Experiences of Military Veterans in a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program

Area of Science:

• Veterans' mental health
• Complementary and alternative medicine

Background:

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent in U.S. military veterans.
• Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is an emerging adjunct therapy for PTSD.
• Understanding veteran perceptions of THR is crucial for its clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore U.S. military veterans' perceived benefits, drawbacks, and overall views of a 6-week Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR) program.
• To gather qualitative data on veterans' experiences with THR as an adjunct therapy.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving 20 U.S. military veterans with diagnoses of PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or both.
• Participants engaged in a 6-week THR program, riding the same horse weekly.
• Data collected via an open-ended questionnaire and analyzed using content analysis.

Main Results:

• Key benefits identified: 'Connection to the Horse,' 'Relaxing,' '180 Degree Change,' and 'Meeting New People.'
• Reported drawbacks included 'Struggle to Get There,' 'Pain,' and 'Too Short.' Some veterans reported 'None.'
• Overall perceptions were highly positive, with veterans expressing sentiments like 'I Absolutely Loved It,' 'Feel Again,' and 'No Worries.'

Conclusions:

• Veterans generally viewed the 6-week THR program positively.
• Findings suggest THR may offer significant clinical benefits for veterans, potentially through mechanisms like equine connection and relaxation.
• Qualitative insights can elucidate the mechanisms behind THR's effectiveness in veteran populations.