‘When he’s up there he’s just happy and content’: Parents’ perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited global and South African research on parents’ perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding (THR), as well as their perceptions of the effect of the activity on their children with disabilities.ObjectiveTo explore and describe parents’ perceptions and experiences of THR as an activity for their children with disabilities.MethodTwelve parents whose children attend THR lessons at the South African Riding for the Disabled Association in Cape Town were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. The qualitative data obtained from the interviews were first transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis to establish parents’ perceptions of the THR activity.ResultsThe main themes that emerged included parental perceived effects of THR on children, parents’ personal experiences of the services, and parents’ perceived reasons for improvements in the children. The participating parents indicated that THR had had a positive psychological, social and physical effect both on the children participating in the riding, as well as on the parents themselves.ConclusionAccording to parents, THR plays an important role in the lives of children with various disabilities and in the lives of their parents. The results of the study address the gap in the literature regarding parents’ perceptions of THR.

Parental Perception of Changes in Basic Life Needs of Children with Disabilities after Six Months of Therapeutic Horseback Riding: A Qualitative Study

“…The significant benefits of THR were also described in a Norwegian study by parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), who reported a higher level of independence, responsibility, and pride in their children [13]. In a South African qualitative study [4], parents of children with various disabilities reported significant improvements in their posture, walking, balance after THR, and in their ability to control emotions and behavior, which was accompanied with noticeable higher self-esteem and self-confidence. Similarly, in a second south African study conducted in 2017, parents observed many benefits of THR in children with ASD, such as improved verbal and non-verbal communication, increased levels of self-esteem, confidence, independence, positive mood, happiness, and satisfaction, lower anxiety level, and better emotional self-control of the child [9].…”

“…During THR, a therapeutic effect is induced on the child [3] when direct contact with the horse's skin, horse's body temperature, rhythmic movements of the animal, contact with therapists and other children, and the natural environment and various sensory stimuli positively affect the physical [1,[4][5][6], cognitive [4,7,8], and psychosocial [2,[9][10][11][12][13] functioning of children with disabilities.…”

“…with the observations of disabled child's parents. Parents are almost constantly with their child, they know their needs best, and may notice the slightest changes [4]. Thus, parental perceptions of the impact of THR on the child's basic life needs are important and support professionals in developing individualized THR programs [14], which significantly enhance the therapeutic impact of THR on children with health issues [5].…”

“…Similarly, in a second south African study conducted in 2017, parents observed many benefits of THR in children with ASD, such as improved verbal and non-verbal communication, increased levels of self-esteem, confidence, independence, positive mood, happiness, and satisfaction, lower anxiety level, and better emotional self-control of the child [9]. THR has a secondary positive effect on parents [4,10], which often leads to an improvement in the general quality of family life [1].…”

Animal-assisted interventions: Possibilities and limitations of implementation in young persons with developmental disabilities and behavioral disorders

“…. U terapijskom jahanju konj je partner instruktoru koji obučava osobu, prevashodno zbog uživanja u samom jahanju (Silkwood-Sherer et al, 2012; Tseng et al, 2013), dok se istovremeno razvija terapijska povezanost sa konjem (Bass et al, 2009) i unapređuje kvalitet života (All et al, 1999, premaBoyd, 2015).Intervencije uz pomoć konja veoma su zastupljene kod dece sa motoričkim smetnjama, pretežno dece sa cerebralnom paralizom (npr.Benda, McGibbon & Grant, 2003; Casady & Nichols-Larsen, 2004; Champagne, Corriveau& Dugas, 2016; Cherng, Liao, Leung & Hwang, 2004; Honkavaara & Rintala, 2010; Lee, Kim & Na, 2014; Winchester, Kendall, Peters, Sears & Winkley, 2002). Zahvaljujući iskrenoj, tihoj i neosuđujućoj prirodi konja, interakciji klijenta sa konjima i drugim osobama koje učestvuju u EAA i EAT, kao i druženju sa ostalom decom, intervencije uz pomoć konja deluju i na podsticanje razvoja socijalnih veština, prosocijalnog ponašanja, mentalnog i fizičkog zdravlja kod dece sa smetnjama u razvoju i učenju, poremećajima u ponašanju, osoba sa posttraumatskim stresom, sa zlostavljanom i zanemarivanom decom (npr.…”