Therapy animals

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skye123

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Am doing a research project about the effect of animals on children so would really appreciate if you could fill this out if you were a child who did it or if you knowa child who does, did want to do a poll but cant work out how to do it!

1) Where is the setting where the child meets/met the animals?
a) Hospital
b) Riding for the disabled
c) School
d) Other - please say

2) What animals has the child met (e.g. pony, dog etc)


3) What was the purpose of the child meeting the animal? (e.g. recovery after accident etc)

4) What effect did the animal have on the child of any?


5) Did the child enjoy meeting the animal?


Hope this makes sense :) Would really appreciate it if you could fill it out thanks! :)
 
Hi there,

Great subject, i work in a residential unit for children with behavioural emotional and social difficulties, i also have two horses and have been using them as "therapy" for about 3 years now.

In answer to your questions:

1. I take the children to my DIY livery yard to spend time with the horses, we spend time with them in the field as well as on the yard and actually in the stables.

2.I have 3 horses that the children spend time with, Tegan 3 yr old welsh section Dpb, Toffee Cream my 19 yr old ex racehorse and Polly (new addition) a gigantacob that my brother has just taken on permanent loan.

3. Our children have a range of difficulties, ADHD, PDA, ASD, Aspergers etc. Some have very difficult home lives which impede their ability to learn and develop emotionally and socially. We take them to the horses in groups of up to 3 or on a 1:1 basis and find that they all gain something different from it.

4. Each child has a different reaction when visiting the horses I have one child who chooses to go to the horses over any other activity he has adhd and is on the autistic spectrum (although high functioning) This child has also recently been undergoing analysis for childhood bipolar disorder, The child has found an affinity with my ex racehorse and is learning to talk about his emotions when he is around her through learning how to take care of her emotional needs he is learning to understand his own. We have other children who find that learning to care for such a big animal learn to care for others and can understand empathy. For some children from more disadvantaged homes it is an opportunity to spend time in the countryside and to see a different side to life. Sometimes even the drive to the yard is an experience.

5. We find that the majority of our children love a trip to the horses, some choose to go every week some every now and then and some not at all, some are frightened but determined to overcome their fear, some are excited but learn to calm down and some are in awe. We try to encourage all children to try it once but never force them to go and it is always a popular activity.

As an extra i have found that the majority of children who really gain a deep emotional benefit have bonded more with my ex racehorse who has had a difficult life and can be very difficult to manage, I have pictures of her being lead round the yard by an 8 yr old with his soul dragon (that he made in a play therapy session) riding her, she truly has found her vocation and is very special.

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Would really appreciate it if you could email me any of your research as i am also researching horses as therapy both for work and hopefully for a future career. Good luck and thankies xx
 
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