Presentation Details
Human Trauma Type Influences Equine Biobehavioral Outcomes During Equine-Assisted Services

Nicole M.Lorig1, Brooklyn Wagner2, Kimberly Cole2.

1University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.2The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences, Columbus, OH, USA

Abstract


As prey animals highly attuned to their social environment, equines are sensitive to the subtle cues of the humans they interact with. Despite this, few studies have examined how the characteristics shaping these cues influence equine outcomes. As equine-assisted services among trauma-exposed populations gains increasing attention, this study sought to understand whether human trauma history influenced equine oxytocin and behavioral outcomes across a four-session equine-assisted intervention. Human-equine dyads (n=36) completed weekly 30-minute sessions. Trauma type (PTSD, TBI, PTSD & TBI, none) was assessed via the PCL-5 and a TBI screening questionnaire. Saliva was collected pre- and post-session, while 60s scan sampling captured behavior. Equines paired with comorbid PTSD/TBI individuals showed increased salivary oxytocin (p< 0.01), more standing (p< 0.01), and less eating (p< 0.05) compared to other groups. Other behaviors did not differ. Overall, findings underscore the impact of human trauma characteristics on equine outcomes, and further understanding this may deepen insight into the human-equine dyad during equine-assisted services and inform welfare-centered practice.

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