Associate Clinical Professor, Indiana University Bloomington | Director of Education & Research, Strides to Success
Dr. Blair McKissock is an internationally recognized leader in equine-assisted services, recreational therapy, and nature-based interventions with more than 30 years of professional experience. She is a PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor (CTRI), Equine Specialist (ES), and Master Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Facilitator. Blair played a central role in developing the PATH Intl. Equine-Assisted Learning credential, co-authoring the foundational curriculum, competency standards, and microcredential framework that guide professional preparation in the field. For more than two decades, she has led training initiatives and curriculum development as the co-founder of HorseWork Education supporting the education of EAS practitioners internationally.
As an Associate Clinical Professor at Indiana University, her teaching and scholarship focus on clinical education in recreational therapy, experiential learning and animal assisted services. She is a published researcher and author of multiple curricula and peer-reviewed works, including contributions to interdisciplinary texts in animal-assisted services. Her research explores the mechanisms that make equine-assisted services so powerful and outdoor interventions for diverse populations, including veterans and individuals with autism. Her latest work involves investigating facilitation model to improve consistency of facilitation in EAL.
Dr. McKissock's career bridges research, practice, and professional development. She continues to serve as an advocate, leader, and educator dedicated to advancing ethical, inclusive, and evidence-informed equine-assisted services worldwide.