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Tiny horses, big lessons: can ponies help kids tame diabetes?

NCT ID NCT07822555

Symptom relief Sponsor: Nemours Children's Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 16, 2026 · Last updated Sep 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers are testing a diabetes education program that combines standard self-management lessons with hands-on activities involving miniature horses. Children and teens ages 8 to 20 with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, along with their caregivers, attend four sessions led by a diabetes specialist and an equine specialist. The study checks whether the program is practical to run, acceptable to families, and helpful for coping, self-care, and clinic attendance. Participants are followed for up to six months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
a diabetes education program that pairs self-management lessons with hands-on activities involving miniature horses
What this could lead to
If it works, this could give families a new, engaging way to help children and teens with diabetes build self-care skills and feel less overwhelmed by the condition.
What could go wrong
This is a small feasibility study, so it may show only whether the program can be delivered, not whether it improves health. Any benefits may not last or may not apply to other families.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 50 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Oct 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Oct 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

8 to 20 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 8 to 20 years * Diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes * Most recent HbA1c greater than 9.0% OR no diabetes clinic follow-up for more than 6 months * English-speaking participant and caregiver * Receiving diabetes care at the participating study site * Willing and able to participate in the DEEP intervention * Able to attend all four study sessions * Able to provide informed consent/assent, as applicable * Caregiver willing to participate in study activities and assessments Exclusion Criteria: * Non-English-speaking participant or caregiver * Medical, physical, cognitive, or behavioral condition that would prevent safe participation in study activities * Significant fear of horses that would limit participation * Allergy to horses that would limit participation * Previous participation in the DEEP intervention * Inability or unwillingness to complete study procedures or follow-up assessments * Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would make participation unsafe or interfere with study completion

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

diabetes mellitus Patient Participation type 1 diabetes mellitus type 2 diabetes mellitus

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Diabetes (DM) Diabetes (insulin-requiring, type 1 or type 2) Pediatric diabetes

How to take part

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  1. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  2. A doctor treating you

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