08/18/2026
Exciting new research from CSU Equine Sciences is highlighting the potential for horses to support social-emotional learning in youth!
Published in the Journal of Experiential Education, the study evaluated Changing Leads, an 8-week equine-assisted social-emotional learning program delivered through a partnership with Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center. Thirty-one middle school students from six schools participated in the randomized, waitlist-controlled study.
Following participation in the program, both parents and teachers reported significant improvements in students’ overall social-emotional competencies. Improvements included skills such as social awareness, self-management, relationship skills, decision-making, and optimistic thinking. Importantly, teachers were masked to the purpose of the study, providing an additional measure of the program’s impact beyond parent-reported outcomes.
These preliminary findings provide promising evidence that equine-assisted learning can be a valuable targeted resource for students who may need additional social-emotional support beyond traditional school-based programming.
Congratulations to lead author Sarah Matlock and the entire collaborative team from CSU Department of Animal Sciences, the CSU-School of Education, the Temple Grandin Equine Center, CSU Department of Occupational Therapy, and Hearts & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center on this important contribution to the growing science behind equine-assisted services!
