03/04/2026
Love this. Our counsellor and OT’s include equine assisted therapy. We find it so effective and it’s great to see more research coming out to back us up. Psychotherapy is one approach which we can use, and there are others depending on the goals.
New Research: Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Addiction Recovery
A recent 2025 scoping review published in a neuroscience and behavioral science journal explored the cognitive and physiological impacts of psychotherapy that incorporates interaction with horses.
In
The review examined 556 research papers focused on equine-assisted psychotherapy and its role in addiction recovery and withdrawal support.
📊 Key findings across the research showed that equine-based psychotherapy can:
• Improve engagement in therapy
• Increase confidence and emotional stability
• Enhance communication and interpersonal skills
• Reduce stress responses associated with withdrawal
These findings suggest that equine-assisted psychotherapy may be a valuable complementary approach for people recovering from addiction, particularly by helping individuals engage more deeply in therapy and develop stronger emotional regulation skills.
🔗 Read the study:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949905425000040