Patients in Pilot Study See Promise In Equine-Assisted Therapy

Parkinson’s disease patients in a pilot study testing the effects of equine-associated therapy report that they enjoy working with horses, while researchers say they hope results from the program will provide evidence of its benefits.

“We hope to show there is effectiveness in this type of treatment to apply for larger-scale grants, with our goal being a six-week program to see just how effective equine-assisted therapy is at aiding people with Parkinson’s,” Deanna Kennedy, PhD, an assistant professor of health and kinesiology Texas A&M University, which is testing the therapy, said in a university news story.

The team has not yet published results.