Abstract
Background: Therapeutic horse riding (THR) is a complex intervention using horses and horse-related activities to positively influence health in people who experience disability. Evaluating the effectiveness of THR interventions is made more complex by a lack of clarity about ingredients, mechanisms of treatment effect, and intended treatment targets of THR.
Aim of research: To evaluate the effectiveness of a THR intervention – what works for which riders, in what contexts, to what extent and how.
Methodology: Within a critical realist framework, three phases of research were undertaken using a mix of methods, culminating in an analytical synthesis in which findings from all three phases were integrated into one overall evaluative account.
Findings: Three key mechanisms of intervention effect are proposed: (1) THR facilitates development of a rider’s self-concept through opportunities for accessible, meaningful participation; (2) the context in which THR is provided promotes a focus on riders’ capacities and strengths; and (3) THR provides opportunities for a broad range of learning experiences.
Conclusion: THR provides opportunities for meaningful occupational participation for children experiencing disability. These resources were developed to communicate key findings to stakeholders: an infographic outlining the key research findings, including key mechanisms of effect contributing to changes in health outcomes; and a comic communicating these same findings in a way that is accessible for children.