Evidence & Research
Peer-reviewed studies now document what clients experience after equine therapy: calmer hearts, clearer minds and measurable symptom relief.
Below you’ll find headline findings and links to full papers.
Note: all cited studies used no-riding models aligning with Track Clinic’s practice standards.
Autism & Neuro-diversity
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Meta-analysis of 15 trials finds improved social motivation and lower cortisol after equine-assisted activities for children with autism spectrum disorder. Source
Leadership & Group Development
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Equine-assisted experiential learning boosts self-awareness, empathy and decisive action in leadership cohorts, outperforming classroom workshops. Source
Well-being, Stress Response & Better Relationships
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Lower stress hormones – Veterans showed significant drops in plasma cortisol and rises in oxytocin after five ground-based equine sessions. Source
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Calmer nervous systems – A 2023 review of nine HRV trials found equine work consistently shifted heart-rate variability toward parasympathetic calm. Source
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Improved social support & peer connection – An adolescent programme reported higher perceived social support and stronger friendships after ten weeks with the herd. Source
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Cortisol plus social-skills gains in autism – Meta-analysis of 15 trials showed reduced cortisol and better social motivation in children on the spectrum. Source
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Transferable relationship skills – Natural Lifemanship research finds horse-human attunement teaches boundaries, consent and co-regulation that generalise to everyday life. Source
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Cross-cultural impact – The Yawardani Jan-ga programme for Aboriginal youth reports reduced social exclusion and stronger self-regulation across 2,000 participants. Source
Evidence & Research
Peer-reviewed studies now document what clients experience after equine therapy: calmer hearts, clearer minds and measurable symptom relief. Below you’ll find headline findings and links to full papers.
Note: all cited studies used no-riding models aligning with Track Clinic’s practice standards.
Autism & Neuro-diversity
-
Meta-analysis of 15 trials finds improved social motivation and lower cortisol after equine-assisted activities for children with autism spectrum disorder. Source
Leadership & Group Development
-
Equine-assisted experiential learning boosts self-awareness, empathy and decisive action in leadership cohorts, outperforming classroom workshops. Source
Methodology & Ethics
All cited studies used ground-based, no-riding models with two facilitators present, aligning with Track Clinic’s practice standards.
Safety incident rates across EAGALA programmes remain below 1 % over 15 years.
EAGALA Research Hub – 40+ peer-reviewed papers on ground-based equine psychotherapy and personal development.
Browse the EAGALA library → eagala.org
Well-being, Stress Response & Better Relationships
-
Lower stress hormones – Veterans showed significant drops in plasma cortisol and rises in oxytocin after five ground-based equine sessions. Source
-
Calmer nervous systems – A 2023 review of nine HRV trials found equine work consistently shifted heart-rate variability toward parasympathetic calm. Source
-
Improved social support & peer connection – An adolescent programme reported higher perceived social support and stronger friendships after ten weeks with the herd. Source
-
Cortisol plus social-skills gains in autism – Meta-analysis of 15 trials showed reduced cortisol and better social motivation in children on the spectrum. Source
-
Transferable relationship skills – Natural Lifemanship research finds horse-human attunement teaches boundaries, consent and co-regulation that generalise to everyday life. Source
-
Cross-cultural impact – The Yawardani Jan-ga programme for Aboriginal youth reports reduced social exclusion and stronger self-regulation across 2,000 participants. Source
Methodology & Ethics
All cited studies used ground-based, no-riding models with two facilitators present, aligning with Track Clinic’s practice standards.
Safety incident rates across EAGALA programmes remain below 1 % over 15 years.
EAGALA Research Hub – 40+ peer-reviewed papers on ground-based equine psychotherapy and personal development.
Browse the EAGALA library → eagala.org