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Submission information
Submission Number: 38
Submission ID: 788
Submission UUID: 4a95259e-0e6e-4ccc-abba-22d080fcf71a
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Tue, 04/15/2025 - 08:53
Completed: Tue, 04/15/2025 - 09:01
Changed: Thu, 04/24/2025 - 08:50
Remote IP address: 196.21.61.167
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Presenters
Dr.
Naidu
Lyrise
Durban university of technology
Dr Lyrise Naidu is a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), in the Department of Community Health Studies, She holds a Master's in Peace Studies and focuses her research on community engagement and social work. Dr Naidu currently holds a Ph.D in Health Sciences, the focus of her research was on equine-based therapy as a potential therapeutic modality for social work.
Yes
Prof.
Bhagwan
Raisuyah
Durban University of Technology
Prof. Raisuyah Bhagwan, is a Full Professor in the Department of Community Health Studies, at Durban University of Technology. She is also a National Research Foundation, C2 rated researcher. She is passionate about issues of social justice, community development, spirituality and indigenous knowledge systems and has published extensively on these topics. She is on the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work and Social Work Practitioner-Researcher. Prof. Bhagwan was a recipient of the NRF Community Engagement Grant 2015 and she was also a recipient of the CHE-HELTASA National Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018.
No
Abstract
The efficacy of equine-based therapy in dealing with mental health problems in a South African context
THEME 4: Social Work Education, Transdisciplinarity and Curriculum Development
SUB 4.1 Preparing future social workers for roles in in nontraditional social work environments.
Oral Presentation
Nature-based psychotherapeutic interventions have gained significant traction in the West over the past decade, offering promising approaches for individuals facing diverse health and psycho-social challenges. Among these, equine-based therapy—harnessing the natural environment and the innate responsiveness of horses—has emerged as a powerful ecosystemic approach. While international research has documented its effectiveness, there remains limited empirical evidence on its theoretical foundation and efficacy within the South African context.
This study employed a qualitative instrumental case design to explore the role of equine-based therapy within South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen mental health professionals practicing equine-based therapy across the country. Additionally, field visits to equine therapy farms provided critical insights into the core principles, therapeutic processes, and the implementation of equine-assisted interventions. These findings deepened the understanding of how therapy unfolds within natural settings through dynamic interactions between the client, horse, and social worker, with the horse serving as a co-therapist.
The study revealed that equine-based therapy has demonstrated efficacy in addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, child abuse, and domestic violence. It also explored the transformative potential of horses in therapeutic work by facilitating non-verbal communication, fostering emotional regulation, and promoting empowerment for young people who struggle with traditional talk therapy.
Horses, as highly sensitive and intuitive beings, create a therapeutic space where clients can explore self-awareness, emotional resilience, and relational patterns. The natural environment further enriches this process, reinforcing the connection between cognitive, emotional, and physical healing. This research highlights equine-based therapy as a promising, yet underutilized, modality within South African mental health practice. Its integration into therapeutic disciplines can offer an innovative, nature-centered alternative to conventional psychotherapeutic interventions, enhancing the overall well-being of individuals facing psychological distress.
This study employed a qualitative instrumental case design to explore the role of equine-based therapy within South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen mental health professionals practicing equine-based therapy across the country. Additionally, field visits to equine therapy farms provided critical insights into the core principles, therapeutic processes, and the implementation of equine-assisted interventions. These findings deepened the understanding of how therapy unfolds within natural settings through dynamic interactions between the client, horse, and social worker, with the horse serving as a co-therapist.
The study revealed that equine-based therapy has demonstrated efficacy in addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, child abuse, and domestic violence. It also explored the transformative potential of horses in therapeutic work by facilitating non-verbal communication, fostering emotional regulation, and promoting empowerment for young people who struggle with traditional talk therapy.
Horses, as highly sensitive and intuitive beings, create a therapeutic space where clients can explore self-awareness, emotional resilience, and relational patterns. The natural environment further enriches this process, reinforcing the connection between cognitive, emotional, and physical healing. This research highlights equine-based therapy as a promising, yet underutilized, modality within South African mental health practice. Its integration into therapeutic disciplines can offer an innovative, nature-centered alternative to conventional psychotherapeutic interventions, enhancing the overall well-being of individuals facing psychological distress.
Reviewer ONE Feedback
Dr
Thabisa
Matsea
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted
Reviewer TWO Feedback
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Pending Review