therapeutic riding with individuals with physical or emotional handicaps.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
14 horses in a therapeutic riding program.


METHODS
An ethogram of equine behaviors was created, and horses were observed while ridden by 5 groups of riders (recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, at risk children, and special education children). Number of stress-related behaviors (ears pinned back, head raised, head turned, head tossed, head shaken, head down, and defecation) was compared among groups.


RESULTS
No significant differences in mean number of stress-related behaviors were found when horses were ridden by recreational riders, physically handicapped riders, psychologically handicapped riders, or special education children. However, mean number of stress-related behaviors was significantly higher when horses were ridden by the at-risk children.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that for horses in a therapeutic riding program, being ridden by physically or psychologically handicapped individuals is no more stressful for the horses than is being ridden in the same setting by recreational riders. However, at-risk children caused more stress to the horses, suggesting that the time horses are ridden by at-risk children should be limited both daily and weekly.
Kaiser
Lana
L
Human-Animal Bond Initiative, College of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
Heleski
Camie R
CR
Siegford
Janice
J
Smith
Katharine Ann
KA
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000662:veterinary*