The long-awaited summit for reaching consensus on baseline terms and definitions for Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies took place in Denver, July 20th – 22nd.

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

Spring 2019 email newsletter has been published - here is the link.

The 2018 Annual Report has been published.

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.  

Horses and Humans Research Foundation strives to move research from the arena to the lab and back to the arena again, where advancements truly impact lives. HHRF, in partnership with visionary donors, has successfully selected and funded critical EAA/T research that is already inspiring and leading the future of this field by:

“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.”

Researchers at Slippery Rock University recently completed a study funded by the Horses and Humans Research Foundation focused on the comparative effectiveness of stress management techniques and Therapeutic Riding on stress levels of adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  

The Latest from HHRF: New Grant Award, Publication News 

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. 

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.

“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.”

View a PDF of our latest printed newsletter.

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.  

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. 

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! 

Horses and Humans Research Foundation 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.

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.

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. 

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.