In the most recent (2007) data from the NSW Adult Population Health Survey the combined proportion of the population reporting 'high' or above psychological distress (22-50) is 12.1% [24] . In addition, recent data collected in rural communities suggests that these figures may be slightly higher in rural-dwellers with 'very high' psychological distress of 5% reported in one study [25] and 13.4-13.8% for combined 'high'/'very high' psychological distress in another [26] . These findings are of relevance in the current study as it would be expected that horse-ownership would be linked to rural and peri-urban residency.