What Happens When Science Meets the Saddle? Inside HHRF’s 20-Year Journey
What Happens When Science Meets the Saddle? Inside HHRF’s 20-Year Journey
By Dr. Pebbles Turbeville
Over 20 years ago, a quiet revolution began in a Texas horse arena. Molly Sweeney, a lifelong horsewoman with deep family roots in the equestrian world, was volunteering at a therapeutic riding center. Like many volunteers, she was drawn by the horses—but what she witnessed during those sessions changed her life.
Children with cerebral palsy, who struggled to hold themselves upright in their wheelchairs, suddenly sat tall and engaged while mounted on a horse. Young people with autism, often limited in verbal communication, began to speak, laugh, and connect. Parents, therapists, and volunteers stood by in awe. But Molly wanted to do more than witness miracles. She wanted to understand them.
She asked a powerful question: Why is this happening?
That question planted the seed for what would become the Horses and Humans Research Foundation (HHRF). With a vision far ahead of its time, Molly gathered a group of passionate professional scientists, practitioners, therapists, and horse experts. Together, they formed a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding and promoting rigorous research into the healing connections between horses and humans.
Since then, HHRF has funded 18 major research projects, supported hundreds of professionals across disciplines, and helped establish the field of equine-assisted services (EAS) as one grounded not just in heartwarming anecdotes, but in scientific inquiry.
The Vision: Understanding the “Why”
At the heart of HHRF’s founding mission was the idea that compelling stories alone weren’t enough. For equine-assisted services to grow, gain credibility, and secure support from medical communities, insurers, and policymakers, there needed to be evidence.
“There was magic in those moments between horse and human,” said one founding board member, “but we needed to turn magic into a method.”
Early research funded by HHRF explored how horseback riding could improve motor skills, balance, and communication in children with disabilities. Later studies examined the effects of equine interaction on veterans with PTSD, survivors of trauma, individuals with substance use disorders, and more. The foundation also prioritized equine well-being, understanding that true healing partnerships depend on the health and emotional safety of the horse, too.
Ahead of the Curve—and Still Leading
Today, many organizations fund health-related research, and public awareness of equine-assisted therapy is growing rapidly. But in the early 2000s, HHRF was one of the only nonprofits funding research specifically on equine-assisted activities and therapies.
“Molly and HHRF were well ahead of their time,” says current HHRF CEO, Pebbles Turbeville. “Back then, even the language was scattered. People weren’t sure what to call this work—therapy riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy—so you can imagine how hard it was to organize credible, funded research around it. But HHRF stayed the course.”
Now, more than two decades later, the foundation continues to roll with the times. HHRF still funds high-quality research, but it also plays a critical role as an educator, connector, and advocate within the field.
Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice
A major challenge HHRF has addressed in recent years is the disconnect between researchers and practitioners. “Many practitioners in this field are brilliant at working with horses and people,” says Turbeville, “but they don’t always have access to current research, or the time to dig into scientific journals. Meanwhile, researchers don’t always know how to frame their findings in a way that practitioners can use.”
To bridge this gap, HHRF launched a growing collection of free educational tools, including:
Monthly webinars featuring leading researchers and professionals in the field.
Annual conferences where therapists, scientists, equine specialists, and riders come together to learn, connect, and share.
Open-access research articles through platforms like Open Science, ensuring that critical findings are available to anyone interested, from a university scholar to a barn manager.
Infographics and plain-language summaries of research, designed to make findings more accessible to broader audiences, including parents, veterans, teachers, and healthcare professionals.
These tools don’t just inform—they empower.
“HHRF gave me the language and confidence to talk about why what we do works,” says one therapist working at an equine-assisted mental health center. “Now I can speak with doctors and school officials using data, not just stories.”
International Reach, Local Impact
Though founded in the U.S., HHRF has always had an international perspective. Research funded by the foundation has come from institutions in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond. Its conferences and webinars welcome global participants, fostering cross-cultural conversations about best practices in EAS and equine welfare.
But the real power of HHRF lies in its local impact. In communities across the world, small equine centers rely on the resources, research, and credibility that HHRF provides. Whether it’s a rural program serving children with disabilities or a veterans’ retreat in a suburban stable, HHRF’s influence is felt in arenas, fields, and barns every day.
And that influence goes both ways. HHRF actively encourages feedback and engagement from practitioners in the field, creating a two-way dialogue between those conducting the research and those applying it.
The Horse at the Center
Unlike some organizations that focus primarily on human outcomes, HHRF insists that horses must benefit from this work, too. From the beginning, the foundation has funded and supported research into equine stress, health, behavior, and training.
This dual focus—on human and horse well-being—is what sets HHRF apart.
“We believe in healing partnerships,” says Turbeville. “That means putting the horse’s needs, emotions, and comfort on equal footing with the human’s.”
Several recent HHRF-supported studies have examined horse stress levels during sessions, how to recognize signs of fatigue or discomfort in equine partners, and how different approaches to training and care can improve outcomes for both species.
The Future of HHRF
As the field of equine-assisted services matures, HHRF continues to evolve. Its current strategic focus includes:
Expanding access to research through translated materials, videos, and youth education tools.
Partnering with universities, therapy programs, and veterinary schools to create new interdisciplinary research opportunities.
Encouraging youth engagement, including simplified science communication geared toward middle and high school students.
Fostering innovation, supporting pilot projects and new methods of measuring horse-human interactions using tools like heart rate monitors, brain imaging, and behavioral observation.
Despite a small budget compared to some foundations, HHRF stretches every dollar by partnering with programs and donors who share its commitment to evidence-based, ethical, and accessible equine-assisted services.
And as it moves forward, the heart of HHRF remains unchanged.
“We are here to improve lives,” says Turbeville. “Human lives. Horse lives. And the lives of the communities who bring them together.”
How You Can Support the Mission
The foundation invites anyone passionate about horses, healing, and human potential to get involved. Whether you’re a rider, therapist, educator, or simply a curious supporter, you can:
Attend a free webinar or share one with your network
Donate to fund future research and education
Volunteer your skills or time
Follow HHRF on social media to stay informed and inspired
In the words of Molly Sweeney:
“We started with: Can we prove that the changes we see in humans are due to the interaction with the horse? Then we added: What is the impact on the horse?”
· The more we learn, the more clearly we see that this work matters. It changes lives—and it deserves to be understood.
· With the development of new technologies and techniques, we aim to understand the mechanism of how the healing happens—and even explore the deeper question of why horses choose to heal us.
And thanks to HHRF, it is.