Therapeutic Horsemanship in Veterans

University of Missouri (MU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Therapeutic Horseback Riding; Other: Standard Care

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02891421

1207664-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

The project partnered with U.S. military veterans with a premier accredited therapeutic riding center for six weeks. The veterans interacted with horses by grooming and learning about them, as well as riding them for one hour per week during which they gained a variety of skills. We hoped the veterans would experience a reduction in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and loneliness, while improving their social and emotional health and self-efficacy.

Full description

Large numbers of post-deployed U.S. veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury make effective interventions urgent, to reduce symptoms and increase veterans' coping. PTSD includes anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Symptoms expand health care costs for stress-related illnesses making veterans' civilian life difficult.

The proposed study used a randomized experimental design with repeated measures and waitlist control group testing the efficacy of a 6-week human-horse interaction and systematic therapeutic horseback riding program in: decreasing PTSD symptoms, increasing coping self efficacy, emotion regulation, and social engagement. The Riding Group spent one hour weekly interacting with and riding the same horse at one of two PATH-accredited riding centers in Mid-Missouri supervised by an Occupational Therapist, Profession Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International-certified instructor, leader and side walkers as needed. Riding was directed by a systematic lesson plan. Data collection occured at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. The Control Group was assessed at the same intervals and again 3 weeks and 6 weeks after joining the Riding Group.

Enrollment: 38 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18 years or older
• Veterans, left active military service (not serving in reserve units.)
• Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
• Weight less than 220 pounds.
• Able to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices).
• Willing to interact with and ride a horse.
• Have not ridden a horse in the past year.
• Care Provider assent

Exclusion criteria

• Age less than 18 years
• Veterans in active military service (including reserve units).
• No diagnosis of PTSD/TBI or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
• Weight greater than 221 pounds.
• Unable to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices.)
• Unwilling to interact with and ride a horse.
• Have been riding a horse in the past year.
• Care Provider unwilling to provide assent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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38 participants in 2 patient groups

Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Other group

Description:

Therapeutic Horseback Riding: Veterans were matched to a horse by the instructor and occupational therapist for best fit and the same horse was ridden each week

Treatment:

Behavioral: Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Standard Care

Other group

Description:

Participants received standard care.

Treatment:

Other: Standard Care