Healthy as a Horse

Objective This prospective cohort pilot study was designed to examine the impact of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) on long‐term weight management during childhood. Methods Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a standardized learner‐centered experiential education methodology, featuring the partnership between horses and humans. Two cohorts of overweight and obese children (total n=17 females, 9.8±1.0 y, 94.2±3.6 percentile BMI‐for‐age) were recruited for the Healthy as a Horse (HaaH) program from family practice and pediatric medical offices throughout Broome and Tioga Counties in upstate New York. Participants and their families received education in the following areas: equine care and riding, human nutrition, communication, stress management, leadership, team development and healthy lifestyle change. Participants’ baseline (BL) data was collected at the start of the program and after one year, and included anthropometrics (height, weight) and body composition analysis via Dual‐Energy X‐ray Absorptiometry. Results Thirteen participants among the 2 cohorts had complete body composition data at BL and 1 year. In the total sample (n=13), there was a trend for change in body fat to be associated with both BL body weight ( r =0.53, p=0.06) and age ( r =0.55, p=0.10). Mean BL height and body weight of the first (n=5) and second (n=8) cohorts differed (59.5±1.1 vs 53.8±5.8 in, p=0.05 and 129.8±14.2 vs. 101.0±21.0 lb, p=0.02, respectively), and children in the first cohort tended to be older (10.3±1.2 vs. 9.3±0.5 y, p=0.09), and thus analyzed separately. Children completing cohort 1 did not gain body weight over the 1 y, and there was a trend for a decreased BMI‐for‐age percentile (−3.4±3.0 percentile points, p=0.06). Children in cohort 1 also significantly decreased their total percent body fat over the 1y study (−2.8±2.2%, p=0.05). In cohort 2, participants gained a significant amount of body weight (10.0±7.6 lb, p=0.007), and their body fat increased over the 1 y period (+2.1±2.3, p=0.03). Conclusion Results from the two separate cohorts of the HaaH pilot study demonstrate a unique opportunity to further examine the use of the horse as a tool to assist in the continued development of effective programs to prevent, identify and treat childhood overweight and obesity. A randomized controlled trial is needed to explore if the observed differences in the body composition changes between cohorts 1 & 2 are the result of the interactions with the horse or the result of the EAL methodology. A higher BMI‐for‐age during childhood is associated with earlier onset of pubertal maturation, and we have observed different trends between cohorts regarding total body fat as well as body fat distribution. Future studies will need to include the Tanner Scale to better estimate pubertal maturation in order to control for its possible influence on change in adiposity in this type of intervention. Support or Funding Information The Stanley H. and Theordora L. Feldberg Foundaton