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Stakeholders’ Perspectives On The Safety Of An Adaptive Riding Program For Adults Living With Dementia And Care Partners, Alicia A. Oestreich, Beth E. Fields

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

The purpose of this qualitative community-based participatory research was to explore the safety perspectives of stakeholders involved in an adaptive horseback riding program designed to enhance the quality of life of adults living with dementia and their care partners. Human–animal interactions are becoming increasingly popular therapeutic interventions; however, there is still a lack of understanding about the safety considerations for providing adults living with dementia opportunities to interact with horses and the equine environment. To advance our understanding, researchers analyzed 10 semistructured interviews and two focus groups with therapeutic riding program instructors and staff, aging network specialists, and care partners …