The 5th Nordic Research Seminar on Equine-assisted Interventions 2024
The Swedish organization of Equine-assisted efforts (OHI) and Halmstad University welcomes you to the 5th Nordic seminar on Equine-assisted interventions 2024. The seminar is held in the form of a two-day conference embracing Equine-assisted interventions to support health, learning, and activity irrespective of physical or mental disability.
On September 12–13, 2024, Halmstad University have the pleasure of hosting the 5th Nordic Research Seminar on Equine-assisted Interventions with the theme Equine-assisted interventions for sustainable health, performance and participation. The conference welcomes researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field of equine assisted interventions as well as decision makers and politicians at various levels within the health care sector and related areas.
The conference aims to offer the participants access to recent research results and the opportunity to exchange experiences regarding equine assisted interventions in the field of sustainable health, learning and activities for all members of society. The topic of evidence-based practice is an important fundamental aspect and constitutes a unique opportunity to define areas that need to be established with the help of high-quality research and development work as well as collaboration in and around equine-assisted services. The seminar is an exclusive opportunity for both researchers and practitioners from all over the Nordic countries to jointly increase knowledge about equine assisted interventions.
Abstracts
We welcome contributions from research and practice development that present, deepen, or problematize knowledge-based aspects related to Equine-assisted interventions. The abstract should be written in English. For accepted abstracts, publication opportunities will be offered in a conference report.
Abstract of at least 250 and no more than 500 words should be sent as a word file no later than May 31!
Send the abstracts to HUI2024@hh.se
Peer-review of the abstract will be carried out by an interdisciplinary scientific committee representing the OHI research group.
- Petra Andersson, Lecturer in philosophy, University of Gothenburg, Chairperson OHI
- Margareta Ekberg, PhD in pedagogy
- Sara Holmberg, Associate professor in general medicine, R&D Region Kronoberg
- Margareta Håkanson, Med lic. physiotherapy
- Henrika Jormfeldt, Mental health nurse, Professor in nursing, Halmstad University
- Anna Lundberg, Lecturer in ethology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Programme day 1
09:30–10.00 Registration
10.00–10.15 Introduction – Henrika Jormfeldt, Anna-Maria Palsdottir and Elisabeth Argentzell
10.15–10.50 Keynote Speaker – Henrika Jormfeldt, Professor of Nursing
How to make holistic Equine-assisted services fit in a specialised health care and support system – barriers and benefits.
11.00–12.15 Peer reviewed oral presentation
12.15–13.30 Lunch and poster presentation
13.30–14.00 Keynote Speaker – Tobba Therkildsen Sudmann
Norwegian perspective – social exclusion, substance abuse and dementia
14.00–15.00 Peer reviewed oral presentation
15.00–15.30 Coffee break and poster presentation
15.30–16.15 Peer reviewed oral presentation
16.15–17.00 Keynote Speaker – Nina Ekholm Fry
Trauma informed Equine assisted services – a Finnish and American perspective
19.00 Dinner with entertainment
Programme day 2
09.15–10.00 Equine assisted interventions during 30 years-milestones reached and challenges to come
10.00–10.30 Coffee Break and poster presentation
10.30–11.30 Panel dialogue
Panel dialogue led by The Swedish Horse Industry Foundation (HNS) with representatives of politics, OHI, researchers and practitioners in the field regarding what needs to be done to make Equine-assisted interventions available to those who need it. The panel dialogue will be held in Swedish, while the dialogue with the panel will be summarized and translated into English.
11.30–12.00 Closure and information about upcoming conference/seminar regarding Nature based health at SLU Alnarp 2025
12.00–13.20 Lunch poster presentation
13.20–15.00 Workshops in smaller groups based on, geographical or activity-specific focus
15.00–15.10 Take away fika
Keynote speakers
Henrika Jormfeldt
Henrika Jormfeldt, licensed specialist nurse specializing in psychiatry and mental health, Professor of Nursing at the Halmstad University and certified by OHI (the Organization for horse-assisted interventions) to perform horse-assisted interventions. Henrika is a member of the HETI executive committee (The Federation of Horses in education and Therapy International) and has over 50 years of experience with horses. Her recent research is about equine assisted interventions for people with mental health condition through lifespan and she runs equine-assisted therapy on a small scale at “Braddared's horse” with three horses involved that are all her own breeding’s.
Tobba Sudmann
Tobba Sudmann, full Professor of Public Health, physiotherapist and medical sociologist, and academic head of the PhD-program Health, functioning and participation at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She has her own adjunct practice where she offers equine-facilitated physiotherapy. Her research focus on how people use their bodily resources to enhance their well-being and social participation, whether the means are in- or outdoor physical activity, technology, nature, or horses. Professor Sudmann is currently studying physical activities for persons with dementia, crisis shelters for persons with substance dependency, horses in mental health work (including substance use), and green social work with horses.
Nina Ekholm Fry
Nina Ekholm Fry is the Director of Equine Programs at University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection in Denver in Colorado (USA) and a faculty member in the Graduate School of Social Work and the Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She is the coordinator of the Human-Animal-Environment Interactions in Social Work specialization within the Master of Social Work program and leads the Post-Master’s Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program. For the past 15 years, her work has included animals in human services with a focus on equine interactions in psychotherapy and counseling. Nina serves as an advisor to the State of Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Addiction Services on matters related to mental health services in green environments. She has a background as a psychologist specializing in trauma treatment and as an equine behavior consultant. Nina has a particular interest in applied ethics and social justice perspectives within human-animal interactions and is actively engaged in national and international organizations for both human and equine wellbeing.
Halmstad University – where different perspectives meet
Halmstad University prepares people for the future by creating values, driving innovation and developing society. Since the beginning in 1983, the University has been characterised as forward-thinking and cross-border. Halmstad University is known for its popular and reality-based programmes and small student groups. Today, the University has around 11,000 students (approximately 5,200 full-time students) and offers around 50 programmes and over 130 courses within several subject fields.
Research for innovation
The research at Halmstad University is internationally renowned and is pursued in interdisciplinary innovation and research environments. The University takes an active part in the development of society through extensive and recognised collaboration with both the private and public sector.
Experience Sweden, Halland and Halmstad
Collaboration partners
