This study examined the observed effects of horse-riding which took
place as an extra-curricula activity within the school day. The three
children in the case study were primary aged students from a Canberra
primary school who have an intellectual disability requiring high
support. The criteria for selection was on the basis of how long they
had taken part in the horse-riding programme. The three children
were either just about to start or had just started the programme and
had no previous experience with horses or horse-riding.
The aim of the study was to explore the effects that the horse-riding
programme had on the children's behaviour, attitudes and the way
they communicated when riding. The children's behaviour was
observed in the different settings of the school and the stables
environment. Certain individual behaviours were observed and
recorded on a weekly basis for an eight week period. Audio-recordings
of behaviour took place as well as interviews both before and after the
eight week period, from teachers, riding instructors, helpers, and
parents.
Whilst the case study could not be said to be large enough to be
representative of all children with intellectual disabilities attending
this horse-riding programme, in general some common themes
relating to counselling emerged which corresponded with other
studies referred to in the literature. These include positive effects such
as a general sense of well-being and a feeling of success whilst being in
control of the horse. An emerging empathy and closeness of each
child with their particular horse was observed over time, which
appeared to lead to increased communication. This took place whilst
the children were talking or communicating to the horse or in the
presence of the horse.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219095 |
| Date | January 1998 |
| Creators | Knowles, Christine L. A., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Professional & Community Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Christine L. A. Knowles |
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