From the left to right: Wendy Wood, Robin Gabriels, Nancy Krenek, Molly Sweeney, JoAnne Miller, Caiti Peters, Nancy Paschall
During the recent Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) conference a presentation was made focused on understanding what an Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies Center needs to have in place prior to conducting research so that the research projects do not overly stress the capacity and operations of the Center. A didactic presentation was made, following an extensive Q & A with the presenters Robin Gabriels,PsyD, MA, Nancy Krenek,PT, DPT, HPCS, Prof. JoAnne Miller, Nancy Paschall, and HHRF Founder, Molly Sweeney and additional researchers Wendy Wood, Ph.D., OTR, FAOTA a member of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Council, and Caitlin Peters,Ph.D., OTR/L.
The EAAT CENTER RESEARCH READINESS CHECKLIST© combines the prior work of Shoffner, A, Gabriels R. from the Therapeutic Horseback Riding Intervention Manual in Denver, CO, University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado, and B. Caitlin Peters, Ph.D., OTR/L, and Nancy Paschall, a member of the HHRF Board of Directors. This checklist is available free of charge but cannot be modified without permission.
The overarching themes of the presentation were: 1) honestly assess the factors in the EAAT CENTER RESEARCH READINESS CHECKLIST©; 2) a center not being ready now doesn't mean it will never ready; and 3) learn about current research findings to improve the outcomes for center participants. Completely meeting the Checklist guidelines will help centers to truly be ready, or, alternatively, decide other ways for their organizations to reap the benefits of research. The audience requested additional education about current research findings and learning more about research in general.