Does horse assisted therapy improve people with intellectual disabilities? An initial intervention for users with physical disabilities?
Context. Foot-to-ground activity developed by the iPoney Riding School in collaboration with the Gorabide Day Center (Atxurizubi), in order to enjoy physical activity in the natural environment and contact with animals.
For this, ten sessions are scheduled during the course 2013/2014 as a new practice for the day center.
Objectives. To promote autonomy, to increase the quality of life, to foment basic psychomotor aspects (coordination, body diagram), to know and to enjoy the horse, to understand that it is a horse, to learn to take care of it, to know how it moves, to know its feeding, to learn to take him from the right-handed.
Materials used.
A poney of appeals (Txiki, Twilight, Elvis, Minimus).
Toolbox (Scraper, Brush, Escarbacascos).
Useful of saddle (saddle, headbands, straps…).
“Soy un caballo” Gonzalo Moure.
Posters, crayons…
Project development. During 10 sessions with CAD service users, we dedicate ourselves to work the personal autonomy of the people, through the guidelines and routines of hygiene of preparation of the horse, the knowledge of the animal, the management and guide of the horse, to know the equestrian facilities.
The first contact was realized in a group way and later it was individualized, encouraging a more personal interaction with the user, this way to be able to attend better to its needs and pace of learning.
The users were approaching in an individual way the horse to have the time and the space to take charge of its care and hygiene. As the enjoyment of being in contact with the horse.
Conclusions. After the 10 sessions with the service users, there is an improvement in the attention of the user, in their motivation for the activity, and remembrance of the mechanical activities of cleaning and hygiene.
As the days and meetings were happening it was observed on the part of the equine therapist as the proper monitors of the center a major knowledge and enjoyment of the activity. A more motivating attitude of the users being observed to the horse, major confidence in themselves with regard to the horse, many desire of working along with the horse.
The benefits of the project "moving along the horse", were the following; the integration and standardization of people users, the sensory stimulation, the improvement of autonomy and self-esteem, improvement in the communicative capacity non-verbal, and improvement in the processes affective emotional.
Grateful for the confidence and support of the team and service user of the Day Care Center Atxurizubi of Gorabide, from Mungia (Spain).
Grateful for the opportunity to share this work at the 16th International Congress of Equine Facilitated Programmes (HETI - Dublin 2018)
© CARLOS GANZABAL CUENA 2018
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