Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International

Baseline Definition Guidance Resource for Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Veterans

Location:  National

Equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for veterans have developed from decentralized grassroots interest, commitment, and efforts, without a coherent shared language.  Given this origin, EAAT programs and providers commonly use different words to describe the same activities. The lack of a shared language negatively impacts research, limits the development of a rigorous evidence base regarding EAAT and veterans, and complicates contracts, VA funding, and even Medicaid reimbursement for services. The Professional Association Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International is the leading accrediting organization in this community.  The BWF grant to PATH Int’l builds upon the lessons from the 2017 BWF convening addressing EAAT for the veteran community.  With this grant, PATH Int’l will collaborate with other EAAT leaders and service providers to develop a baseline definition guidance resource for use throughout the EAAT community.