Equine-Assisted Learning: The benefits for 18 to 25-year-olds in a local, remand prison

A programme of Equine-Assisted Learning (E-AL) was introduced in an adult male remand prison with 12 participants aged between 18 and 25 years in three groups of four, one day a week, over initially 10 weeks. This paper describes the rationale for the intervention and the findings following both a quantitative methodology using behavioural and self-report measures of emotional identification and regulation administered before and after completion and a more qualitative review based on an evaluation approach using interview and personal reflection with participants. Results are reported in line with service provision needs of the 18- to 25-year-old cohort and recommendations made for further application and further research.