Women Offender Programs and Issues

Pet Facilitated Therapy in Correctional Institutions

VIDEO REVIEWS

At the time the video was shot, this program had trained 160 horses and only 2 of them were returned. The horses receive basic training at the prison and are then passed to adoption programs. Like dogs, the training the animals receive at the prison allow them a greater chance to be adopted.

PFT programs that use horses have been considered controversial because of the increased physical danger to the prisoners. There is some concern that without knowledgeable skills on how to handle horses, inmates can be seriously hurt. In order to avoid serious injury, inmates are taught that as trainers, they must first establish trust with the horse before training commences.