Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is an adaptive sport that has received a great deal of attention recently for people with disabilities and, most recently, for military veterans with disabilities. Working collaboratively with equine partners and a therapeutic team, there have been anecdotal comments in the literature attesting to the therapeutic impact of this intervention for veterans. This exploratory study examined the impact of THR on five veterans who completed a North American Riding for the Handicapped (NARHA) Horses for Heroes program. It was hypothesized that post-test scores on physical self-efficacy and self-esteem would increase from pre-test upon completion of an 11-week THR program. Results supported the research hypotheses. Implications for future research and practice are examined.
