A Pilot Observational Study of Implementing an Equine-Assisted Services Program Within a VA Medical Center Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program.

This article focuses on an observational pilot study assessing the safety, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of an equine-assisted intervention (EAI)—combining equine-assisted learning (EAL) and equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP)—within a residential substance abuse treatment program for Veterans at a large Veterans Administration medical center. Thirty-three Veterans with substance use disorders (SUDs), many with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), participated in a single 4-hour session. Results indicated the intervention was safe with no adverse events and feasible to implement, showing significant short-term reductions in anxiety, negative affect, and substance craving, alongside increased positive affect as measured by validated psychological instruments. Exploratory analyses suggested that a history of suicide-related behaviors predicted some positive postintervention outcomes. The study concludes that while further rigorous research is needed, EAIs may offer a promising complementary approach for Veterans with addictive disorders and suicide risk.