Healing with Horses: Pilot Study of Equine-Facilitated Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Background:

As the incidence of cancer increases, there is a growing need to address consequences such as depression, fatigue, pain, distress, and decreased self-esteem, which often limit life participation. Although horses have been used to address emotional needs for people with other conditions, equine-facilitated group therapies have not been fully explored for cancer survivors. This research aims to determine the influence of an equine-facilitated survivorship program on emotional distress and quality of life, and to explore the experiences of the participants for better understanding of program outcomes.

Materials and Methods:

This concurrent embedded mixed-methods pilot study utilized a one-group pre- and post-test design. Convenience sampling identified adult cancer survivors (n = 4, M age 62 ± 7.07 years) who participated in a 10-week program of unmounted horsemanship activities and support group processing, designed to address emotional healing after cancer diagnosis and treatment. Paired t-tests analyzed quality of life and well-being, as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and a Psychosocial Distress Screening tool. Weekly field notes and interviews were analyzed following a phenomenological approach to explore participant experiences related to program outcomes.

Results:

Quantitative results identified positive trends in quality of life and well-being, as well as reduced psychosocial distress. FACT-G total score demonstrated statistically significant improvement in quality of life (t = −5.93, p = 0.01). Qualitative analysis identified the following five themes: human–equine journey, human bond through shared experience, reclaiming positive emotions, nurturing resilience, and evolution of a new identity.

Conclusion:

The equine-facilitated support program resulted in reducing negative effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment, reclaiming positive emotions, and development of a new sense of self through human and equine connections. Further research is needed to strengthen and expand findings, and to further explore the impact of equine-facilitated programs in cancer survivorship.