Behavioural Issues in Horses Working in Human Mental Healthcare Services

Abstract

Abstract Horses commonly engage in physical contact with their conspecifics through mutual grooming, which serves several important functions for social communication and comfort. However, horses may react differently to social contact with humans. When such contact is unwanted, horses may display calming, displacement, or more significant stress-related behaviours. This can impact their welfare while simultaneously posing safety risks for the humans involved. Understanding and addressing horse behaviour during interactions with humans is critical across the equestrian industry, and particularly when horse-human interactions are incorporated into human healthcare and educational services. This hypothetical case study explores a horse’s negative behavioural changes in response to grooming activities used in a substance use treatment programme for adolescents. The case concludes with a description of strategies for pinpointing the underlying reasons for the horse’s behaviours and proposed courses of action to enhance the horse’s overall experience of human contact. This case underscores the complexity of horse-human interactions, emphasizing the need for behavioural assessment as an essential tool for improving horse welfare within the realm of animal-assisted interventions. Information © The Author 2023