Capstone Review: Family-Level Impacts of Equine-Assisted OT for Children with Disabilities

Join HHRF and Emily Canigiula, OTD, OTR/L on Wednesday, October 7, 2027 at 7:00pm (ET) as she discusses Family-Level Impacts of Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy for Children with Disabilities.

Occupational therapy emphasizes a family-centered approach for the pediatric population, as supported in the profession’s practice framework. Understanding family-level impacts is important as practitioners strive toward holistic, family-centered care, particularly in the emerging practice area of equine-assisted occupational therapy (EAOT).

While existing literature supports beneficial therapeutic outcomes of occupational therapy delivered in the equine setting, limited research has explored how these interventions influence caregivers and families as a unit from an occupation-based perspective. Beyond traditional therapeutic outcomes, the equine environment may offer distinct family-level impacts, which this pilot study aimed to explore.

Understanding how families are affected provides direction for future research and insight into how to best support families in the equine setting. Evidence surrounding family-level impacts may also advocate for EAOT's unique value, supporting funding and justification for insurance coverage to promote equitable access to this treatment approach.

The presentation will review the key findings of the mixed-methods pilot study conducted as a doctoral capstone project at the Temple Grandin Equine Center. The project's background and development will be described, along with the purpose, methods, discussion and implications of the results, and finally a summary of the study's impact and future directions for EAOT research.

Emily Canigiula, OTD, OTR/L

Emily Canigiula is a pediatric occupational therapist currently working in an outpatient setting in Lakewood, Washington. She received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University in December 2021 and her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from San José State University in December 2025.

During her undergraduate studies at Colorado State University, Emily completed an internship with My Heroes Therapy at the Temple Grandin Equine Center in Fort Collins, Colorado. This experience sparked her interest in equine-assisted services and the role of horses in pediatric therapy. She later returned to the Temple Grandin Equine Center as part of her doctoral capstone at San José State University, where she conducted an exploratory mixed-methods research pilot study examining the family-level impacts of equine-assisted occupational therapy for children with disabilities.

Emily's professional interests include pediatric occupational therapy, equine-assisted services, holistic and family-centered care.