![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/290\/2026\/09\/Texan-Therapeutic-Riding-Program-04.07.26-CW-0060-copy-926x1024.jpg\")
balance, coordination and confidence through equine-assisted engagement.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s written to Missy, the horse he rides as part of the Texan Therapeutic Riding program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Director Dr. Ellen Rankins said it\u2019s not unusual for riders in the program to become fond of their mounts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey can become very attached to specific horses,\u201d she said, nodding toward the note. \u201cHe will be very disappointed if he ever outgrows her.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Texan Therapeutic Riding program, founded in 1995 by Tarleton State animal science professor Dr. David Snyder, combines evidence-based research with hands-on learning to support individuals through equine-assisted services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe offer therapeutic riding services to the community, adults and the youth population,\u201d Dr. Rankins said. \u201cWe have riders from 5 years old to over 70 and a variety of diagnoses and disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now, we offer adaptive horsemanship skills like grooming, leading and riding in a way that\u2019s safe given their diagnoses and medical history.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Rankins got her first horse when she was 9 and credits that experience with her choice of career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI learned to ride and I\u2019ve never looked back,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She earned her undergraduate degree in animal science from Auburn University, went to the University of Florida for her master\u2019s in equine behavior and earned a doctorate in animal bioscience and endocrinology at Rutgers University. Most recently she was at Colorado State University as a post-doctoral research fellow working primarily with autistic youth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, she holds certifications and credentials from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), a national accrediting organization for instructors and programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She came to Tarleton State in September 2025, and in addition to her duties running the riding program, she holds a teaching role at the university, instructing undergrads in basic and advanced therapeutic riding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other part of Dr. Rankins\u2019 role as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science is to conduct research related to equine-assisted services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy graduate training is in research on equine well-being and monitoring the physiological and behavioral responses of horses,\u201d she said. \u201cDuring my post-doctoral training, I expanded my skillset to include research that involves the human participants of equine-assisted services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs we start research at Texan Therapeutic Riding, our first project will examine the feasibility and acceptability of providing horsemanship lessons to veterans and their families.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n This project, funded through the President\u2019s Excellence in Research Scholars program, features a new approach, as most studies focus on individuals rather than a family unit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am excited to have collaborators from across the university, including the Division of Health Sciences and the College of Education, for this project,\u201d Dr. Rankins said. \u201cI am also starting some long-term research studies where we compare different training methodologies for horses entering equine-assisted services programs and what might help them be most successful.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therapy programs at Tarleton State, including the new physical therapy program, are collaborating with Texan Therapeutic Riding to integrate equine movement into their treatment plans and student education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis training has included some of their faculty coming out for regular interactions with the Texan Therapeutic Riding horses so the therapists can learn more about them,\u201d Dr. Rankins said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Rankins is also a mentor to students working toward certification as therapeutic riding instructors. Sarah Scheler, a senior animal science major from Montgomery, Texas, is one of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDr. Rankins has provided a great level of expertise in all areas of therapeutic riding,\u201d she said. \u201cShe is extremely knowledgeable and has an obvious love for both our horses and clients. She has put so much time, energy and wisdom into pushing me to be a better instructor every week, and I am so grateful for her mentorship and guidance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Though riders in the program are each unique in their needs, Dr. Rankins said therapeutic riding offers physical, emotional and cognitive benefits to nearly all riders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe physical benefit of the program comes in doing things many of our participants might not be able to take part in, especially those confined to a wheelchair,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing on the back of a horse gives them that motor input that can be analogous to being able to walk. It gives them opportunities to use muscles they don\u2019t typically use.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cognitive benefits come from sequencing skills that are also part of the curriculum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst, we use this brush in grooming,\u201d Dr. Rankins said, \u201cthen we use a second brush and a third brush. They remember patterns and eventually can use those abilities in other areas of their life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n From an emotional perspective, riders gain confidence as they learn they can direct their horse\u2019s movements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a social aspect, too,\u201d she said. \u201cWe ride in mostly group classes so there are dynamics between the different riders, how we all work together and how we all engage safely in fun activities together.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Therapeutic Riding Program Supports Area Residents by Teaching Horsemanship Skills<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":595,"featured_media":1280,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"functions-assets\/full-feature-post-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","wds_primary_category":30,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring-summer-2026-issue"],"acf":[],"author_meta":{"display_name":"jpartin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/author\/jpartin\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/290\/2026\/07\/Saddle-Pals-300x169.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["Spring \/ Summer 2026 Issue<\/a>"],"unlinked":["Spring \/ Summer 2026 Issue<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":0,"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 months ago","modified":"Updated 2 weeks ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on July 13, 2026","modified":"Updated on September 8, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on July 13, 2026 1:42 pm","modified":"Updated on September 8, 2026 6:18 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/595"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1275"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1292,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1275\/revisions\/1292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1280"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/290\/2026\/09\/Texan-Therapeutic-Riding-Program-04.07.26-CW-9801-copy1-1024x777.jpg\")