Effects of an Equine-Assisted Riding Program on Motor Performance, Movement Quality, and Well-Being Among Young Inmates

Background: Equine-assisted programs have been shown to promote psychosocial outcomes, but quantitative evidence of motor benefits in correctional settings is scarce. Aim: The present study examined the effects of a one-week equine-assisted riding program on riding performance, movement quality, and well-being among young inmates in an open German prison. Methods: Ten male participants (24.5 ± 0.71 years) completed a five-day program combining practical riding exercises, cooperative activities, and guided reflection. Riding performance was assessed using standardized expert video ratings based on the German performance testing guidelines on a 10-point scale, movement quality using a semantic differential with bipolar adjective pairs assessing telic and autotelic dimensions on a six-point scale, and well-being using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. A single-group pre–post repeated-measures design without a control group was applied. Results: Significant improvements were found in riding performance for both walk and trot, with large effect sizes (n = 10). Participants also reported a significant enhancement in the autotelic, experience-oriented dimension of movement quality, whereas no significant change occurred in the telic, goal-oriented dimension. Well-being increased significantly from pre- to post-test. Conclusions: Even a short, experience-focused equine-assisted program can produce meaningful improvements in motor performance, positive movement experience, and well-being in a correctional context. Equine-assisted programs may therefore represent a promising complementary approach to rehabilitation by integrating physical, emotional, and social learning processes.