1 page summary: Evidence to date 2021

A one page summary of our large body of evaluation by external academics and other experts, including papers in international peer-reviewed academic journals and presentations at international conferences.

view 1pp PDF

A proposed study to shift TheHorseCourse proven equine-assisted intervention to a VR platform for large-scale reach 2021

Harriet Laurie, TheHorseCourse & Professor Ann Hemingway, Bournemouth University presenting.

Abstract and presentation, as delivered orally for HETI (Horses in Education & Therapy International) 2021 Congress, Seoul, Korea. This outlines the pilot in progress, testing EEG and other wearable psycho-physiology technology as the potential feedback loop for a future Neuro-Virtual Reality system to replicate TheHorseCourse in a virtual world for massive scale reach.

Watch a 3 minute video explaining the project in layman's terms and showing the research team in action at TheHorseCourse

View the 1pp PDF abstract; open the 9pp powerpoint presentation (PDF); or view the 15 minute presentation as a video;

Domestic Violence & abuse: summary findings 2020

The impact of Dorset Families Matter and TheHorseCourse on domestic violence and abuse in Dorset’s "Troubled Families"

• Pre and 12-months Post measures across 3 different approaches plus a control group
• TheHorseCourse had the largest proportional decrease in DVA flags, down by 51% 12 months post-intervention, whereas the control group had a 17% increase. Statistically significant results p<0.05
• Detailed papers for scientific journals currently pre-press 
  
  view 1pp PDF

Exploring change processes in an equine-assisted intervention 2020

Seaman-Thornton, F. DClinPsych Thesis, Canterbury Christ Church University Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology

A qualitative study exploring perceptions in order to develop a grounded theory of change processes.

See pdf pages 82-93/154 for quotes and discussion of TheHorseCourse process from the perspectives of young people, parents, professional referrers and our facilitators.

View 154pp thesis

The hierarchy of evidence and equine assisted interventions... TheHorseCourse 2020

A Study Exploring the Implementation of an Equine Assisted Intervention for Young People with Mental Health and Behavioural Issues 2019

Hemingway, A. J 2019, 2(2), 236-246

A feasibility study exploring the potential of TheHorseCourse reStart as an appropriate subject for a gold-standard RCT clinical study. Includes some cost benefit indicators.

View 11pp study

An Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine-Assisted Intervention 2019

Hemingway, A.; Carter, S.; Callaway, A.; Kavanagh, E.; Ellis, S. Animals 2019, 9, 303 

A bio-physiology study investigating the emotional learning journey during TheHorseCourse ReStart, published in a high impact international journal.

Making sense of change in an equine assisted intervention 2019

Watson, S. 2019. PhD Thesis Canterbury Christ Church University Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology

A qualitative study exploring how parents make sense of change in an equine assisted intervention for their child: TheHorseCourse

See pdf pages 59 – 73/109 for quotes and insights into the journey of change for young people, described by parents witnessing TheHorseCourse ReStart programme in action.

View 109pp thesis

The Royal College of Psychiatrists
General Adult Psychiatry Annual Conference 2018

Dr N Kosky – poster presentation of findings.

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A Feasibility Study of an Equine Assisted Intervention for Children and 
Young People with Mental Health and Behavioural Challenges, 2018

Professor Ann Hemingway, BU – oral presentation at Horses in Education & Therapy International 2018 Congress, Dublin

• TheHorseCourse ReStart fulfils all elements of feasibility study and is therefore suitable for an RCT
• 95% completion rate across multiple cohorts
• Over 70% show gains in 4 intermediate outcomes:

1. improved attendance and engagement with school/training/work
2. improved relationships
3. reduced problem behaviours 
4. greater self belief

A Pilot Study of the Mechanism of Action of an Equine Assisted Intervention, 2018

Call to Action, 2017

BU and others are calling for funding for an RCT (randomised controlled trial) or other large scale controlled evaluation. This is in response to BU analysis of the follow-up data on 126 participants from external professionals - the outstanding results, on top of all the previous evidence of effectiveness, have led to this call.

• 81% of participants shifted in a positive direction across 8 inter-related core skills
• the average positive shift seen using a scale 0–32 was +10.4 points for those that improved.

Statistically significant positive results (p<0.001) were found in each of the 8 dimensions of TheHorseCourse Skills Star, see THC Star online. A large standardised effect size (d=1.1) was found for the summed scores of the 8 dimensions.

view 1pp PDF

Handbook of Wellbeing. Routledge 2017, Prof Kate Galvin, ed.

Chapter: Horses and Humans: Teaching Young People to be Well, Hemingway,A.

The chapter is a narrative description of a psycho-physiological study of TheHorseCourse undertaken by a multidisciplinary team at Bournemouth University.

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Evaluating a natural horsemanship program in relation to the ISES first principles of horse training, 2016

Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 15 (sept oct 2016), 87. Publisher: Elsevier BV
ISSN: 1558-7878. Also poster presentation at ISES Conference 2016, France.

North, S., Hemingway, A., MacLean, A., Laurie, H. and Ellis Hill, C., 2016. Evaluating a natural horsemanship program in relation to the ISES first principles of horse training.

Though not strictly relating to TheHorseCourse, this found the training method we use (Parelli) to be highly congruent with the humane training principles stated by the International Society of Equitation Science.

view abstract

Summary: Evidence to date 2016

A summary of all the evaluation studies on our work and a snapshot of how the ReStart works.
Full copies of most of the studies are linked below.

view 9pp pdf

Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy With Children and Adolescents: An Update and Literature Review 2015

• TheHorseCourse identified in peer reviewed analysis as one of the most prominent equine-assisted methodologies

Link to paper online

TheHorseCourse Youth Outcomes, 2015

• 33% average improvement in managing anxiety
• 29% average gain across eight core skills: Engagement, Calmness, Assertiveness, Focus & Perseverance, Empathy,
• Realistic Planning, Communication, Responsibility
• 85% of participants increased attendance/engagement with education
• 80% of referrers attribute improvements to TheHorseCourse, (55% strongly)

Produced with support from Charities Evaluation Services (part of NCVO).
view 6pp PDF

TheHorseCourse Evidence Review, working with Offenders 2015

• Including Theory of Change and Contribution Analysis
• 27 % points reduction in reoffending
• £8.30 return per £1 spent in prisons

Written in collaboration with New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) & CLINKS. Peer reviewed by the Correctional Services Accreditation & Advisory Panel (CSAAP), Ministry of Justice.

view 56pp PDF

Moving Forward in Recovery
Pilot Summer/Autumn 2015

55% of participants shifted from disengaged/not progressing in treatment to attending and progressing. They attribute this change to the course.
On average they also made a 12% improvement on the 8 skills taught by TheHorseCourse.

Produced by EDP Drug & Alcohol Services (main service provider in the Southwest, UK)

view 26pp report

Interim Evaluation Report, 2012, with update 2015

Dr Rosie Meek, Head of Criminology, Royal Holloway University

An Exploration of an Equine Facilitated Learning Intervention with Young Offenders 2014

Internation peer reviewed scientific journal: Society and Animals ISSN: 1063-1119

Hemingway, A., Meeks, R. and Ellis-Hill, C.

view abstract

Criminology Dissertation 2013

A careful analysis of exit interviews with prisoner participants.

TheHorseCourse Star

TheHorseCourse Star shows the eight areas we work on directly during the course. It is marked up as part of the referral process, later as the basis for discussion of outcomes together with the participant and finally as part of the feedback from referrers 2 months post-intervention. View PDF.

UK Prison-oriented people may be interested in the correlation between the star points and the identified needs in OASys (Offender Assessment System). This version of the star shows the roughly corresponding sections. View PDF.