Riding in the Moment: A Community-Based Program Using Equine-Assisted Services to Improve the Health and Quality of Life of People Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias and their Families

At a Glance

This project, led by Three Gaits, Inc., will implement a Riding in the Moment (RM), an adaptive horseback riding program, to reduce isolation and improve the health and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers.

The Challenge

Riding in the Moment (RM) is an evidence-informed, community-based standardized adaptive horseback riding program designed to improve health and quality of life of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers. Riding in the Moment was developed by Hearts & Horses in Colorado. While more than 120,000 Wisconsin residents live with Alzheimer’s disease, only one equine-assisted services center has launched RM in the state, highlighting additional need to reach and serve this population.

Project Goals

Three Gaits Inc. offers equine-assisted services that help their clients to achieve physical, cognitive and life skill goals. This project aims to implement an RM program to reduce isolation and improve the health and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers. This goal will be addressed by training staff and volunteers in recommended dementia and RM program practices, delivering RM to 36 people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family caregivers and evaluating the implementation and outcomes of RM at Three Gaits.