A new study indicates that caring for horses can significantly alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in combat veterans. The research, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, found that veterans who regularly engaged in horsemanship activities experienced an easing of their PTSD symptoms and an overall improvement in their mental outlook.
Study Details
The study, conducted by researchers at Rutgers University and Colorado State University, involved six combat veterans participating in an eight-week horsemanship program. Each week, veterans attended 30-minute sessions where they learned basic horse safety and behavior. They were then tasked with grooming a horse and leading it around an arena.
Andrea Quinn, assistant director of the Center for Psychological Services in the Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, explained that focusing on a horse’s welfare helps veterans shed the hypervigilance often associated with PTSD. "When I think about what our veterans with PTSD struggle with, the results make sense," Quinn stated in a Rutgers news release.
Impact on PTSD Symptoms
The veterans involved in the study reported fewer PTSD symptoms compared to a control group of three veterans who did not participate in the horse program. Researchers noted that the tasks required veterans to be present in the moment, keeping themselves calm and centering on the activity at hand, such as talking with the horses, brushing them, and leading them.
"This kind of present-moment focus is a skill that can be developed and may help the symptoms of PTSD to feel more manageable," Quinn added.
Physiological and Psychological Benefits
Stress hormone concentrations in the veterans decreased over the duration of the program. Ellen Rankins, a postdoctoral associate at the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University and lead researcher, noted that "Veterans reported more positive interactions with their horses starting in week 3 and this change was retained through the end of the sessions."
Researchers also found preliminary evidence of co-regulation, where the body rhythms of the veterans began to synchronize with those of the horses.
The Need for Alternative Therapies
Given that approximately one-third of veterans drop out of traditional psychotherapy treatments for PTSD, the study highlights the importance of exploring alternative therapies. Quinn pointed out that dropout rates are even higher in military veteran populations, ranging between 50% and 60%. Therefore, studies examining alternative treatments are valuable.
Equine Welfare
The researchers also emphasized that the horses involved in the exercises showed no signs of stress following their interactions with the veterans. Karyn Malinowski, a professor of animal sciences at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Science, stated, "The research demonstrated that horses involved in this activity did not display any indicators of stress," addressing concerns about equine welfare.
PTSD Prevalence
At some point, seven out of 100 veterans will develop PTSD. Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan have the highest rates of PTSD, with 29% experiencing it at some point, while veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq have a 21% rate of PTSD.
