$50,000 Available to Researchers Investigating the Therapeutic Effects of Horses on Humans

Accepting Applications until August 1, 2019 for Grants up to $50,000

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) announces an open call for proposals to investigate the therapeutic effects of horses on humans. The Foundation's broad research agenda includes basic research as well as clinical studies that will ultimately impact physical and mental health and quality of life for those engaged in equine-assisted activities/therapies (EAA/T). Deadline for submission proposals is August 1, 2019.

Up to fifty thousand dollars in research funding will be offered through a rigorous application and review process. Grants are selected on a competitive basis, taking into account scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance and relevance. Preference will be given to investigators with solid credentials and research experience. All applications undergo a four-tier review process completed by the scientific review committee. The average grant award is $50,000 for up to a 1.5 year period.

On behalf of the HHRF Board, our past board members, and our scientific advisory council, we are very pleased to seek high quality research grant applications through this open call which reflects the highest priority needs and gaps in knowledge of the equine-assisted therapy and activities community. It is through such pursuit of peer-reviewed research that we all benefit from knowledge, creation, application and dissemination. HHRF continues to strive to support true leaps in research, as has been famously observed: "Incrementalism is innovation's worst enemy."

Information for applicants, including application materials, previously funded projects, review guidelines and more are available at horsesandhumans.org. 

Make a contribution to HHRF today and help ensure that this important research continues. 

For more information on this research, on the foundation, or on becoming a donor, contact Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director,  ken.boyden@horsesandhumans.org

Read it here.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, Horses and Humans Research Foundation
PO Box 23367 
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 
Email: info@horsesandhumans.org
Web: http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Horses and Humans Research Foundation Welcomes Three New Board Members Committed to Advancing Human-Equine Research

Chagrin Falls, Ohio, March 14, 2019.  Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) welcomes three new members to their board of directors.  Nancy Coyne, MD, Nancy Paschall and David Schmutz recently joined the board bringing a variety of skills and expertise to support this equine assisted activity and therapy (EAA/T) research focused mission.  

Nancy Coyne, MD is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with 40 plus years experience.  She has been doing equine facilitated psychotherapy since 2005 in Maine and Arizona. She works with individuals, families and small groups with the horses to help the humans heal from trauma, manage emotional turmoil and connect with nature and themselves.  Her work incorporates yoga, art making and sharing with the powerful work of the horse herd.

Nancy Paschall is a life-long horse person having shown western, hunters, jumpers, and Tennessee Walking Horses, which she has also bred and trained. She was an avid 4-H'er. She has been leading EAAT organizations for 12 years, including being part of several research teams. She is a Walking Horse Owners and Exhibitors Association Certified Judge and a PATH Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. She received her B.S. in psychology from Old Dominion University and went onto become a family therapist as well as a policy analyst. She is currently working on her MBA from St. Andrews University. 

David Schmutz’s educational background includes AB Pitzer College (1975) in Classical Studies, Claremont Graduate School (1977) MBA. David spent his career in real estate (Colwell Banker, Bixby Ranch Company) before acquiring the Paddock Riding Club in 1986. This provided the necessary experience in working with horses and individuals through various disciplines. He currently has his Senior accreditation in Dressage (‘S’) and his 4* from the ‘Federation Equestre Internationale’ (FEI) in Para Equestrian competition.

These new members will join in procuring future sustainability and direction for HHRF.  Nancy Paschall expressed the board’s commitment when she said “Outcomes are validated by research and as equine assisted activities and therapies become increasingly well-known it is crucial that research that leads to the development of best practices be supported and disseminated. Relationships with horses are life-changing; now we have to gather the evidence!”

HHRF’s Executive Director, Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, states “HHRF continues to be so very grateful to our board volunteers.  We are the beneficiary of the expertise and commitment of our dedicated board members.  Our latest board members are illustrative examples of our great volunteers! Together, we will move forward to impact and influence horses and humans research in the 21st century.”

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Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $600,000 in professional research efforts led by thirteen research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org

We need your help today! Please support research! HHRF is excited to share a new Research Grant Challenge! An anonymous donor has recently stepped forward to offer a $25,000 challenge gift to support a new $50,000 Research award for 2019!

BUT only if we can raise the matching $25,000 in time to meet the upcoming 2019 Call for Proposals posting.

Please consider making a gift today at www.horsesandhumans.org to help us raise the needed additional $25,000 before March 31 and help us unleash the power of research and receive the challenge gift!

Thank you!

Read it.

“Therapeutic riding offers additional benefits that stress management (HM) cannot. For example, TR can also promote proper posture, trunk balance and leg strength to improve posture and gait for community and work tasks. Equine-assisted activities provide sensory input. Moreover, working with a horse that is non-judgmental can promote bonding and social connections.”

Read the full article here.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, Horses and Humans Research Foundation

PO Box 23367 

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 

Email:info@horsesandhumans.org

Web:http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Comparative Effectiveness of Stress Management Techniques and Therapeutic Riding on Stress Levels of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Chagrin Falls, Ohio, January 22, 2019- Researchers at Slippery Rock University recently completed a study funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) focused on the comparative effectiveness of stress management techniques and Therapeutic Riding (TR) on stress levels of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  The team, led by principal investigator Dr. Martha Kemeny, compared an evidence-based stress management protocol (HeartMath), a TR protocol, and a no treatment control for 27 young adults ages 13-22 with ASD. All interventions were one hour in length for ten consecutive sessions.  The study was a randomized three-period crossover trial in which participants were randomly assigned to the order in which they receive TR, HeartMath, and no treatment control. 

Results of this study show that this particular stress management protocol and therapeutic riding protocol are equally effective in decreasing salivary cortisol.  However, in comparing the two phases, the therapeutic riding protocol showed greater changes in cortisol levels than did the stress management program. 

Pam Cusick, Board President of Horses and Humans Research Foundation, stated "We are thrilled with the results of this study.  Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder report high stress and anxiety levels that impact functioning in the community.  We are pleased to see confirmation that therapeutic riding has a positive impact on stress levels and hope that this research will encourage more adolescents with autism will consider therapeutic riding as an option."

For more information regarding this study and other past HHRF funded research visit our website www.horsesandhumans.org.

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Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $600,000 in professional research efforts led by thirteen research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Click here to read it.

This research project investigating therapeutic riding for veterans, conducted by principle investigator Dr. Beth Lanning of Baylor University, was recently published in Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. The study Therapeutic horseback riding as a complementary intervention for military service members with PTSD was funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation.  

The research found that the participating veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder were less anxious and depressed and had an improved quality of life after an eight-week therapeutic horseback riding program.  Data revealed clinically significant improvements in depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the veterans who participated in the therapeutic riding program compared to those who did not participate. 

The finding is momentous because combat-related PTSD in military service personnel remains a national public health concern.  Mental health diagnoses among active duty military personnel have increased by 65 percent during the past decade according to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center. Further, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 20 veterans commit suicide every day. 

The study included 89 participants in two groups.  The eight-week horseback riding program consisted of weekly 90-minute sessions lead by a riding instructor certified by Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH).  Additionally, each horse-rider pair was accompanied by a trained volunteer who was a military service member not participating in the study. 

Researchers of a previous study examining PTSD treatments found that a little more than half of the individuals who enrolled in and completed traditional therapy no longer met the PTSD criteria after completing it. While encouraging, the failure rate is still high, and many veterans do not seek traditional therapy for mental issues, Lanning said. Alternative and complementary interventions should be considered as possible treatments to improve mental and physical health. Animal-assisted activities and therapies, specifically with horses, are viable and potentially effective intervention options for various populations, she said. 

The therapeutic effects of equine-assisted interventions can be best summed up by the veterans’ own words, said Lanning, citing them. 

“. . . the program (therapeutic riding) has been the first that lets me totally forget about things and slows the racing thoughts. I didn’t have reminders (of trauma) keep popping in.” — Veteran participant 

“I was at the point where I was desperate, depressed, hopeless . . . this (therapeutic riding) just sounded like a chance. And it worked.” — Veteran participant

Dr. Wendy Wood (the Co-PI) and Dr. B. Caitlin Peters.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to theTemple Grandin Equine Center, Colorado State University to research The Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Manualized Equine-assisted Occupational Therapy Intervention for Children with Autism.This research study is actually phase two of a comprehensive four phase study that tracks not only the effects of equine assisted occupational therapy for children with autism, but also the feasibility of the intervention and the retention and impact of results. Principal Investigator, Dr. B. Caitlin Peters, stated that ideally the final long term results will beto disseminate an intervention manual allowing occupational therapists at riding centers across the globe to easily provide an evidence-based intervention to children with autism.

Image courtesy Temple Grandin Equine Center

Therapeutic riding centers serve individuals with autism more than any other group. Equine-assisted occupational therapy (EAOT) integrates horses into occupational therapy treatments to improve the social and behavioral functioning and related occupational performance of children with autism. This study aims to determine if a manual that outlines how to provide EAOT to children with autism is feasible to implement, and is acceptable to therapists and participants. The project will also assess the impact of EAOT on individual occupational performance goals, social functioning, behavior, and chronic stress of children with autism. 

This appears to be the first study of an equine-assisted therapy for children with autism to a) assess feasibility and acceptability of a manualized intervention, b) use random assignments to treatment or control groups, and c) assess outcomes with blinded raters and physiological indicators. 

Measures will include areas such as surveys, focus groups, participant attendance, assessment completion, drop-out rates and fidelity to the intervention manual as indicators of feasibility of implementation.  The effect of EAOT on children with autism will be measured before and after the intervention through established assessments ratings as well as collected hair samples that will be analyzed for cortisol content, an indicator of chronic stress.  

Image courtesy Temple Grandin Equine Center

The results of this study will be used to design a future, large-scale randomized clinical trial. In addition, the results will be used to improve the EAOT intervention manual. The long-term goal is to determine if EAOT is an effective intervention for children with autism. If so, the intervention manual can be disseminated so that occupational therapists can provide evidenced based therapy sessions for their clients.  

Read the full winning proposal.

Veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder were less anxious and depressed and had an improved quality of life after an eight-week therapeutic horseback riding program, according to a Baylor University study.

Read the article and research abstract here.

Research conducted at University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada was recently published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. Also: Making gifts of real estate, meet two new board members, read about our latest round of research applications, learn what happened at our latest board meeting and planning session, and consider applying for the HHRF Scientific Advisory Council!

View a PDF of the latest HHRF print newsletter. 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, Horses and Humans Research Foundation

PO Box 23367

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

Email: info@horsesandhumans.org

Web: http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Chagrin Falls, Ohio, June 4, 2018 – Research conducted at Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada was recently published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.  The study ‘Behavioural and physiological responses of therapy horses to mentally traumatized humans’ examined the effects of equine assisted therapy (EAT) on the horse.  The principal investigator was Katrina Merkies, PhD and the project was funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation.  

(Click here to read about the original research from 2015 and other HHRF-funded research)

Subjects clinically diagnosed and under care of a psychotherapist for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) were matched physically to four neurotypical control subjects and individually participated in sessions with each of 17 therapy horses loose in a round pen. A professional acting coach instructed the control humans in replicating the physical movements of their paired PTSD individual. Both horses and humans were equipped with a heart rate (HR) monitor recording HR every 5 seconds. Saliva samples were collected from each horse 30 min before and 30 min after each trial to analyze cortisol concentrations.

Each trial consisted of 5 minutes of baseline observation of the horse alone in the round pen after which the human entered the round pen for 2 minutes, followed by an additional 5 minutes of the horse alone. Behavioural observations indicative of stress in the horse (gait, head height, ear orientation, body orientation, distance from the human, latency of approach to the human, vocalizations, and chewing) were retrospectively collected from video recordings of each trial.

Results indicate that horses respond more to physical cues from the human than emotional cues. This knowledge is important in tailoring therapy programs and justifying horse responses when interacting with a patient in a therapy setting.

The project also indicated: 1) Therapy horses do not differentiate between humans with PTSD and those without.  2) Therapy horses display more stress behaviours when they are alone in a round pen. 3) Therapy horses are more attentive to humans who are experienced around horses. 4)  Therapy horses are calmer with humans who are inexperienced around horses.

Dr. Merkies commented that "There is a critical need to understand the mechanisms behind horse-human interactions in order to understand the motivations of the horse - are they engaged in a mutually beneficial or altruistic interaction, or simply responding to human physical characteristics.  This is important in light of best practices attuned to equine welfare - we need to ensure that we are employing horses responsibly, not only reducing or eliminating poor welfare but also providing opportunity for positive welfare."

Mission: Through investment in rigorous research, Horses and Humans Research Foundation will serve as a catalyst to advance knowledge of horses and their potential to impact the health and wellness of people.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $460,000 in professional research efforts led by eleven research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.HorsesandHumans.org. 

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Chagrin Falls, Ohio, April 14, 2018.  Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) welcomes three new members to their board of directors.  Evelyn McKelvie, C.E.C., Leif Hallberg, MA, LPC, LCPC and Nancy Waite-O’Brien, PhD recently joined the board bringing a variety of skills and expertise to support this equine assisted activity and therapy (EAA/T) research focused mission. 

Leif Hallberg is an internationally recognized author, consultant, licensed mental health professional, educator, and avid lover of nature and animals. Leif’s professional career and life’s work have centered on researching the human-equine bond, and studying the industry of equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAA/T). 

Evelyn McKelvie is a certified Executive Coach, speaker, and author who specializes in working with teams and individuals who want to create better ways of relating in the workplace and overcoming barriers to performance effectiveness.   Before devoting herself full time to her current role as Founder of Equine Coach, Evelyn worked for many years in business leadership positions, most recently as a senior manager for IT at the University of British Columbia. 

Dr. Nancy Waite-O’Brien is a psychologist, educator and author with over 30 years of experience in addiction treatment both in the United States and in the Caribbean. In 2004, she was named one of the sixty most influential women in the field of addiction treatment by Counselor Magazine.  She has a private practice in Rancho Mirage, California; provides Equine Assisted Therapy to clients of drug and alcohol treatment programs in Palm Springs, California; and is a consulting psychologist for the ABC Recovery Center. 

These new members will join in procuring future sustainability and direction for HHRF.  Leif Hallberg expressed the board’s commitment when she said “Including horses in human healthcare is emerging as an increasingly popular therapeutic approach. And although most who experience equine-assisted activities or therapies can attest to the healing qualities found in coming to the farm, spending time in nature, and being around animals, there is much we don’t know about what happens when horses and humans come together for human wellbeing. I believe the work of HHRF is critical to the advancement of this knowledge, and I am proud to do whatever I can to help in this endeavor.”    

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Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $450,000 in professional research efforts led by eleven research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Our 2017 Annual Report has been published. Visit our Annual Reports page to read about our work and outcomes from 2017. Special thanks to each individual and group who makes this work possible with your contributions of funding, time and professional dedication! 

Accepting Applications until June 30, 2018 for Grants up to $50,000

Chagrin Falls, OH - April 2, 2018 - Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) announces an open call for proposals to investigate the therapeutic effects of horses on humans. The Foundation's broad research agenda includes basic research as well as clinical studies that will ultimately impact physical and mental health and quality of life for those engaged in equine-assisted activities/therapies (EAA/T). Deadline for submission proposals is June 30, 2018.

Up to fifty thousand dollars in research funding will be offered through a rigorous application and review process. Grants are selected on a competitive basis, taking into account scientific merit, scientific and clinical significance and relevance. Preference will be given to investigators with solid credentials and research experience. All applications undergo a four-tier review process completed by the scientific review committee. The average grant award is $50,000 for up to a 1.5 year period. 

On behalf of the HHRF Board, our past board members, and our scientific advisory council, we are very pleased to seek high quality research grant applications through this open call which reflects the highest priority needs and gaps in knowledge of the equine-assisted therapy and activities community. It is through such pursuit of peer-reviewed research that we all benefit from knowledge, creation, application and dissemination. HHRF continues to strive to support true leaps in research, as has been famously observed: "Incrementalism is innovation's worst enemy."

Information for applicants, including application materials, previously funded projects, review guidelines and more are available at horsesandhumans.org. 

Make a contribution to HHRF today and help ensure that this important research continues. For more information on this research, on the foundation, or on becoming a donor, contact Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, ken.boyden@horsesandhumans.org.

Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $460,000 in professional research efforts led by twelve research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Your  support has made still more research possible!  In 2017 we have seen 4 new published articles related to research funded by YOUR contributions.  In addition another research project was completed and findings were announced.   Research results are truly advancing this field.  Thank you.  YOUR role in research is more important than you might imagine.

Image courtesy Slippery Rock University

 

1. February, 2017  -  New research findings - "Can horses distinguish between neurotypical and mentally traumatized humans?"  Link to report. PI: Katrina Merkies, University of Guelph. 
2. April 2017 - Published in Journal of Child and Family Studies – “Effects of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Youth.” Link to abstract. Related to HHRF-funded project “Effects of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Male Youth” from P.I. Megan K. Mueller, Ph.D. in 2013.
3. June 2017 – Published in Occupational Therapy and Mental Health – “Using Therapeutic Riding as an Intervention for Combat Veterans: An International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Approach.” Link to abstract. Related to HHRF-funded project “Examination of the Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Quality of Life and Participation in Combat Veterans” from P.I. Beth A. Lanning in 2014.
4. August 2017 – Published in Applied Nursing Research – “Equine-assisted therapy intervention studies targeting physical symptoms in adults: A systematic review.” Link to abstract. Related to HHRF-funded study “Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Coping Self-efficacy, Emotion Regulation and Social Engagement in Military Veterans” from P.I. Rebecca A. Johnson in 2012.
5. October 2017 – Published in Journal of Equine Veterinary Science - "Horses Working in Therapeutic Riding Programs: Cortisol, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Glucose, and Behavior Stress Indicators.” Link to abstract. Conducted in tandem with HHRF-funded study “Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans” from P.I. Rebecca A. Johnson in 2012. 

Read a listing of all of HHRF’s funded research, including the projects referenced above, here. 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, Horses and Humans Research Foundation

Date: February 1, 2018

PO Box 23367

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

Email: info@horsesandhumans.org

Web: http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Research Results: Effects of Therapeutic Riding on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Chagrin Falls, OH.  February 1, 2018. A quantitative paper with findings from a research study funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) was recently published in the Military Medical Research Journal.  “Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on military veteran’s posttraumatic stress disorder” is another important step toward validating equine assisted activity’s positive impact for participants in hundreds of centers across the country.

Large numbers of post-deployment U.S. veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to an urgent need for effective interventions to reduce symptoms and increase veterans’ coping. PTSD includes anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. The symptoms increase health care costs for stress-related illnesses and can make veterans’ civilian life difficult.

Dr. Rebecca Johnson, principle investigator, used randomized wait-list control with repeated measures of U.S. military veterans to test the efficacy of a 6-week therapeutic horseback riding (THR) program for decreasing PTSD symptoms.  PTSD symptoms were measured using the standardized PTSD Checklist-Military Version and three other standardized tests were also used to access different aspects of individual well-being and the PTSD symptoms.

Results showed that participants had a statistically significant decrease in PTSD scores after 3 weeks of THR as well as a statistically and clinically significant decrease after 6 weeks of THR. Logistic regression showed that participants had a 66.7% likelihood of having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks and 87.5% likelihood at 6 weeks.

It is no surprise to professional therapeutic riding instructors and center participants that the findings clearly suggest that THR may be a clinically effective intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in military veterans.  This is particularly important as we urgently seek alternative methods to support our veterans in need.

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Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $460,000 in professional research efforts led by twelve research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Photo courtesy MU CVM and ReCHAI

A quantitative paper with findings from a research study funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation was recently published in the Military Medical Research Journal.  “Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on military veteran’s posttraumatic stress disorder”  is another important step toward validating equine-assisted activities's positive impact for participants in hundreds of centers across the country.

Dr. Rebecca Johnson, principal investigator, used randomized wait-list control with repeated measures of U.S. military veterans to test the efficacy of a 6-week therapeutic horseback riding (THR) program for decreasing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.  PTSD symptoms were measured using the standardized PTSD Checklist-Military Version and three other standardized tests were also used to access different aspects of individual well-being and the PTSD symptoms.

Results showed that participants had a statistically significant decrease in PTSD scores after 3 weeks of THR as well as a statistically and clinically significant decrease after 6 weeks of THR. Logistic regression showed that participants had a 66.7% likelihood of having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks and 87.5% likelihood at 6 weeks.

It is no surprise to professional therapeutic riding instructors and center participants that the findings clearly suggest that THR may be a clinically effective intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in military veterans.  This is particularly important as we urgently seek alternative methods to support our veterans in need.

Read the paper. 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Ken Boyden, JD, EdD, Executive Director, Horses and Humans Research Foundation

PO Box 23367

Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

Email: info@horsesandhumans.org

Web: http://www.horsesandhumans.org

Sally Lehnhardt Joins Horses and Humans Research Foundation Board of Directors

Sally Lehnhardt

Chagrin Falls, Ohio, January 9, 2018.  Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) welcomes Sally Lehnhardt to their board of directors.  Lehnhardt, from Cockeysville, MD, is a VP at McCormick & Co., Inc. and a lifelong horse enthusiast.  She is a firm believer in the benefits from interaction between horses and humans on multiple levels and has commented that “I do not believe I would be an executive today if I had not been a horse person. The interaction gave me confidence I would not have had otherwise. “

Lehnhardt is VP of IT Delivery - responsible for IT investment governance processes and driving technological thought leadership capabilities. She also is accountable for global business partnership, solution development, application project delivery and operations in support of business strategies and an ambitious growth agenda.

Her skills in business and strategy development will be a great asset to HHRF as they refine plans for growth of their research investment to support the future of equine assisted activities and therapies.  The board has set a priority to increase its research grants while honing the research focus to best advance the field and centers.

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Mission: Through sustained investment in rigorous research, HHRF serves as a catalyst to advance global knowledge of horse-human interactions and their impact on health and wellness.

Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF) is dedicated to funding research to investigate the equine-assisted activities and therapies field. Since its founding, HHRF has awarded over $460,000 in professional research efforts led by twelve research teams in the United States, Canada and Germany. HHRF is a non-endowed foundation dependent solely on donations. To make a donation and/or learn more about this and other Horses and Humans Research Foundation projects visit http://www.horsesandhumans.org