Introduction: Equine facilitated learning (EFL) helps develop life skills for educational, professional and personal goals. Although EFL appears to benefit people (McCormick & McCormick, 1997), few quantitative physiological data are available. Effects of three EFL activities (grooming, “Con Su Permiso” [observing bodily feelings and sensations that arise from focusing on the horse], and “Rock Back & Sigh” [approaching horse, rocking back and sighing when horse pays attention and inviting horse to follow off-lead] on heart rate variability (HRV) of horse and human were compared. Heart rate variability is an established marker of autoregulation, or ability to maintain homeostasis, and is diminished by stress.
Methodology: Each activity took place at a different location with different facilitators, participants and horses. Each involved 24 humans (age >55 yrs, mainly female) and 3-4 horses (geldings or mares of various ages/breeds). Before, during and after the activity, HRV was measured for 5 minutes on horses and humans using pulse monitors strapped around the chest/girth. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA statistics.
Main Results: During grooming and “Con Su Permiso” human heart rate and HRV significantly increased compared to baseline: “Con Su Permiso”, HR: 84.2 ± 7.0 vs 74.5 ± 8.9(SD) bpm, p<0.001 and HRV: 38.9 ± 12.2 vs 28.8 ± 9.8 (SD) ms, p=0.02; Grooming, HR: 81.2 ± 11.9 vs 75.0 ± 10.1(SD) bpm, p<0.001 and SDRR: 58.6 ± 26.1 vs 36.5 ±17.8(SD) ms, p<0.001. The %HRV in the very low frequency range (%VLF) also significantly increased in both cases (p<0.001). During “Rock Back & Sigh” only HR significantly increased from 79.8 ± 12.9(SD) to 92.4 ± 17.8(SD), p<0.001. In almost all horses during EFL activities HR and HRV slightly increased with mean %VLF ranging from 51% to 88%, indicating no sign of stress.
Principal Conclusions and Implications for Field: Engaging with horses without trying to influence their behaviour improves human autoregulation and increases %VLF leading to lower susceptibility to inflammation and PTSD (Lampert et al, 2008; Shah et al, 2013). A more challenging activity, involving changing a horse’s behaviour, does not necessarily produce these benefits, although the horses still remain unstressed.