A Commentary on the Contemporary Issues Confronting Animal Assisted and Equine Assisted Interactions

Abstract

The field of human-animal interactions and, more specifically, animal-assisted interventions and equine assisted interactions (equine assisted interactions have significantly evolved over the past half century. The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a brief commentary of both fields and the challenges they are presently experiencing as they move forward in their future. More specifically within this commentary, attention will be given to highlighting some of the directions taken in both fields, including clarifying their terminology as it applies to scope of practices, trends in research and practice, the need to emphasize the welfare of the animals as well as the possible directions to standardized professional competencies and the needed professional development.

Keywords: Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI); Equine Assisted Interactions (EAI); Human Animal Interactions (HAI); Therapy, professional standards, public policy, animal welfare.