Horse power: could a barn visit beat stress?
NCT ID NCT05703165
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at whether interacting with horses can help people who feel stressed. About 123 adults with high stress levels will either spend time with horses or just watch the countryside. Researchers will measure heart rate changes and mood before, right after, and five days later to see if the horse activity makes a difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- horse-assisted intervention
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to help people manage everyday stress.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with no blinding or placebo control, so results may be due to chance or the outdoor setting rather than the horses themselves.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Medical University of Graz
Graz, Styria, 8036, Austria
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