Equine Foundation Pledges Donation to Support Fundraising Initiative for Veterans with PTSD
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – The Equine Science Center’s fundraising initiative for a large-scale research project focusing on Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) continues to raise funds as it launches a crowdfunding campaign on Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11th, 2020.
The research project, conducted by the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University, will focus on the horse human bond, and how EAAT affects both humans and horses during these types of therapy sessions.
“The study will look at how the interactions between the horses and humans, sometimes referred to as a “horse/human bond” affect one another,” said Ellen Rankins, Ph.D. Candidate and project lead. “Not only will data be collected during the trial period, we will also follow up with the participants to observe how long these changes are sustained over time.”
While the Center has continued to raise money for the project, there is still awhile to go before full funding has been secured. The Center’s goal is for all of the costs associated with the study to be paid for by the research fund, making the therapy sessions completely free to the veterans. After hearing about the project, Foundation Equine Wellness and Performance (a mobile veterinary practice based out of Bordentown, New Jersey) decided to make a donation to the research fund. Instead of making a general donation, they have decided to issue a challenge match to anyone willing to donate. For every dollar that the Equine Science Center raises, Foundation Equine will match dollar for dollar up to $2,500.
“We are so happy to take part in the Equine Science Center’s crowdfunding campaign,” said Dr. Daniel P. Keenan, Owner of Foundation Equine Wellness and Performance. “We wanted to contribute to this project not only because it will better our understanding of how Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) affects the health and wellness of the horse, but because it will also examine how these types of therapies can improve the lives of veterans with PTSD, and others who would benefit by these types of therapies.
To help with this challenge-match visit the Equine Science Center’s crowdfunding webpage on November 11th at: https://go.rutgers.edu/ESCResearchFund
The project is a partnership with statewide stakeholders including: the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Special Strides located in Monroe, New Jersey (where the therapy sessions will be conducted); the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University; the Office of Veterans and Military Programs and Services at Rutgers; and the Rutgers Business School – Military and Veteran Engagement Programs.
For additional information, contact Public Relations Specialist Kyle Hartmann at kylehart@njaes.rutgers.edu, and for information about donating to the project, contact Leadership Gifts Officer Roz Beberman at roz.beberman@rutgers.edu or 848-932-3593.
About the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University
The Equine Science Center is a unit of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Its mission is “Better Horse Care through Research and Education” in order to advance the well-being and performance of horses and the equine industry. Its vision is to be recognized throughout New Jersey as well as nationally and internationally for its achievements in identifying issues in the horse industry, finding solutions through science-based inquiry, providing answers to the horse industry and to horse owners, and influencing public policy to ensure the viability of the horse industry.
For more information about the Equine Science Center, call 848-932-9419 or visit esc.rutgers.edu.
