Horses lead the way in helping children heal from trauma

A new Australian study is shining a spotlight on the healing power of horses, revealing that equine-assisted therapy could help address the growing mental health crisis among children.

As childhood mental illness rates spiral, compounded by lengthy waiting times for counselors and the limitations of many conventional treatments, some social workers are turning to horses for the answers.

University of South Australia researchers have captured the lived experiences of 10 social workers and mental health practitioners delivering equine-assisted interventions (EAI) to children. Their findings are published in the Journal of Social Work Practice.

EAI is a type of on-ground therapy involving horses, offered by qualified health practitioners in conjunction with highly-skilled equine practitioners.

The evidence in its favor is compelling, with practitioners describing how a child’s emotional world can be transformed through working with horses in a natural setting.

UniSA Social Work graduate Morgyn Stacy, who led the study as part of her Honors project, says that many children don’t respond to sitting in a room with a therapist or clinician, which can be intimidating.

“But give them the space to be outside, to connect with a horse, and something powerful happens. They begin to feel safe, calm, and ready to open up,” Stacy says.

The research shows that horses are highly sensitive to human emotions and body language, allowing them to mirror and respond to a child’s emotional state. They offer a natural, non-judgmental environment, helping to build trust and emotional safety.

One practitioner described the experience as “being seen through the eyes of a horse,” a moment of emotional connection that can be life-changing.

And it’s not just the horses that help. The natural, open-air setting—often in paddocks surrounded by trees and wildlife—helps children feel relaxed and grounded.

Practitioners spoke of using sensory-rich activities like walking barefoot in sand, observing animal tracks, or simply standing quietly with a horse to promote mindfulness and connection.

“The benefits go beyond mental health,” Stacy says. “Children often gain confidence, improve communication skills, and build stronger emotional resilience.”

Even children who were initially afraid of horses found strength in overcoming their fears, with therapists carefully matching each child to the right animal.

Senior UniSA researcher and qualified social worker, Dr. Fatin Shabbar, says equine-assisted therapy is particularly effective for children who have experienced trauma, including those in the child protection system.

“Practitioners in the study described deeply moving examples of children bonding with horses in ways that sparked emotional breakthroughs where other therapies had failed,” Dr. Shabbar says.

But while this approach is gaining popularity, it’s not yet widely accessible. Sessions can be expensive due to the cost of caring for horses and maintaining rural properties. Unless families receive funding from bodies such as the NDIS and child protection agencies, many are forced to pay out of pocket, or miss out altogether.

“Another concern is the lack of regulation in Australia,” Dr. Shabbar says. “Without clear guidelines, unqualified practitioners may offer equine-assisted services without appropriate training, which puts both children and the animals at risk.”

And those practitioners who are highly qualified still face an uphill battle to gain recognition of equine-assisted therapy as an evidence-based practice.”

The researchers say the findings are a strong call to action for professional bodies like the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to provide clearer guidance and ethical standards for working with animals in therapy.

“This research shows that equine-assisted therapy can be a deeply healing experience. But for it to reach more children, we need formal recognition, ethical guidelines and proper funding.”