V magistrskem delu smo se osredotočili na proučevanje učinkov psihoterapevtskega dela s konji na otroke in mladostnike z izraženimi psihosomatskimi težavami. V teoretičnem delu smo predstavili področje psihosomatike in psihoterapije s konji. V prvem poglavju o psihosomatiki smo proučevali psihosomatske simptome pri otrocih in mladostnikih, dejavnike tveganja in poznane oblike pomoči. V drugem poglavju teoretičnega dela so podrobneje predstavljene psihoterapija s konji, njen razvoj, terminologija, namembnost in odnosne ravni, ki se zaradi prisotnosti konja razlikujejo od klasičen psihoterapevtske oblike. Osvetlili smo pregled obstoječih raziskav, pozitivnih učinkov psihoterapevtskega dela s konji in njihove omejitve. V empiričnem delu je predstavljena kvalitativna raziskava, s katero smo preveriti učinke psihoterapevtskega dela s konji na otroke s psihosomatskimi težavami. V raziskavo smo vključili tri mladoletne kliente, ki se soočajo z različnimi psihosomatskimi težavami, in njihove starše, s katerimi smo izvedli pol strukturirane intervjuje. Po pettedenski obravnavi so rezultati pokazali izboljšanje otrokovih zdravstvenih simptomov, učinki pa so se kazali tudi na dvigu samopodobe in socialne vključenosti. Ob tem je bila opazna tudi pozitivna sprememba njihovega splošnega počutja in kakovosti življenja. Na osnovi pridobljenih podatkov lahko sklepamo, da ima psihoterapija s konji pozitivne učinke na doživljanje in počutje otrok in mladostnikov s psihosomatskimi in drugimi težavami psihičnega izvora.

This master’s thesis focused on studying the effects of psychotherapeutic work with horses on children and adolescents with pronounced psychosomatic issues. The theoretical section focused on studying the literature and summarizing the content. This part is divided into two chapters. The first chapter on psychosomatics studies psychosomatic symptoms in children and adolescents, risk factors, and known forms of help. In the second chapter of the theoretical section, psychotherapy with horses is presented in further detail, including its development, terminology, purpose, and relational levels, which differ from the classical form of psychotherapy due to the presence of the horse. We highlighted reviews of existing research, positive effects of psychotherapy work with horses, and the main limitations. In the empirical part of the thesis, we wanted to verify the effects of psychotherapy work with horses on children with psychosomatic issues through qualitative research. We analyzed three underage patients facing various psychosomatic issues and included their parents in the research. We focused on the effect of improving their health symptoms, the impact on their self-image, and their social inclusion. Simultaneously, we studied and observed their general well-being and quality of life. The results were gathered based on subjective opinions and observations of the participants. We conclude that psychotherapy with horses has positive effects on the experience and well-being of children and adolescents.