Ellen Rankins, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor & Director of Texan Therapeutic Riding
Email: erankins@tarleton.edu
Phone: 254-968-9847
Office: Equine 101C
Research Interests
- Equine Assistant Services
- Equine Welfare
Education
Undergraduate Education
B.S. in Animal Sciences – Equine Science, Auburn University, 2016
Graduate Education
M.S. in Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2018
Ph.D. in Endocrinology & Animal Biosciences, Rutgers University, 2023
Professional Biography
Dr. Ellen Rankins is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Tarleton State University where her research focuses on equine-assisted services (EAS) and equine welfare. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Auburn University in Animal Sciences – Equine Science and went on to earn a Master of Science degree at the University of Florida in Animal Sciences and a Ph.D. in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences from Rutgers University. She also serves as Director of Texan Therapeutic Riding at Tarleton State University. When not in the lab or office, she can be found teaching adaptive or therapeutic riding lessons. Rankins has been a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) certified instructor since 2012 and a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) certified instructor since 2024. Her hours spent in the riding arena have honed her research interests, which have spanned a variety of fields including kinesiology, behavior, and physiology.