title: The Helping Horse: How Equine Assisted Learning Contributes to the Wellbeing of First Nations Youth in Treatment for Volatile Substance Misuse.
abstract: There has been recent interest in Canada exploring the benefits of equine assisted interventions in the treatment of First Nations youth who misuse volatile substances. Using the richness of an exploratory case study involving the White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre and the Cartier Equine Learning Center, our community-based study examined the question of how an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) program contributes to the wellbeing of First Nations female youth who misuse volatile substances. Both programs are grounded in a holistic bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework of healing. Our study shares how the EAL horses, facilitators and program content contributed to youths' wellbeing in each area of the healing framework (bio-psycho-social-spiritual), with emphasis on the cultural significance of the horse and its helping role. The horse is a helper in the girls' journeys toward improved wellbeing-the horse helps through its very nature as a highly instinctive animal, it helps the facilitators do their jobs, and it also helps put the treatment program activities into practice. In addition, the role of First Nations culture in the girls' lives was enhanced through their encounters with the horses. The findings support the limited literature on equine assisted interventions and add important insights to the youth addictions treatment literature. Key implications to consider for EAL and volatile substance misuse policy, practice and research are identified.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arratoon
authors.affiliation: Cartier Equine Learning Centre.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Cartier Equine Learning Centre.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cartier
authors.affiliation: University of Regina, Faculty of Social Work.
authors.forename: Darlene
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan, Department of Sociology & School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Colleen Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dell
authors.affiliation: Youth Solvent Addiction Committee.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dell
authors.affiliation: Cartier Equine Learning Centre.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dryka
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan, Department of Sociology.
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre.
authors.forename: Loni
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longclaws
authors.affiliation: Cartier Equine Learning Centre.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: MacKinnon
authors.affiliation: White Buffalo Youth Inhalant Treatment Centre.
authors.forename: Ernie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sauve
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan, Department of Sociology.
authors.forename: Serene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan, Department of Sociology.
authors.forename: Mallory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wuttunee