For most people, horseback riding is a sport or a leisurely activity. Dr. Benazir Meera, a postdoctoral research associate at UW–Madison, and her colleagues, however, are using therapeutic horseback riding to shape the future of health promotion, ensuring underserved communities in Wisconsin have access to this powerful and healing tool.
Pursuing Passion: From Engineering to Equine-Assisted Services
Meera’s journey to becoming a leader and advocate in equine-assisted services has been anything but conventional.
Born and raised in Mysore, India, Meera was drawn to the thrill of sports, first in the form of roller skating. That passion soon evolved into ice skating, ultimately earning her a place on India’s national speed ice-skating team and the opportunity to compete internationally. As a former elite athlete, her accomplishments opened new doors. With a recommendation from India’s national sporting body, she was admitted to the prestigious Dream Together Master (DTM) Program to pursue a master’s degree in Global Sports Management at Seoul National University, South Korea. Her passion for sports, coupled with her experiences at DTM and support from her professors and mentors, encouraged her to pursue a PhD.
The next step of her academic journey would take her to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she completed her PhD in kinesiology and now works as a postdoctoral researcher, focusing on non-pharmacological interventions such as equine-assisted services. Her academic work and hands-on research have given her a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, therapy, and health promotion.
The Power of Equine-Assisted Services: A Lifelong Impact
Skating wasn’t the only sport that had an impact on Meera’s interests and trajectory. Growing up, Meera not only enjoyed recreational horseback riding, but watched the impact of horseback riding as therapy. Though she was not directly involved, she watched the local stable’s program for children with cerebral palsy. While she didn’t know it at the time, witnessing this program would help shape her career.
“I saw the progress they made from day one of class to the end of the eight-week program. It was beautiful to see. That’s when I realized that, while I was doing it recreationally, horses have this incredible power to connect with humans,” said Meera. “To see that bond and the benefits it translated into for the participants was amazing. It made me realize I needed to incorporate this into my research.”
Meera draws on these experiences to inform her research and daily work in equine-assisted services, working with patients across all life stages. When she first came to the university, she began working on her PhD under Dr. Luis Columna in the Promotion of Health Equity and Adapted Physical Activity (PHEAPA) Lab. As part of her dissertation, she developed a mobile app to enhance the therapy experience for children on the autism spectrum who were partaking in a therapeutic horseback riding program at Three Gaits Inc. The goal of the app was to help program participants—children and parents—to continue the skills gained in the horseback riding setting and translate them to everyday environments.
Meera’s research found that the mobile app showed potential as a valuable complementary tool in therapeutic horseback riding. Recognizing its broader applicability, she is now focused on expanding the app’s reach and scaling its impact to benefit diverse populations beyond children, including older adults.
“I want to be a life course researcher, so I don’t want to limit myself to just the pediatric population. I want to work with individuals across the lifespan, aging with and into disabilities,” said Meera.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Access and Inclusivity
Her most recent focus is on individuals with dementia as a part of Dr. Beth Fields’ Geriatric Health Services Research Lab (GHSRL) within the Department of Kinesiology. What sets her work apart though, is not only her support for a range of generations, but her drive to make these therapeutic practices more inclusive–a passion that is deeply rooted in her own global experiences.
Meera’s global academic career has allowed her to appreciate different cultures and approach challenges with greater nuance and awareness.
“As an international person, I think it’s uncertain and scary, but it also helps you connect with others in similar situations,” Meera said. “You build a community where you can support each other. As a multilingual woman of color, I think that brings strength in connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and sharing those experiences.”
These experiences have not only broadened her cultural perspective but also strengthened her commitment to making therapeutic horseback riding accessible to all communities, no matter their background.
Meera feels grateful for the advances she has contributed to within equine-assisted services, especially in working to make practices more inclusive, but her work is far from finished. As her postdoctoral contract nears its end in August 2025, she is looking ahead toward a faculty position. This transition marks an exciting new chapter in her career, one that will allow her to continue advancing her research and collaborate with students and other professionals in her field. But it’s not just about a job or a career progression for Meera, it’s about creating change through her work.
As she continues her journey, wherever that might take her, she will live by the motto that has gotten her to where she is today: “Do it with passion or not at all.”