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Horses for Body Mind and Soul. | Programme and Abstracts

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XIII. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding Münster 12.-15. August 2009

Programme and Abstracts

Federation of Riding for the Disabled International A.I.S.B.L.

Acknowledgements

The organizers gratefully acknowledge the support of the following companies and associations:

Gold Sponsor: Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe

Bronze Sponsor: Georgsmarienhütte GmbH

Further Sponsors: Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V. DIE SCHULE für Berufe mit Zukunft, IFBE med. GmbH

Exhibitors: Deutsche Gruppe für Hippotherapie (DGH) e.V. EQUUS DESIGN GmbH & Co. KG Ernst Reinhardt Verlag Interessengemeinschaft Fahren mit Behinderung FATP (Forum der Ausbildungsträger einer Therapie mit dem Pferd) FN Verlag der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung GmbH hhp - Home Health Products GmbH HIT Hinrichs Innovation + Technik GmbH Lebenshilfe Nürnberger Land e.V. Münsterland e.V. + Münster Marketing NARHA Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe Stefanie Tetzner - Hilfsmittel für Hippotherapie theraSET Ltd.

XIII. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding Münster 12.-15. August 2009

Programme and Abstracts

Federation of Riding for the Disabled International A.I.S.B.L.

Index page Authors Index A-Z

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General Information

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Social and Supporting Programme

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Welcome Notes | Grußworte

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Scientific Advisory Board | Wissenschaftliche Leitung 25 Scientific Programme Keynotespeaker, Keynote Praxis

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Time schedule

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Oral Presentations/ Videos/ Workshops/ Praxis

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Poster Impressum

133 152

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Authors Index A-Z inscription number Adams Wheeler S.E. 126 Recognising stress in horses used for therapy Aguirre Borrego L.B. 91, 124 Integrated the syllabi of equine therapy in state schools of special education and multiple pathologies Integrating mules to equine therapy Allori P. 98, TR as a tool for the renewal of the rehabilitative project Araujo T. 76 Hippotherapy in improvement for postural steadiness in patient with lower limb amputated: A pilot study Artuso A. 19 From a birth to a rebirth Battagliese M. 43 Therapeutic riding in a subject affected by Friedreich's Ataxia Bauersfeld A. 77, P29 Walk, trot, canter - this is what the world looks like from above Presentation of FATP- Forum der Ausbildungstraeger einer Therapie mit dem Pferd (Affiliation of qualified/professional trainers for Therapy with Horses) Bens D. 135 Hippotherapy increases axial control of the trunk in the treatment of cerebral palsied individuals. The results are closely linked to the frequency of the sessions Bertok S. P31 The first educational program for eat-therapists in Slovenia Biener M. 99 Right from the street onto the back of a horse - working with dissocial juvenile girls in a group home Biland-Thommen U. P1 Hippotherapy-K® Bockelmann T. 22, 59 Horse-assisted therapy of dissocial behaviour in primary school Horse-assisted behaviour therapy of anxiety disorders Bolle M. P21 An insight into the occupational therapy in association with the horse Bose A. 88 Quality management by consulting/monitoring and supervision supportive method in day-to-day work Boswell S. 133 Hippotherapy in multiple sclerosis - results of a prospective, controlled, randomised and single-blinded trial Bozori G. 45 The new ways/methods and facilities in remedial work with horses: Sensory Park in Fót Brady H. P4 Principles of hippotherapy as a service-based learning course within a university curriculum - a ten year perspective Brooke P. 89 Pilot project team training

Brown O. 145 Some thoughts on the status of EAA/T research in the USA and globally Brown S. P25 Movement begets movement Bühlmann S. 2 The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury Burkhardt S. 148 Förderkreis für Therapeutisches Reiten e.V. presents: A holistic way to become a riding therapist Camenzind H. 48 "Horses make it possible" - professional training in the field of horse grooming for people with special educational needs Camoni R. 30 Selection of a training method to improve and preserve the physical and mental well being of the horse used for disabled rehabilitation and sports horseback riding Carey J. 25 The impact of equine assisted learning as an intervention aimed at promoting psychological and social well being amongst young people with behavioural issues Champagne D. P16 Improving gross motor function and postural control with hippotherapy in Down syndrome children: Case studies Citterio K. 93 The overall method of rehabilitation through the horse (in Italian "Metodo di riabilitazione globale per mezzo del cavallo", M.R.G.C.® with reference to ADHD syndrome Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Condori M. 51 Supporting attention abilities by therapeutic horse riding Cosman M. 163 Riding Instructor and therapist - about cooperation, similarities and differences in course and profession De Vos G. 153 Equine assisted therapy as a holistic therapy Debuse D. 28, 38 The preparation and schooling of horses for hippotherapy and other areas within therapeutic riding What outcomes of hippotherapy on people with cerebral palsy should be measured? The results of a qualitative study and a systematic review Degn B. 101 Animal Ambassadors horses as "subjects" in educational activities Demo M. 144 Multidimensional and multidisciplinary assessment in adolescent with psycological disabilities DePue B. 165, 167, P6, P24 Hippotherapy and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): Is there a connection? Evaluation of pressure of the ´Independence Saddle´ on horses in therapeutic riding Straight from the horse's back Choosing the horse and equipment for the rider with cerebral palsy

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Dixon-Clegg J. 128 Take up contact and move forward Edvi P. 138 How to manage a national association, having regard also to international aspects Eickmeyer G. 161 Horseriding as sport for people with a mental disability Special Olympics Fernández Barnosell I. 108 Schizophrenia intervention through therapeutic riding Fingerle U. 36, 47 Psychomotricity and old children's games applied during therapeutic pedagogy with horses Therapeutic riding as work accompanying measure in the business world for handicapped people Galema M. 27 A quality project in the Dutch national organisation of riding for disabled Gansch W. 33, 73 Integrated physical sensation - improving organisation of motor activity Garrett G. 102 Horses for courses Gasiorowska B. 141 Little Dots - program supporting psychomotor development of disabled children, who attend psychopedagogic horse riding Gencheva N.N. P7 Bulgarian model of hippoterapy and therapeutic riding training and education Goldsmith J. 118 Training and development of para equestrians with disabilities for international competition Golovina V. 39 Biomechanical rehabilitation on horseback for children with disabilities aged from 6 months to 3 years Gomolla A. 23 Position and perspectives of scientifically research in equine assisted (psycho)therapy Götzenberger R. 158 Function, role and design of equipment for therapeutic riding from the viewpoint of a saddle manufacturer Grauss B. 166 How can the horse, a quadropedien, lift us up? Grauß B.T. 70 The rhythm of a horse Gross Naschert E. 71, 72 The influence of physical forces while riding a horse and its strategic benefits for equine therapy Sitting correctly on the horse is the key to successful therapeutic riding Groth B. 106 When is the inclusion of horses in psychotherapeutic work indicated? Grubits Freire H.B. 18, 49 The repercussion of therapeutic riding in the quality of life of people with Traumatic Medullar Lesion Horseback riding therapy in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

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Grummitt C.C. 5 Developing an assessment tool to measure the benefits of equine assisted therapy Håkanson M. 111, 127 Enriched environment, restorative surroundings, humananimal interaction or effects from the horse? A theoretical model for understanding EAT as physiotherapy Herbette G. 136 Horses and Mindfulness: How meditation and relationship with horses can teach us about healing and serenity Hoffmann P. 16, 86 Uplifting encounters - "Horse Power" in interdisciplinary early-intervention Ten Variations of an Exercise - Goal-oriented Flexibility in the Use of Therapeutic Vaulting Hölken B. 82 Experience with the hippotherapy under special consideration of the representation of the ideal-motor development of the hand posture by 2 to 4 years old children Holzmüller P. 137 Within five years, from a collective learning system to a state-accredited modular education program Hornacek K. 32, 84, P8 Rehabilitation of lower back pain through hippotherapy Influence of hippotherapy on the feelings of well being and postural - locomotion functions by spastic quadruparetic form of cerebral palsy Hippotherapy evaluating tests of postural-locomotion functions Horne da Cruz V.M. 140 The experience of the psychologist of the professional team of equotherapy on a program designed for Brazilian adolescents living in situation of social risk Ihara M. 75, P5 Report of 3 cases in which scoliosis of the vertebra associated with spina bifida and cerebral palsy improved on roentgenogram after 1-3years of therapeutic riding History of RDA Utsunomiya and the present status of therapeutic riding in Japan Isoni T.C.M.R. P2 Profile of the participants who are attending the National Association of Equine therapy Kaczor M. 149 Behaviourism in horse-riding therapy practice Karpenkova I.V. P13 Horse image' role in rehabilitation of children with health specific needs Keller D. 66 Horses in occupational therapy - a psychiatric application for depressive patients Kern-Godal A.L. 65 Psychotherapy with horses - the patients' perspective. Findings from a preliminary analysis of patients' exit evaluations Kim K. P26 The developing history of a therapeutic riding and a riding for the disabled in Korea, south from 1996 to 2009

Klüwer B. 62 Psychotherapeutic riding: Facilitating the awareness of the own self and the exploring of relationship - psychotherapeutic riding as a group therapy in a clinic for psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatic sickness Küblbeck H. 150 Secrets between man and horse - therapeutic riding and anthroposophic anthropology Kupsch M. 24 Scientific evaluation study in order to examine the efficacy of psychotherapeutic riding as inpatient short-term group psychotherapy Lamprecht S. 134 Analysis of the transmission of motion of horses and its effect on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis taking into account evidence based therapeutic approaches Leonhardt, S. 132 Hippotherapie am Reitverein Ender Tal e.V. mit neurologischen Patienten des Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke Lehmeyer J. 129 Carriage-Driving for disabled: hobby, sports and therapy Liga M. 131 Applying structured teaching for the vocational training on therapeutic riding of a young man with autism: A case study Lima V.P. 55 Electromyography analysis of the rectos abdominal muscle of an individual during classic mounting on ten distinct horses Longden M.L. 120 Fun competition for riders of all abilities Lubbe B. 15 High gifted children and therapy riding Lucarelli L. 162 Let us produce a diplomatic document to invite South American Governments to cooperate in the development of national public services of equine therapies in their countries Ludewig M.C. 96 Therapeutic horse riding in the development of ´core skills´ in a paraplegic preschool child Lundeen B.L. 26 How to help a nonverbal learner succeed in a therapeutic riding environment Macauley B.L. 80 Effects of hippotherapy on respiration and speech Martins A.P. 155, P28 Intervention of therapeutic riding X myelocystoceles: Report of case Integral development and visual accommodation through Therapeutic Riding: Case study Mayfield A.D. 6 Demand and supply: Hippotherapy for North Wales can it last? Mehlem M. 104 Healing effects of rituals in equine facilitated psychotherapy

Meinzer M. 7 Therapeutic riding from the horses´ point of view Mihalikova M. P11 The exploitation of hippotherapy with children till the age of one Miller C.T. 130 Interdisciplinary experience in community health at a therapeutic riding site - "Horses for Body, Mind, Soul" Moral Blanco J. 52 Simulating platform for studding the accelerations of horse movement at walk, considerations for equinotherapy Munro L. 14 An evaluation of 12 sessions of hippotherapy for young children with cerebral palsy and developmental delay Onofri M.P. 83 Hippotherapy within a big public hospital: One year of experience. Orac G. 122 Fun with horses for better harmony of body, mind and soul. New saliva-tests prove positive effects Pasquinelli A. 143, P20 Organization and application of an integrated model for TR treatment A handbook for TR training, updating, professional application Paszkiewicz A. 4 The role of hippotherapy in decreasing body schema disorders in children with infantile cerebral palsy Patrick U.S. 69 Activity analysis in equine assisted intervention: Small steps - big achievements Pilat J. 56 Alternative and augmentative communication and its application in horse-riding therapy Pollack S. 152 Equine facilitated psychotherapy with women with addictions: Results from a Canadian pilot study Quiring T. 20 Contact, authenticity, leadership - learning in dialoque with horses Raisanen K. 121 "Did you understand?" Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in riding instruction Rantner Payer T. 67 The horse in the occupational therapy Rapenne M.P. 8, P15 Riding creates an "HYBRID ME SKIN" for rider, withwich, can the therapist "therapeutic" to be: It´s a main therapeutism mechanism Association between ROTARY CLUB EMILE GALLE and CENTRE PSYCHOTHERAPIQUE DE NANCY to develop good relations family-child-hospital and to offer equestrian material to children in Pony with therapeutic aim. Concept, organisation and day: "ROTARY HANDI CLASSIC DAY"

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Riedel M. 29, 50 Fitness with the Theraband on horseback. Practical ideas for the development of good posture in children The possibilities of therapeutic vaulting for children with ADHD Ringbeck B. 90, 92 Therapeutic horseback riding in public schools potentials and implementation Therapeutic horseback riding for schools - a promising endeavour with a future perspective? Riskalla F.T. 94 Structuring the hippotherapy space addressed to autistic children treatment. Using visual communication based on the TEACCH method Rußig D. 58 When the soul speaks, a window to our marrow opens Rutgers P. 116 Freestyle in EAT: A powerful tool for the recuperation to normal life Ryszkiewicz M. 115 From hippotherapy to horseriding. The possible ways of development for riders with cerebral palsy Sager A. P9 Pilot study on the evaluation of hippotherapy in the course of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Sanchez A. 11 Application of Miller method in hippotherapy, for stimulation of speech in autism Santos R.B. 85, 164 Sensory integration applied to hippotherapy Effects of hippotherapy on a hemiparetic spastic patient´s gait Schaeferle-Zrost T. 40 From hippotherapie to rein-control - long-term observation of a patient with cerebral palsy Schäfer D. 12 Therapeutic vaulting and riding for children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome Scheidhacker M. 107, 146 Innerpsychic development of a chronically schizophrenic patient during a perennial regular participation at the psychotherapeutic riding - presentation of a case study Contents and objectives of the advanced training in psychotherapeutic riding Scheyka D. 31 A comparison of the effects and the medial representation of therapeutic riding and dolphin assisted therapy Schickendantz S. 17 Therapeutic riding for children with congenital heart defects Schleehauf K. 100 Horses as a medium in the work with girls with familial abuse experiences Schnorbach R. 139, P19 Why horses are special suitability as co-therapists for humans with borderline-syndrome Why the contact with a horse can be so salutary for the psyche of a human

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Schuchhardt M. 78 Special Olympics NRW in cooperation with the integrative centre of equestrian from the Alexianer group in Münster introduce themselves Schulz M. 46, 57 Learning with horses - the contents of psychoeducational vaulting/riding Calling their horses by names - how can we facilitate communication in children who are nonverbal?g Schwesig R. 9 Influence of therapeutic horseback riding on posture regulation and gait Seufert S. 168 The therapy horse in triple-relationship: Pack-mule, cotherapist or independent working partner? Shambo L. 64 A pilot study on equine-facilitated psychotherapy for trauma related disorders Shkedi A. 109 Longitudinal study of the efficacy of therapeutic riding in post traumatic stress disorder Silkwood-Sherer D. 13 Hippotherapy: An Intervention to improve postural control of children with movement disorders Silvi Barducci S. 74 Indications, precautions and contraindications in a subject affected by monoplegia due to medullary astrocytoma Solon Ribeiro A. 112 The impact of family frustration on equine assisted psychotherapy efficacy Sørensen M. 117 Identifying peak performance characteristics and motivation in FEI's top Para-Equestrians Stratmann J. 95 When a horse becomes your teacher... a course for a "Basispass Pferdekunde" (basic certificate horse knowledge) for the cognitively and psychologically challenged in Sozialwerk St. Georg e.V. Strausfeld P. 147 Mother-and-child riding at a special clinic for drug addicted women, as well as in the ambulant support of families on a freelance basis Strehlke J.C. 68 Integrated riding - facilitating learning with movement integrating the mind / body connection in therapeutic riding programs Struck H. 10 Does psycho-educational vaulting improve balance?! Evaluation of balance as a basic motor skill in psychoeducational vaulting with children in elementary school age Struminska A. 142 My pony and me. Questions and answers Switzer E. 169 ParaWesternReiter e.V. - western riders with disabilities in Germany

Szüle E. 97, P18 The role, the practical use and adaptation of the riding therapy in the case of blind children in the age of 4-8 Snapshots - possibilities of the riding therapy in the development of the blind kindergartens children (children in the age 4-8) Szymanska A. 60 The processes of healing in equine facilitated psychotherapy Taylor G. 160 The developmental individual and relationship-based (DIR) approach in equine assisted therapy for people with autism Termathe A. 34 Children, a horse and a ball - a round thing Thelle M. 63 Integration of psychotherapy with horses with a structured intensive psychotherapy in-patient program for severe sexual abuse Thiel U. 21, 53, P30 The "counter shape" model in Equitherapy: The horses role in: Satisfying the clients basic needs activating his resources and developing his abilities The therapy horse, co-therapist, medium or tool within the therapeutic process The equitherapist: Healing work with horses and humans: Vocation, dream-profession or just a job? Development of the professional profile and abilities expectations and reality a survey Tilesova S. 110 Alternate emotional experience by horses Tillberg P. 44 The horse as a therapeutic tool - equine assisted therapy, well being and quality of life after stroke Tranfo E. P22 Coping strategies among children and adolescents with mobility impairment and learning disabilities Tuominen T.M. 105 Cognitive-analytic psychotherapy (CAT) and riding therapy (RT) - theoretical analysis and a case example Tuomivaara P. P27 Feelings, safety and willpower - A child with conduct disorder in equine assisted therapy Tyutina E. P10 Hippotherapy in a process of complex rehabilitation of disabled children and teenagers Uenishi C.H. P23 Approach, the first step towards to therapeutic riding Valentina F. 125 Bardigiano´s horses for HTK and HPR van de Klundert M. 35 Freestyle training for selection and maintenance training and schooling horses in therapy van Lieshout W.H.M. 61 Communication and transparency in equine-assisted psychotherapy: Is there a need for a method? Vicentini C. P14 Effect of therapeutic riding in bone mineral density in a bearer of spinal cord injuries

Voerman G.E. 42 The effects of therapeutic horseback riding on spasticity, function, and general well being in adults after stroke or non-congenital brain injury Voltolin G. 151 Therapeutic vaulting von Restorff K. 1 Hippotherapy and spinal cord Injury Wagner K. 41, P17 Which is the desirable minimum riding level of riding therapists? Riding on horseback on the way of integration Walter G.B. 3 Intervention ussing hippotherapie in the static balance in a child with Down syndrome Wang Wan Hua 123 Sociologistic Interpretation To The Difference Of Effective During Hippotherapy (Pre-Test Questionnaire) Wecker W.F. 103 Authentic human charism and professional expertise Weihong Wu 154 The status quo and development of hippotherapy in children with disabilities in mainland China Weith M. P3 On behalf of the Fitram Westermann K. 114 Definition of determined training objectives for the horses as a key to a high-quality and efficient therapy Zanardi C.G. P12 Electromyography evaluation of erector spinal and abdominal muscles in different situations of hippotherapy Zink R. 156 Evaluation of non-verbal communication patterns between horses and humans by video analysis

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General Information Congress Venue Messe und Congress Centrum Halle Münsterland GmbH Albersloher Weg 32 48155 Münster, Germany Phone: +49 (0) 2 51 / 66 00 - 0 Fax: +49 (0) 2 51 / 66 00 - 121 Registration Counter The registration desk in the main entrance / congress foyer of the Halle Münsterland will be open as follows: Wednesday, 12 August Thursday, 13 August Friday, 14 August Saturday, 15 August

09.00 08.30 08.30 08.30

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18.00 18.00 18.00 15.00

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Registration Fees on-site: Members DKTHR / FRDI 320 Euro Non-Members 390 Euro Day tickets each 150 Euro Registration Fee for Delegates covers: Admission to Scientific Sessions Collection of Final Program incl. Abstracts Congress bag with Congress Documents Admission to Exhibition Admission to the Gala-Show

14.00 - 17.00 h (latest). Posters not removed at this time will be discarded. Posters and other material can not be sent to you after the conference. A poster information desk will be located at the poster area. Lists indicating title, author and poster number will be displayed at the desk. Adhering strips and tape for fixing the poster on the board will be available, please contact the hostess. The poster desk staff will be at your disposal to answer your question and provide help locating the poster on site. Please do not use your own adherence materials! In case of negligence, claims for compensation may be raised. Exhibition The trade exhibition will be situated in the congress foyer of the Halle Münsterland. The exhibition will be open to participants at the following times: Wednesday, 12 August Thursday, 13 August Friday, 14 August Saturday, 15 August

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18.00 17.30 18.00 17.00

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Certificate of Attendance All registered participants receive a general certificate of attendance. CME Accreditation The Congress has been accredited by the "Ärztekammer Westfalen-Lippe" with the following amount of CMEPoints:

Name Badge All participants will receive a name badge on-site. The name badge is your entrance ticket for all scientific sessions, the exhibition and the Gala-Show. Admission to the Congress will not be allowed without badge identification. Media Check / Speakers Preview All session rooms are equipped with computer projection. Speakers are asked to hand in their presentations at least 2 hours before the speech in the media check (VIP-Lounge). Speakers having a presentation during the first time slot in the morning are asked to hand in their slides the day before.

12.08.2009 13.08.2009 14.08.2009 15.08.2009

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Points Points Points Points

For claiming these CME points you are asked to sign in every morning in a list distributed at the registration desk. The certificates will be send to you after the congress. German trainer licence For participants with Trainer-C qualification: The participation at the congress will give you 10 points of licence. Therefore use the general certificate of attendance.

Poster Exhibition Scientific posters will be displayed in Foyers of the Congress Center. The size of your poster should not exceed A0 Oversize (88,2 cm width, 124,7cm height). Posters may be set-up on 12 August 2009, 09.00 - 12.00 h. Posters should be removed on 15 August 2009 between

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Social and Supporting Programme

Horses for Body, Mind and Soul. – The Gala-Show

Get-Together / Landgestüt Warendorf Thursday, 13 August 18.15 h - 23.00 h Visit the North Rhine-Westphalia state stud Warendorf

Friday, 14 August 19.00 h - 22.00 h Tickets: 15 Euro | groups of 20 people get 1 ticket for free

The price includes: Bus transportation from the congress centre in Münster to the state stud Warendorf and back. A guided tour and a buffet with regional gourmet dishes at the state stud. The drinks are on us.

The centrepiece and the climax of the congress will be the Gala-Show. You can expect a varied programme with high entertainment value - a window of international equine sports. The presentation of pictures of sport, breed and show will be in turns with elements of therapeutic riding. The presentation of our combined work in front of international and national audience highlights the Gala-Show as a never been seen before show. Be part of this show! Order your tickets now! The tickets can be purchased on location at the WNTicketshop, Prinzipalmarkt in Münster or ordered at the DKThR Participants are: Olympia winner Hubertus Schmidt August Schulte Quaterkamp with Hurricane Figures by the state stud Warendorf Winners of the Deutsche SparkassenQuadrillen-Championats - KVR Lippstadt Figures by drivers and riders with handicap Extracts of the story "The Little Prince" by the children group of Therapeutic Riding Moderator of the evening will be Petra Hartmann, Hessischer Rundfunk.

Departure Münster: 17:45, departure Warendorf 23:00 (subject to modifications)

For participants of the congress the Gala-Show is inclusive.

The "Get-Together" on Thursday evening (13th of August 2009) is going to be celebrated under the slogan "Westphalian Evening in Warendorf for friends from all over the world". The DKThR invites you for drinks at the state stud. We will also offer a typically westphalian buffet. All participants have the opportunity to present their country. Therefore we are asking you to bring something typically from your home country for the other participants to see. We are certain this evening will give the participants of the congress a unique opportunity for a talk. Our offer: by bookings until the 31st of July 2009 by later bookings

> 28 Euro > 35 Euro

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Welcome Notes

Grußworte

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International Patronage

Internationale Schirmherrschaft

International Equestrian Federation/ Fédération Equestre International (FEI)

International Equestrian Federation/ Fédération Equestre International (FEI)

Dear Friends,

Liebe Freunde,

There are few sports in the world that can bring people together as well as equestrian sport. The ability of the horse to act as the equalizer between men and women, young and old, able and disabled, is truly humbling. The language of the horse is global, his nature transcends all geographical boundaries as well as physiological and psychological barriers - people with and without disabilities can join forces in equestrian sports as equals.

kaum eine Sportart in der Welt verbindet Menschen mehr, als die mit unseren Pferden. Sie besitzen die Fähigkeit Männer und Frauen, Junge und Alte, Behinderte und Gesunde miteinander zu verbinden. Sie "sprechen" eine Sprache, die jeder auf der Welt versteht. Die Natur der Pferde macht geografische Grenzen unsichtbar. Sie überwindet desgleichen physiologische und psychologische Barrieren. Pferde verstehen es, Menschen mit und ohne Behinderung ebenbürtig sein zu lassen.

My firm belief in the unifying and healing powers of the horse are why I am especially pleased to welcome all of the participants to the Thirteenth International Congress for Therapeutic Riding from August 12 to 15, 2009, in Münster, Germany, in my role as the patron of the event. This will be an excellent opportunity for visitors from around the world to gain a deeper understanding of the variety of possibilities that horses offer in treating those with both permanent disability and ongoing health issues. The benefits of hippotherapy are wide-ranging in augmenting a physiotherapeutic programme. They provide a sense of confidence and responsibility gained in dealing with horses and the sensation of horse-riding is both liberating and fulfilling for the disabled. This wealth of opportunity deserves all the support we can give. I would like to thank all of those who have dedicated themselves to therapeutic equestrianism and to wish the Thirteenth International Congress of Therapeutic Riding the best of success, and welcome all those participating.

Ich bin von der heilenden Wirkung des Pferdes zutiefst überzeugt. Gerade deshalb fühle ich mich sehr geehrt, die Schirmherrschaft des XIII. Internationalen Kongresses für Therapeutisches Reiten unter dem Motto "HORSES FOR BODY, MIND AND SOUL" übernehmen zu dürfen. Ich heiße alle Teilnehmer herzlich willkommen. Dieser Kongress, der vom 12. bis zum 15. August 2009 in Münster in der "Halle Münsterland" stattfinden wird, wird allen Besuchern die Gelegenheit geben, sich von den vielfältigen Möglichkeiten zu überzeugen, die uns die Pferde bieten, Menschen mit Behinderung und Krankheiten zu helfen. Der Erkenntnisse der Hippotherapie sorgen für eine wesentliche Verbesserung der physiotherapeutischen Behandlungsmöglichkeiten. Der Umgang mit den Pferden vermittelt Vertrauen und Verantwortungsgefühl. Die sensationelle Möglichkeit für einen behinderten Menschen, ein Pferd reiten zu können, befreit und erfüllt ihn. Dies alles Menschen mit Behinderung anbieten zu können, verdient unser aller Unterstützung.

Yours, Allen Menschen, die sich dieser Aufgabe widmen, möchte ich sehr danken. Ich wünsche mir, dass dieser Kongress in Münster ein Erfolg wird und heiße alle Teilnehmer und Besucher aus aller Welt herzlich willkommen! HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein President of the FEI

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IKH Prinzessin Haya Bint Al Hussein Präsidentin der F.E.I

National Patronage

Nationale Schirmherrschaft

Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend

Dear guests of the congress, dear riders, as patroness of the XIII. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding I would like to welcome you all very sincere. The city of Münster and the so called "Region Münsterland" is one of Germany's regions being specially engaged with the equestrian sport: Münster therefore is an ideal city to held this congress. Children and horses - often it is love at first sight. Horses are nice and patient, they have true eyes, a big and broad back and soft nostrils. Horses are big, but they do not fill with fear. Children trust them prompt and horses react as well with confidence and tameness. Taking the relationship between the human being and the horse the therapeutic riding builds up. Being able to trust the horse invigorates immediately the self-confidence and the feeling for his own body. The contact with the horse is good and can be regular salutary - I am convinced of this basic idea of the therapeutic riding. Specially for disabled people the therapeutic riding as well is a chance to compete and beyond it to participate in very important activities and social contacts. The German KThR guarantees for quality of the offers and cares for the further developments. For children who can not afford to participate in therapeutic riding, the DKThR has a special budget to support them. I would like to thank all persons standing up for the therapeutic riding in Germany with a high grade of competence, last but not least those who organizing this congress. At the XIII. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding under the motto "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul" meets specialists and experiences from all over the world. It is my sincere wish, that all participants of this congress will have interesting dialogues and conversations and a lot of suggestions.

Dr. Ursula von der Leyen Federal minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Sehr geehrte Kongressgäste, liebe Reiterinnen und Reiter, als Schirmherrin des XIII. Internationalen Kongresses für Therapeutisches Reiten heiße ich Sie herzlich willkommen. Münster und das Münsterland zählen zu den Regionen in Deutschland, die dem Pferdesport besonders verbunden sind - ein guter Ort für diesen Kongress. Kinder und Pferde - das ist oft Liebe auf den ersten Blick. Pferde wirken lieb und geduldig, sie haben so treue Augen, einen großen, breiten Rücken und weiche Nüstern. Pferde sind groß, aber sie flößen keine Furcht ein - jedenfalls nicht, wenn man einmal die erste Scheu überwunden hat. Kinder fassen schnell Vertrauen, und Pferde reagieren darauf ebenfalls mit Vertrauen und Zutraulichkeit. Auf diesen Bindungen zwischen Mensch und Pferd baut das Therapeutische Reiten auf. Auf das Pferd vertrauen zu können, stärkt ganz unmittelbar das Selbstbewusstsein und das Gefühl für den eigenen Körper. Der Kontakt mit Pferden tut gut und kann regelrecht heilsam sein - von diesem Grundgedanken des Therapeutischen Reitens bin ich überzeugt. Gerade für Menschen mit Behinderungen ist das Therapeutische Reiten darüber hinaus eine Chance, Sport zu treiben und damit an einem ganz wichtigen Bereich von Aktivitäten und sozialen Kontakten teilzuhaben. Das Deutsche Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten garantiert die Qualität der Angebote und sorgt für stetige Weiterentwicklung. Für Kinder, die sich Therapeutisches Reiten sonst nicht leisten könnten, stellt das Kuratorium einen Unterstützungsfonds bereit. Ich danke allen, die sich mit viel Engagement und hoher Kompetenz für Therapeutisches Reiten in Deutschland einsetzen - nicht zuletzt durch die Ausrichtung dieses Kongresses. Der XIII. Internationale Kongress für Therapeutisches Reiten versammelt unter dem Titel "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul" Fachleute und Erfahrungen aus aller Welt. Ich wünsche allen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern des Kongresses viele Anregungen und interessante Gespräche. Dr. Ursula von der Leyen Bundesministerin für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend

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German Equestrian Federation (FN) I sincerely welcome all guests, participants and speakers from 40 nations to the XIII. International Congress for Therapeutic Riding in the Halle Münsterland. The "Federation of Riding for the Disabled International" (FRDI), the world association for therapeutic riding and the Deutsches Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR - German association of Therapeutic Riding) host this world wide important event for therapeutic riding after 1982 for the second time in Germany. The application of the horse in therapy, remedial pedagogy, psychotherapy or in sports for people with disabilities is a decade long tradition in Germany and enjoys justified acceptance and recognition. Thousands of youth and adults are helped by the different forms of therapeutic riding - even in cases in which conventional methods do not show any success. Because of this the DKThR is as a valuable national professional association and partner of the Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN - German Equestrian Federation) one of our valuable assets. The significance of therapeutic riding within the world of the horse is emphasized by the take-over of the international patronage of the president of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein. Our federal minister for families, Ursula von der Leyen, took over the national patronage for the social importance of therapeutic riding. I am convinced that the international congress in Münster will further popularise therapeutic riding. More support and sponsorship will be gained from the general public. Great efforts were needed in order to prepare and realise this international sensation of therapeutic riding in Münster. Hence my special thanks go to the honorary contributors on national and international level. They accounted with important engagement to the realisation of the congress. Likewise goes my thanks to our sponsors and promoters for their indispensable aid. I wish all guests and participants informative, eventful and unforgettable days at the XIII. International Congress for Therapeutic Riding.

Breido Graf zu Rantzau President of the German Equestrian Federation(FN

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Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN) e.V. Ganz herzlich begrüße ich die Besucher, Teilnehmer und Referenten aus rund 40 Nationen zum XIII. Weltkongress Therapeutisches Reiten in der Halle Münsterland. Die "Federation of Riding for the Disabled International" (FRDI), der Weltverband des Therapeutischen Reitens, und das Deutsche Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR) richten dieses weltweit wichtigste Ereignis des Therapeutischen Reitens nach 1982 zum zweiten Mal in Deutschland aus. Der Einsatz des Pferdes in Therapie, Heilpädagogik, Psychotherapie oder im Sport von Menschen mit Behinderungen hat in Deutschland jahrzehntelange Tradition und genießt berechtigterweise hohe Anerkennung. Tausenden von Jugendlichen und Erwachsenen wird in den verschiedenen Bereichen des Therapeutischen Reitens geholfen, selbst in Fällen, in denen herkömmliche Methoden keinen Erfolg zeigen. Deshalb ist das DKThR als bundesweit tätiger Fachverband und Anschlussverband der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung (FN) einer unserer wertvollsten Aktivposten. Den bedeutenden Stellenwert des Therapeutischen Reitens innerhalb der Welt des Pferdes unterstreicht die Präsidentin der Internationalen Reiterlichen Vereinigung (FEI), Ihre Königliche Hoheit Prinzessin Haya Bint Al Hussein, durch Übernahme der internationalen Schirmherrschaft. Für die gesellschaftliche Bedeutung des Therapeutischen Reitens in Deutschland steht als nationale Schirmherrin unsere Bundesfamilienministerin Ursula von der Leyen. Ich bin sicher, dass durch den Weltkongress in Münster das Therapeutische Reiten in der Öffentlichkeit einen noch gesteigerten Bekanntheitsgrad erhält sowie weitere Unterstützung und Förderung erfährt. Große Anstrengungen waren zu leisten, um dieses Weltereignis des Therapeutischen Reitens in Münster vorzubereiten und durchzuführen. Daher gilt mein besonderer Dank den vielen ehrenamtlichen Mitarbeitern auf nationaler wie internationaler Ebene, die mit ihrem so wertvollen Engagement zum Gelingen der Veranstaltung maßgeblich beigetragen haben. Ebenso danke ich den zahlreichen Sponsoren und Förderern ganz herzlich für ihre unverzichtbare Unterstützung. Allen Besuchern und Teilnehmern wünsche ich informative, erlebnisreiche und unvergessliche Tage beim XIII. Weltkongress für Therapeutisches Reiten in Münster. Breido Graf zu Rantzau Präsident der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung (FN)

City of Münster

Stadt Münster

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends of Equestrian Sport,

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, liebe Reiterinnen und Reiter,

horseback riding has many aspects: exercise, handling horses, the essential co-operation of horse and rider. This are only a few examples for the possibilities horseback riding offers. Horseback riding and handling of horses can also help with disabilities and other restrictions. During the end of the 1950s doctors and physiotherapists discovered the beneficial and therapeutic properties. Many people are helped by the various remedial pedagogical and therapeutic applications of therapeutic riding.

das Reiten hat viele Aspekte: Sport treiben, der Umgang mit Pferden, das beim Reiten unverzichtbare Zusammenwirken von Mensch und Pferd, sind nur einige Beispiele für die vielfältigen Möglichkeiten, die das Reiten bietet. Das Reiten und der Umgang mit dem Pferd helfen jedoch auch bei Behinderungen oder anderen Einschränkungen. Ende der 1950er Jahre entdeckten Ärzte und Physiotherapeuten die wohltuende und therapeutische Wirkung des Reitens. Die verschiedenen heilpädagogischen und therapeutischen Ansätze des Therapeutischen Reitens helfen mittlerweile vielen Menschen. Ich freue mich daher außerordentlich, dass der 13. internationale Kongress für Therapeutisches Reiten vom 12. bis 15. August in Münster stattfindet. Mehr als 1.000 Fachleute aus über 40 Nationen werden in der Halle Münsterland ihr Wissen und ihre Erfahrungen rund um das Therapeutische Reiten austauschen. Dieser bedeutende Kongress findet nach 1982 zum zweiten Mal in Deutschland statt. Ein vielfältiges und interessantes Fachprogramm wird durch die Gala-Show am 14. August in der Halle Münsterland bereichert. Die Besucherinnen und Besucher erwartet nicht nur ein abwechslungsreiches Programm von hohem Unterhaltungswert, sondern auch die Möglichkeit, Elemente des Therapeutischen Reitens zu erleben. Unsere traditionsreiche Stadt ist mit dem Reiten eng verbunden: Bekannte Reitturniere, das Westfälische Pferdemuseum, die Westfälische Reitschule und das Vermarktungszentrum der Westfälischen Pferdezucht bestätigen diese besondere Verbindung.

Therefore I am extremely happy that the 13th International Congress for Therapeutic Riding is taking place in Münster from the 12th to the 15th of August. More than a 1000 experts from over 40 nations are going to exchange their knowledge and experiences in therapeutic riding in the Halle Münsterland. For the second time since 1982 Germany is the host country of this significant congress. The variegated and inspiring programme is enriched by the Gala-Show on the 14th of August in the Halle Münsterland. Not only a varied programme with high entertainment value is awaiting the guests but also impressions from therapeutic riding. Our tradition-rich city is closely associated with horseback riding: famous competitions, the westphalian horse museum, the westphalian riding school and the marketing centre of the westphalian breeders confirm this special connection. Thank you to everyone, especially the Deutsches Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten, who helped organize the 13th International Congress for Therapeutic Riding in Münster. All participants - welcome to Münster. I wish everyone inspiring and variegated congress days. I hope you will find the time to experience our magnificent city Münster and the horse region Münsterland.

Dr. Berthold Tillmann Lord mayor of Münster

Ich bedanke mich bei allen, insbesondere dem Deutschen Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten, die dazu beigetragen haben, dass der 13. internationale Kongress für Therapeutisches Reiten in Münster ausgerichtet wird. Alle Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmer begrüße ich herzlich in Münster. Ich wünsche Ihnen interessante und abwechslungsreiche Kongresstage. Ich hoffe, dass Sie auch Zeit finden, unsere schöne Stadt Münster und die Pferderegion Münsterland etwas näher kennenzulernen. Dr. Berthold Tillmann Oberbürgermeister der Stadt Münster

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The Federation of Riding for Disabled International (FRDI)

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! A heartily welcome greeting to all participants of the congress. It is a great pleasure to me to welcome you here in Muenster, Germany, to the 13th Congress. With certainty Germany is one of the main sources of the Therapeutic Riding and already 27 years ago, in 1982, the 4th. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding took place in this country, in Hamburg. In the mean time this form of treatment changed into a stream, which made up for people, who achieved a better quality of life with the horse's help. Since the beginning of the Therapeutic Riding a tremendous spectrum has been developed and this therapy supported by horses is accepted and accredited around the world, albeit that it not always goes along with an assured form of financing. The theme of this congress is 'Horses for Body, Mind and Soul' and this alone gives us an idea of the advancement of this method. Primarily the medical treatment with the help of the horses, the hippotherapy, was in the foreground in the German speaking countries. But rapidly it was joined by the pedagogy. Parallel the equestrian sport for physically and mentally disabled was developed. Naturally this area is related to the sport, but the psychical stabilisation of people with special needs through sport is scientifically established. In the hippotherapy the main objectives always have been the advance of the erection of the trunk, the walk and therefore interlinked details. People knew about the great help of the horses, which accompanied patients on their psychical paths. But the main focus lay upon the advance of the motor functions and therefore in the physical approach. With the remedial pedagogic vaulting and riding the emotional aspects have been recognised and explored. All these aspects will be discussed and analysis will be introduced more precisely at this congress. Within the last years the horse has captured a special position for the emotional recovery and it gives me a great pleasure that the fact that the horse's character and his abilities to touch the soul will have more room as I could learn from your abstracts.

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Among other things long immersed pictures arouse again with the abstract of „Old children's games with the special encouragement of the horse“. Other abstracts as well touched my soul and long forgotten strings, too were touched again and I realised how much I simmer with excitement and I am looking forward to this Congress. I was hooked by another theme, too. The scientific intricate work to analyse the body language of horses more detailed to be able to communicate with this wonderful species more intensively. All this starting points confirm my long time experience, that the basic element for the achievement of Therapeutic Riding lies within the congeniality of souls with the horse. It can carry us through‚ heaven and earth, it brings our soul to swing and lets us feel (again) our energy of life. I wish all attendees a congress full of atmosphere by which we experience that body, mind and soul are just words for different aspects that lie within us and construct an equal unit in life. We all know that horses with their strength have a great share in achieving this union, that we stay in balance.

Gundula Hauser President of FRDI

The Federation of Riding for Disabled International (FRDI) Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren! Ein herzlicher Willkommensgruß an alle Kongressteilnehmerinnen und -teilnehmer. Es ist mir eine besondere Freude, Sie hier in Münster, in Deutschland, zum 13. Kongress begrüßen zu dürfen. Deutschland ist mit Sicherheit eine der Hauptursprungsquellen des Therapeutischen Reitens und vor 27 Jahren, also 1982, fand schon in diesem Land, in Hamburg, der 4. Internationale Kongress für Therapeutisches Reiten statt. In der Zwischenzeit hat sich diese Behandlungsform in einen Strom verwandelt, der viele Menschen aufgefangen hat, die mit Hilfe des Pferdes neue Lebensqualität erreicht haben. Eine unglaubliche Bandbreite hat sich seit dem Beginn des Therapeutischen Reitens entwickelt und die pferdegestützte Therapie ist weltweit anerkannt und akzeptiert, wenngleich das nicht immer mit einer sicheren Finanzierung einhergeht. Das Thema dieses Kongresses lautet "Pferde für Körper Geist und Seele" und allein aus diesem Titel kann man die Weiterentwicklung der Methode wahrnehmen. Stand im deutschsprachigen Raum ursprünglich die medizinische Behandlung mit Hilfe des Pferdes, die Hippotherapie, im Vordergrund, so hat sich doch bald die Pädagogik dazugesellt. Parallel dazu hat sich der Reitsport für physisch und mental behinderte Menschen entwickelt. Natürlich ist dieser Bereich vermehrt dem Sport zuzuordnen, aber die psychische Stabilisierung von Menschen mit besonderen Bedürfnissen durch Sport ist wissenschaftlich fundamentiert. In der Hippotherapie ging es vorrangig darum, die Funktionen der Aufrichtung, des Gehens und vielen damit verbundenen Details zu verbessern. Man wusste um die Hilfe des Pferdes, das die Menschen psychisch auf ihren Wegen begleitete, aber das Hauptaugenmerk lag doch auf der Verbesserung der Motorik und damit beim körperlichen Ansatz.

In den letzten Jahren hat das Pferd für die seelische Gesundung einen besonderen Platz eingenommen und es freut mich, dass hier das Wesen des Pferdes und seine Fähigkeiten die Seele zu berühren, so viel Platz einnehmen darf, wie ich aus den Abstracts ersehen konnte. Unter anderem sind bei dem Thema "alte Kinderspiele in der Heilpädagogischen Förderung mit dem Pferd" in mir lang versunkene Bilder aufgestiegen. Auch viele andere Abstracts haben meine Seele berührt, die längst vergessene Saiten in mir zum Klingen bringen und ich habe gemerkt wie sehr ich mich innerlich auf diesen Kongress freue. Ein weiteres Thema hat mich gefesselt, wonach es nun möglich sein wird, durch wissenschaftliche Feinarbeit die (Körper-) Sprache des Pferdes genauer zu analysieren um mit diesem wunderbaren Lebewesen in einen noch intensiveren Austausch zu kommen. All diese Ansatzpunkte bestätigen meine langjährige Erfahrung, dass das wesentliche Element für die Erfolge des Therapeutischen Reitens in unserer Seelenverwandtschaft mit dem Pferd liegt. Es kann uns sicher durch "Himmel und Hölle" tragen, es bringt unsere Seele zum Schwingen und lässt uns unsere Lebensenergie (wieder) spüren. Ich wünsche allen Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern einen stimmungsvollen Kongress, bei dem wir wahrnehmen, dass Körper, Geist und Seele nur Worte für verschiedene Anteile in uns sind, aber im Leben eine gleichwertige Einheit bilden sollen. Wir alle wissen, dass Pferde mit ihren Stärken wesentlich zum Erreichen dieses Einklangs beitragen können, damit wir im inneren Gleichgewicht bleiben.

Gundula Hauser Präsidentin der FRDI

Mit dem Heilpädagogischen Voltigieren/Reiten wurde der emotionale Zugang erkannt und erforscht. Dies alles wird auch bei diesem Kongress nochmals durchleuchtet und genauere Forschungen vorgestellt.

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German Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR) e.V.

Deutsches Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR) e.V.

Dear participants,

Liebe Teilnehmerinnen, liebe Teilnehmer,

The Deutsche Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR) and its members welcome you in Germany, in Münster, in the capital of Westphalia, to the 13th International Congress for Therapeutic Riding "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul".

das Deutsche Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten (DKThR) und seine Mitglieder begrüßen Sie sehr herzlich hier in Deutschland, in Münster, Westfalens Hauptstadt, zum 13. Internationalen Kongress für Therapeutisches Reiten "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul".

It is great honour and pleasure to be the host of this significant event for the Federation of Riding for Disabled International. This event is only possible thanks to the generous donations of our numerous Sponsors. I would like to present my gratitude at this point.

Es ist uns eine große Ehre und Freude, in diesem Jahr für den Weltverband Therapeutisches Reiten (FRDI) Ausrichter dieser bedeutenden Veranstaltung zu sein. Dieses ist nur möglich geworden durch großzügige Zuwendungen zahlreicher Sponsoren, denen an dieser Stelle sehr herzlich gedankt sei.

We are convinced that the various presentations from all fields of therapeutic riding will turn the congress into a fascinating event. Furthermore the colourful general programme is to recognize our partner the horse. Without it, we would not be able to fulfil our goals. We hope you will experience in the following congress days interesting hours, inspiring suggestions, intensive exchange and meet many new friends. Yours sincerely

Wir sind überzeugt, dass die vielfältigen Vorträge aus allen Fachgebieten des Therapeutischen Reitens einen spannenden Kongress garantieren. Darüber hinaus bieten wir Ihnen ein buntes Rahmenprogramm, welches auch unsere Partner, die Pferde, würdigt, ohne die unsere gemeinsamen Ziele nicht zu verwirklichen sind. Wir wünschen Ihnen in den kommenden Kongresstagen interessante Anregungen und Stunden, regen Austausch, viele neue Freunde und ein herzliches Miteinander. Ihre

Cornelia von Rüxleben-Plöger Chairwoman of the DKThR

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Cornelia von Rüxleben- Plöger Vorstandsvorsitzende DKThR

Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe

Dear adorable Ladies, dear honoured Gentlemen, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, I sincerely greet you to the International Congress for Therapeutic Riding. I appreciate and I am certainly pleased by your attendance and the interest you are embodying in the partnership of horse and man. Precisely this partnership is it which makes the sport with horses the most beautiful sport of all. Millenniums ago, the horse was a strong, swift and sustained bearer of men, messages and goods of all kinds. Only with it, culture, science and economy were able to advance in the speed to what we have today. Measured in achievements in sport Germany is the most powerful horse country in the World. Connected with that I see the responsibility to help the weakest, sick and disabled people with support of our partner, the horse.

Nürnberger Versicherungsgruppe

Sehr verehrte Damen, sehr geehrte Herren, herzlich begrüße ich Sie zum Internationalen Kongress Therapeutisches Reiten. Natürlich freue ich mich über Ihre Teilnahme und Ihr Interesse, das Sie an der Partnerschaft Mensch und Pferd damit zum Ausdruck bringen und danke Ihnen dafür. Der Pferdesport ist gerade wegen dieser Partnerschaft die schönste Sportart überhaupt. In Jahrtausenden zuvor war das Pferd starker, schneller und ausdauernder Träger von Personen, Informationen und Gütern aller Art. Nur mit ihm konnten sich Kultur, Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft in der Geschwindigkeit zu dem entwickeln, was wir heute haben. Deutschland ist gemessen an Sporterfolgen das stärkste Pferdeland der Welt. Damit verbunden sehe ich die Verpflichtung, mit Hilfe unseres Partners Pferd, den schwächsten, kranken und behinderten Menschen zu helfen.

Actually horses are "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul". Tatsächlich sind "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul". I would not only like to express my gratitude to the German Kuratorium for Therapeutic Riding for this slogan but also for the preparations and realisation of the congress. For this I wish great international radiation.

Dem Deutschen Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten danke ich nicht nur für dieses Motto, sondern auch für die Vorbereitung und Durchführung des Kongresses. Dazu wünsche ich große internationale Ausstrahlung.

Sincerely Ihr

Hans-Peter Schmidt Chairman of the board of directors of the NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNGSGRUPPE Member of the executive committee Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN) e. V. President of the Bavarian Reit- und Fahrverband e. V.

Hans-Peter Schmidt Vorsitzender der Aufsichträte der NÜRNBERGER VERSICHERUNGSGRUPPE Mitglied des Präsidiums Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN e. V.) Präsident Bayerischer Reit- und Fahrverband e. V.

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Scientific Advisory Board

Wissenschaftliche Leitung

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Univ.-prof. Dr. Gerd Hölter

Age group 1948 G. Hölter studied Philology at the RWTH Aachen and at the University Rennes/France. He was occupied in research projects at the Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln (German sport academy Cologne) and the examination as grammar school teacher. Afterwards he worked from 1979 until 1983 as a scientific assistant at the sports institute at the University Bonn. During a research sojourn in Los Angeles/USA he studied dance- and kinesitherapy. In 1984 he gained a reputation as professor at the PhilippsUniversity in Marburg in the research studies Motologie.

Jahrgang 1948 G. Hölter studierte Philologie an der RWTH Aachen und der Universität Rennes/Frankreich. Nach der Tätigkeit in Forschungsprojekten an der Deutschen Sporthochschule Köln und den Examina als Gymnasiallehrer arbeitete er von 1979-1983 als Wiss. Assistent am Sportinstitut der Universität Bonn. Nach einem Forschungsaufenthalt in Los Angeles/USA zum Thema Bewegungs- und Tanztherapie erhielt er 1984 den Ruf als Professor an die Philipps-Universität in Marburg im Aufbaustudiengang Motologie .

Since 1993 he works as a professor for physical education and kinesitherapy at the faculty for rehabilitation sciences at the TU Dortmund. As a licensed psychotherapist for children and adolesants he manages the centre for university activities for consulting and therapy with partial clinic for speech- and kinesitherapy as well as supported communication.

Seit 1993 arbeitet er als Professor für Bewegungserziehung und Bewegungstherapie an der Fakultät Rehabilitationswissenschaften der TU Dortmund. Als approbierter Psychotherapeut für Kinder und Jugendliche leitet er dort zusätzlich das universitäre Zentrum für Beratung und Therapie mit Teilambulanzen für Bewegungs-und Sprachtherapie sowie für Unterstützte Kommunikation.

His over 100 publications (books, journals, book contributions and movies) apply especially to the concepts of kinesitherapy and education as well as the research of their possible effects. Prof. Hölter was mediator for professional associations for therapeutic riding and vaulting in Germany, Austria and Switzerland from 2000 to 2004. During this time he initiate among other things the 'European forum for the therapeutic activities with the horse'. Since 2008 he is involved in the publishing of the journal 'Mensch und Pferd - international' (Human and Horse international). Without any riding or driving experiences he and supporting colleges are occupied with the evaluation of psychosocial effects of therapeutic riding, especially with the comparison to other kinetic orientated intervention.

Seine über 100 Veröffentlichungen (Bücher, Zeitschriften, Buchbeiträge und Filme) beziehen sich insbesondere auf Konzepte der Bewegungserziehung und -therapie sowie auf die Untersuchung ihrer möglichen Wirkungen. G. H. war von 2000-2004 als Mediator für die Fachverbände für das Therapeutische Reiten und Voltigieren in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz tätig. In dieser Zeit regte er u.a. die Gründung des "Europäischen Forums für die therapeutische Arbeit mit dem Pferd" an. Seit 2008 ist er als Herausgeber an der Zeitschrift "Mensch und Pferd-international" beteiligt. Ohne selbst über weitergehende Reiterfahrungen zu verfügen, beschäftigt er sich seit langem mit Unterstützung von reit-und pferdeerfahrenen Mitarbeiterinnen und Kolleginnen mit der Evalution von psychosozialen Wirkungen des therapeutischen Reitens, vor allem auch im Vergleich zu anderen bewegungsorientierten Interventionen.

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Prof. Dr. med. Ingeborg Sofie Krägeloh-Mann

Age group 1953 Until 1978 studies of medicine at the Eberhard-Karls-University Tübingen (1975-1976 DAAD-scholarship university Lausanne). Afterwards until 1994 scientific employee at the University Children Hospital Tübingen. From 1978 until 1979 exchange scholarship of DAAD, Hopital St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, graduation as "assistante étrangère des Hopitaux de Paris". From 1992 until 1994 habilitation sponsorship of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; in scope of a sojourn in Copenhagen, John F. Kennedy Institue, Department of Child Neurology. From 1995 until 1997 university professor (C3) at the Technical University of Munich, leader of the section Neuropaediatric of the Children's Hospital of the TU Munich. Since August 1997 C4-professor for children medicine (focus: neuropaediatric, neuro development and social paediatric) at the University Tübingen. Since 2004 Managing Director of the University Children's Hospital Tübingen - Department of Paediatrics. Statement of Prof. Dr. Krägeloh-Mann about Therapeutic Riding: "I know from my own experiences how positive the contact with horses for children is. Therefore therapeutic riding is an ideal addition to the therapy with children with disabilities."

Jahrgang 1953 Bis 1978 Studium der Medizin an der Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (1975 - 1976 DAAD-Stipendium Universität Lausanne). Danach bis 1994 Wissenschaftliche Angestellte an der Universitäts-Kinderklinik Tübingen. Von 1978 - 1979 Austauschstipendium des DAAD, Hopital St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, Abschluss als "assistante étrangère des Hopitaux de Paris". Von 1992 - 1994 Habilitationsstipendium der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft; in diesem Rahmen Aufenthalt in Kopenhagen, John F. Kennedy Institute, Department of Child Neurology. Von 1995 - 1997 Universitäts-Professorin (C3) an der Technischen Universität München, Leiterin der Sektion Neuropädiatrie der Kinderklinik der TUM. Seit August 1997 C4-Professur für Kinderheilkunde (Schwerpunkte: Neuropädiatrie, Entwicklungsneurologie und Sozialpädiatrie) an der Universität Tübingen. Seit 2004 Geschäftsführende Direktorin der Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin in Tübingen. "Aus eigener Erfahrung weiß ich, wie positiv sich der Umgang mit Pferden auf Kinder auswirkt. Deshalb ist das Therapeutische Reiten eine hervorragende Ergänzung in der Therapie von Kindern mit Behinderungen."

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Prof. Dr. med. Ulrike Nowak-Göttl

Age group 1956 Since 1993 professor for paediatric at the University Hospital Münster: department for paediatric haematology and oncology. Previously Mrs. Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl practised at the Frankfurt University Children's Hospital. Mrs. Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl interests in teaching and research lie at pathology, paediatric - haematology and oncology, angiopathy and coagulopathy (thrombosis in veins and arteries - ischemic strokes) of newborn, children and youths especyally regarding hereditary or congenital risk factors for thrombosis. Mrs. Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl is member in many medical and research aimed associations, including ASH and ISTH. From 2001 until 2003 Mrs. Prof. Dr. med Nowak-Göttl was chairwoman of the ISTH. She is co-editor of the Haematologica.

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Jahrgang 1956 Seit 1993 Professorin für Pädiatrie an der Universität Münster: Abteilung Pädiatrische Hämatologie und Onkologie. Vorher praktizierte Frau Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl an der Universität Frankfurt im Universitäts-Kinderkrankenhaus. Frau Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl's Interessen beim Unterrichten und Forschen liegen in den Bereichen: Pathologie, Pädiatrie: Hämatologie und Onkologie, Gefäßkrankheiten und Gerinnungsstörungen (Thrombosen in Venen und Arterien; ischämischer Schlaganfall) bei Neugeborenen, Kindern und Jugendlichen insbesondere im Hinblick auf erbliche oder angeborene Risikofaktoren für Thrombosen. Frau Prof. Dr. med. Nowak-Göttl ist Mitglied in vielen medizinischen und auf Forschung ausgerichteten Gesellschaften, einschließlich der ASH und der ISTH. Von 2001 bis 2003 war Frau Prof. Dr. Nowak-Göttl auch Vorsitzende der ISTH. Sie ist Mitherausgeberin der Haematologica.

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Dipl.-Psych. Martin H. Schmidt

Age group 1937 After his studies in medicine and psychology neuropaediatric further education at the Western Cerebral Palsy Centre in London for clinic and scientific work with bodily disabled children. Further education to a medical specialist for children and youth psychiatry and psychotherapy at the University Hospitals Köln and Frankfurt, 1972 professor in this profession at the University Frankfurt am Main. 19752006 chair of the Medical Faculty Mannheim at the University Heidelberg. Co-operation in international expert bodies. Member of the German Academy of Science Leopoldina. Since 1968 therapeutic head of the remedial pedagogic psychotherapy centre of the trust "Die Gute Hand" (the good hand), in this therapeutic riding centre especially the effects of therapeutic riding on children with hyperkinetic and autistic disturbances are of interest.

Jahrgang 1937 Nach Studium der Medizin und Psychologie neuropädiatrische Fortbildung am Western Cerebral Palsy Center in London für die klinische und wissenschaftliche Arbeit mit körperbehinderten Kindern. Weiterbildung zum Facharzt für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie an den Universitätskliniken Köln und Frankfurt, 1972 Professor in diesem Fach an der Universität Frankfurt/M. 19752006 Ordinariat an der Medizinischen Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg. Mitarbeit in internationalen Fachgremien. Mitglied der Nationalen Akademie Deutschlands Leopoldina. Seit 1968 Therapeutischer Leiter des Heilpädagpgisch-psychotherapeutischen Zentrums der Stiftung "Die Gute Hand", in dessen Reittherapeutschem Zentrum besonders an den Effekten des therapeutischen Reitens bei Kindern mit hyperkinetischen und autistischen Störungen interessiert.

PD. Dr. med. Martin Häusler

Age group 1966 Medical specialist for children and adolescent medicine. Since 1993 at the University Hospital Aachen, since 1999 focusing on neuropaediatry, 2004 habilitation Since 2007 management of the Neuropaediatry at the University Hospital Aachen. Dr. Häuslers relationships to therapeutic riding result from the scientific recording of the effects of therapeutic riding. Presently Dr. Häusler is researching in scope of a multicentre study the effects of therapeutic riding on the motor capabilities and the quality of life of children with spastic paralysis.

Jahrgang 1966 Facharzt für Kinder und Jugendmedizin. Seit 1993 im Universitätsklinikum Aachen, seit 1999 mit Schwerpunkt Neuropädiatrie tätig. 2004 Habilitation. Seit 2007 Leitung Neuropädiatrie im Universitätsklinikum Aachen Dr. Häuslers Beziehung zum therapeutischen Reiten ergibt sich aus der wissenschaftliche Erfassung der Wirkungen des Therapeutischen Reitens. Zur Zeit untersucht Dr. Häusler im Rahmen einer Multizentrischen Studie die Wirkungen des Therapeutischen Reitens auf die motorischen Fähigkeiten und die Lebensqualität von Kindern mit Spastischer Lähmung.

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Scientific Programme

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Keynotespeaker

Keynote Praxis

Prof. Dr. Gerd Hölter, Dortmund, Germany Subject: Therapeutic Riding - Opportunities and Limitations in the Concept of Reciprocal Relation between Human and Horse in Therapy Expertise: Since 1993 Prof. Dr. Hölter has been teaching at the Technical University of Dortmund. As a tenured professor, he belongs to the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Psychomotor Movement Education and Therapy. Besides teaching worldwide about Psychomotor Therapy and writing numerous publications, he is certified in Child and Youth Psychotherapy and heads an ambulatory clinic for Psychomotor Therapy at the University of Dortmund.

Susanne von Dietze, Israel Balance in movement

Prof. Dr. Erhard Olbrich, Germany Subject: Relationship with horses throughout life and its Influence on the Development of the Human Expertise: Developmental Psychology, Psychotherapy, Occupational Psychology are his areas of expertise, complemented by his proficiency in AAT (animal assisted therapy). He had his first experiences with AAT while working with elderly people. He has published close to 200 publications in Developmental Psychology joined by his theoretical and evidence-based studies in AAT/AAA. He is a member of the Swiss IEMT Society, which focuses on psychology in human-animal relations. Prof. Dr. Dr. Martin H. Schmidt, Germany Subject: What do we know about the effects of Therapeutic riding on the body and soul? Review on evaluation/studies in Therapeutic Riding and areas of expected effects. Expertise: For 31 years Prof. Dr. Dr. Schmidt has been the Medical Director of the Clinic for Child and Youth Psychiatry at the Zentralinstitut for Mental Health in Mannheim (ZI), Germany, which is affiliated with the Faculty of Clinical Medicine at the University of Heidelberg. At the ZI Mannheim he founded one of the most famous and world renowned Research Departments in Child and Youth Psychiatry. His research expertise lies in the classification and process follow-up of mental diseases in children and youth. In his latest research he focusses on the evaluation of the effects of different therapy methods. Since 1990, he has been a board member of the International Society of Child and Youth Psychiatry. He is the co-editor of numerous scientific journals and books. Prof. Dr. Dennis Turner, Switzerland Subject: Ethics in Human-Animal Relation Expertise: Since 2001 Prof. Dr. Turner has been a guest professor at the Azabu University, Tokyo, Japan. He is president of the Swiss Institute of Interdisciplinary Evaluation of Man-Animal Relation (IEMT), and since 1995, he has been the President of IAHAIO, the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organisations, Renton (Washington), USA.

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Age group 1965 Residence: Israel Family status: married, three sons Education: physiotherapist at the Universität Göttingen (exam 1987) Horseback riding experience: Trainer A riding in Warendorf (1989); judge exam in Warendorf (1993); Hippotherapist (1990); additional qualification instructor in riding for disabled; facilitator in dressage (1988) and show jumping stables (1993) (amongst others at Thomas Schmitz in Velbert and at the stable Weinberg in Aachen); repeated champion of Israel (dressage) and international successful at the FEI Challenge Tour Advanced Level for the team Israel Occupational career: 1989 - 1999 physiotherapist in Mannheim in a private clinic with focus on back and spine injuries 1989 - 1999 collaboration at the Reiterverein Mannheim in various areas: breaking horses in, schooling, child and youth work, the project "learning horseback riding playfully"; Since 2001 regular courses for physiotherapy with hippo therapy experiences in Scandinavia; Seminars and training courses at the academy of the horse (Warendorf); Training courses in dressage in the home country and abroad (USA, Japan, Finland,…) Publications at the FNverlag: Balance in der Bewegung. Der Sitz des Reiters(2003) Balance in Movement: The Seat of the Rider (2005) Rücksicht auf den Reiterrücken: Schonen - Schützen Stärken (2009) Various videos

Klaus Balkenhol, Germany Create trust in young therapy horses

Reinhard Mantler, Vienna, Austria Horsemanship and own presence

Age-group 1939 Rider As police rider Balkenhol got in 1971 the Hanoverian chestnut gelding Rabauke as patrol horse. From books and watching he taught him dressage movements up to the classical dressage. With 38 Klaus Balkenhol wanted to join a dressage seminar as a police rider. He strived towards an invitation to Warendorf. On this seminar he was discovered by Willi Schultheis who referred to him with Rabauke as one of the best eight pairs of Germany. Schultheis provoked at the ministry of the interior that Balkenhol with Rabauke was able to compete at national and international dressage competitions and that he received sponsorship from the German Equestrian Federation. In 1979 Rabauke was the most successful horse on the dressage world rankinglist. In 1981 Balkenhol discovered the Westphalian chestnut gelding Goldstern at a tour through the battalion of young horses of the riding school of Cologne. The difficult temperament of Goldstern made the training relatively long. However in 1991 came the breakthrough with several titles, medals and cups. At the Olympic games in 1992 in Barcelona both won gold in the team assessment. From the Federal President at that time Richard von Weizsäcker, Klaus Balkenhol was awarded with the "Silbernes Lorbeerblatt". In 1994 victories at the world championships in the team assessment and at the European championship team assessment in Mondorf followed. The highlight was the silver medal at the world championship in the individual competition in Den Haag. In 1996 they won another gold medal with the German team at the Olympic Games in Atlanta as well as the sixth place in the individual competition. At the "Turnier der Sieger" he celebrated with a victory at the Grand Prix Special the end of his active career. Trainer From 1996 until the end of 2000 Balkenhol was the chief national trainer of Dressage in Germany. During his time the German team won two team gold medals at European Championships, one at the World Championships and one at the Olympic Games. In addition one Olympic silver and bronze medal, one gold and bronze medal at the world championship as well as gold, silver and bronze at the European championships were won in individual competition. Since 2001 he was coaching the US-American dressage riders. At the World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera team silver and at the Olympic Games team bronze were achieved. Klaus Balkenhol is a founder member and second chairman of the 2005 founded" Gesellschaft für Erhalt und Förderung der Klassischen Reitkultur" (XENOPHON) (organisation for the preservation and sponsorship of the classical riding culture).

Reinhard Mantler is one of the leading horseman Europe. For several years he was participating successfully in competitions until he turned towards a more natural way with horses. After intensive experiences with the leading instructors in the USA he created in the mid 1990s the Reinhard Mantler Horse-Man-Ship, which he continuously refines. He also launched the NHT and made it into a popular brand. Today the Reinhard Mantler Horse-ManShip is a benchmark for natural, free and effective co-operation of man and horse. With the help of horses - and with the co-operation of renowned personnel development companies - Reinhard Mantler is successfully coaching for several years executives in their executive functions. He is living on his ranch in Wolfern at Steyer, which he made into a schooling and training centre.

Willi Gansch, Vienna, Austria Integrated physical sensation - improving organisation of motor activity Teaching activity - University of Music and performing arts Vienna (Max Reinhardt Seminar) - University of Vienna, Sports Department - Courses in Austria and abroad - Education of therapeutic vaulting for 20 years Education - Studies of Theology, Philosophy, Psychology and Sports, University of Vienna - Pantomime at Joana Thul and Samy Molcho - Respiration work at Adelheid Pillmann - Feldenkrais at Miriam Goldberg, Jeremy Kraus, Miriam Pfeffer, Elisa Stankovits - Kinesiology at Frank Mahony

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Thursday, 13.08.2009

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Friday, 14.08.2009

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Saturday, 15.08.2009

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Oral Presentations | Videos | Workshops | Praxis

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1 Author: KRISTINA VON RESTORFF ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Caroline Hilgers ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Hippotherapy and spinal cord Injury For 20 years we have treated our patients with hippotherapy at the spinal cord centre of the "Berufsgenossenschaftliches Unfallkrankenhaus" in Hamburg, Germany. Paraplegic and quadriplegic patients who have recently received their spinal cord injury as well as patients who were injured some time ago and who need to come back to the hospital for various reasons, take part in the hippotherapy once or twice a week on a regular basis. Depending on the doctors´ instruction the hippotherapy is carried out because of the following indications: strong spasticity, training of the balance, pain symptoms, physiological trunk training for the gait, coordination problems, parasthesia, the tendency for muscle contractions as well as joint problems. Due to the changes in patients´ appearance from complete to incomplete spinal cord injury and the increasing number of high spinal cord injuries, the hippotherapy in our centre has changed during the course of time. We have changed our goals and have adjusted the procedure of the hippotherapy in order to enable higher paralyzed patients to experience the positive effects of the hippotherapy. The quadriplegics are a particular challenge for us as hippotherapists. At our spinal cord centre we carry out the hippotherapy with patients with spinal cord injuries up to level C 4/5 despite their impaired trunk control. For the therapy we use various special aids that are made individually for the needs of our kind of patients. The horse wears a western pat with a surcingle during the therapy. Additionally, we use a medical fur to prevent decubitus. This is the equipment needed for low quadriplegics who are still able to use the M. triceps brachii (C 7). For those patients with a spinal cord injury above C 7 we have the option of two different special saddles. Both saddles include a high cantle so that the patients gain more stability of the pelvis. Furthermore, both saddles provide in the front part a guidance for the thighs and we additionally installed handles which can be used by the patients. Also we observed that stirrups can give more security even for patients with a complete spinal cord injury. For patients with a spinal cord injury above C 6 we work with a self-made trunk belt to enable us to give more support to the patients´ upper body. During the therapy usually one hippotherapist works with the patient together with one assistant to offer the patient the adequate support. Particularly with regard to the improvement of balance, the reduction of spasticity, the

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improvement of symmetry of the trunk as well as the correction of sensibility problems we have experienced a lot of positive effects of the hippotherapy for quadriplegic patients. Compared to paraplegics, the therapy for quadriplegic patients is much more complex where manpower and expenditure of time is concerned. Nevertheless, the hippotherapy for quadriplegics has a very high value in our rehabilitation due to significant improvement in various parts of the patients´ lives.

2 Author: SIBILLE BÜHLMANN ([email protected]) Country: Switzerland

The effect of hippotherapy on spasticity and on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury Objectives: To determine the effect of hippotherapy on spasticity an on mental well-being of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to compare it with the effects of other inventions. Design: Crossover trial with 4 conditions. Settings: Swiss paraplegic center. Participants: A volunteer sample of 12 people with spastic SCI ( American Spinal Injury Association grade A or B). Interventions: Hippotherapy, sitting astride a Bobath roll and sitting on a stool with rocking seat. Each session lasted 25 minutes and was conducted twice weekly for 4 weeks; the control condition was spasticity measurement without intervention. Main outcome measures: Clinical rating by a blinded examiner of movement-provoked muscle resistance, using the Ashworth Scale; self-rating of spasticity by subjects on a visial analog scale (VAS); and mental well-being evaluated with the self-rated well-being scale Befindlichkeits-Skala of von Zerssen. Assessments were performed immediately after intervention sessions (short-term effect); data from the assessments were analyzed 3 to 4 days after the sessions to calculate the longterm effect. Results: By analyzing the clinically rated spasticity, only the effect of hippotherapy reached significance compared with the control condition (without intervention); median differences in the Ashworth scores´ sum before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between -8.0 and +0.5. There was a significant difference between the spasticityreducing effect of hippotherapy and the other 2 inventions on self-rated spasticity by VAS; median differences of the VAS before and after hippotherapy sessions ranged between -4.6 and +0.05cm. There were no long-term effects on spasticity. Immediate improvements in the subjects´ mental well-being were detected only after hippotherapy (P=.048).

Conclusions: Hippotherapy is more efficient than sitting astride a Bobath roll or on a rocking seat in reducing spasticity temporarily. Hippotherapy had a positive short-term effect on subjects´ mental well-being.

3 Author: GABRIELE WALTER ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Carlos Porto, Cristina Meneghetti, Cristina Iwabe, Sofia Poletti

Country: Brazil

Intervention ussing hippotherapie in the static balance in a child with Down syndrome Aim: Verify hippotherapy's influence in the static balance of one child with Down syndrome. Methods: It was done a study of case in one child with Down syndrome, male, nine years old. The subject was filmed in anterior (frontal view) and profile (sagittal view) views in these two conditions: with and without vision. During the video takes with the eyes closed, it was used a swimming goggle completely sealed, with the purpose of not allowing the subject to have any visual information. The selected pictures were quantified by Computerized Biophotogrammetry which served as angular reference to verify body's oscillations in the static balance. It was done 16 hippotherapy sessions, once a week, using equitation techniques and equestrians activities, to provide physical, psychological, educational and social benefits. Results: The degrees of oscillation evaluated before and after the hippotherapy intervention showed lower values in the frontal and sagittal views. Conclusion: This study showed that the intervention with hippotherapy provided improvement in the static balance in this child with Down syndrome.

4 Author: ALICJA PASZKIEWICZ ([email protected]) Country: Poland

The role of hippotherapy in decreasing body schema disorders in children with infantile cerebral palsy The notion of body posture is related to the way of sense of and knowledge about ones body, which is formed during personal development thanks to different sensations coming from inside the body as well as from muscle

and tendon receptors, and skin, olfactory, taste, vision, and auditory receptors. Body schema is inseparably bound to spatial orientation, because human body constantly places itself referring to objects that surround it. Author presents results of the research concerning body posture disorders in children with two kinds of cerebral palsy- diparhesis and hemiparhesis, which were compared to results of healthy children. Research was conducted with usage of Body Posture Test created by French authors Daurat-Hmeljak, Stambak, Berges on the group of 40 children with infantile cerebral palsy and 69 healthy children. The research has revealed significant body schema disorders in the group of children with cerebral palsy. For children with infantile cerebral palsy, whose development has been disturbed and whose locomotion abilities are significantly limited, multi sensorial stimulation provided by a movement on horse's back during classes of hippotherapy is one of the most effective ways of forming the concept of body posture and spatial orientation. Author additionally presents sets of activities, which further improve natural stimulation resulting from three dimensional movement of a horse's back and from contact with the animal.

6 Author: ANN MAYFIELD ([email protected]) Country: United Kingdom

Demand and supply: Hippotherapy for North Wales can it last? Introduction: A three year feasibility study into Hippotherapy began in 2006 at The Clwyd Special Riding Centre, North Wales, in response to local demand from hospital and school therapists. Grants and sponsors were sought. Hippotherapy positions and use of school movements were chosen in accordance with Neurodevelopment hypotheses, and recorded for each individual after every session. Hippotherapy "is a treatment approach that uses the movement of the horse based on the methodology of classic hippotherapy"(Heine 1997) It was being used to stimulate muscle and neuroplasticity. Objectives: 1) To test for longterm demand for hippotherapy in North Wales. 2) To establish sustainable financing outside RDA 3) To test measured outcomes related to Quality of Life(QOL) issues as reported by therapists and parents, or clients themselves. Method: A longtitudinal three year feasibility study, of 36 individual children and adults was undertaken. They were treated as single case studies, as they were accepted onto the programme. They were referred by their therapists or riding instructors. The children were firstly asses-

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sed in a quiet room, by the hippotherapist, and an initial risk assessment was made. If it was judged that treatment would encourage normal movement patterns, a riding assessment was made to ensure that we were using the right pony for the task in hand. A further risk assessment was made of mounting, dismounting and all handling issues for the team and the client. Goals were set, and the number of sessions agreed with the parents. They signed a document concerning goals, the use of video cameras, payment, and the number of hippotherapy sessions scheduled, prior to review. They also signed a document recognising the risks of riding without a hat, if appropriate. Back Riding was often the chosen method of treatment if lack of head control was the main problem. Outcome measures were the timed ten metre walk test or timed sit test, whichever was more appropriate to the goals. Time was recorded in seconds, from video analysis, concerning either increase in postural stability or increase in speed of change from one position to another. Results show that the clients fall into three categories: 1. 10% of clients are ongoing over years as their rate of change is slow. 2. 25% of clients do not reach the final video assessment or standardised functional test, due mainly to health complications. 3. 65% meet their targets in 5 to 15 sessions and progress to Therapeutic riding or vaulting. 4. Timed 10 metre walk test and timed sitting test are not as sensitive outcome measures as we had hoped. 5. Video analysis, using the second counter, demonstrates change of movement quality accurately and is easily seen by others. 6. Video recording is valuable for the clients in boosting self- confidence. 7. All parents reported increase in activity of their children at homethat is, the QOL had increased. 8. Therapists have continued to refer at a average of one client a month. 9. The two week course offered, in August for 2 years consisting of six treatments, was well supported by the participants. However, the CP children tended to tire. The Downe's syndrome children changed their motor patterns the most. Conclusions: 1. Demand for hippotherapy in North Wales is continuing. 2. Financing the programme outside Riding for The Disabled Association (RDA) may prove difficult in the recession. 3. A more sensitive measure of hippotherapy relative to QOL. is required for Phase 2 of the Programme.

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7 Author: MADELEINE MEINZER ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Therapeutic riding from the horses´ point of view In order to determine the effect of therapeutic riding programs on the mental state of horses, the behavior of 24 horses subjected to varying parameters was studied. The goal of this observational study was to find out if and to what extent the kind of keeping of horses,the environmental surroundings, the riding mode and also the riderclients´ psychological illness affect horse behavior. For the purpose of evaluating behavioral responses, an ethogram was designed to include the horses´ focus of attention, its sense of well-being and its state of nervous tension. The study showed that horses wich were kept in a box were more dissatisfied than horses which were kept in a open stable. During rinding sessions inside a riding hall, the horses paid more attention to the rider-clients than to the environment and they were composed as compared to outdoor sessions. During controlled riding sessions, in which the horses were guided by means of a rope, a lunge or long reins, the hores were more relaxed and less dissatisfied than in uncontrolled sessions. But when the clients rode without guidance, the horses focused more on the riders than when they were guided. Furthermore, the study showed that horses were able to differentiate between people according to their particular psychological illness, and that horses ridden by mentally handicapped persons were relaxed longer. In contrast, when ridden by healthy as well as socially and psychologically disturbed individuals, horses displayed behaviors suggesting a sense of ill-being. The results of the study provide riding therapists with points of reference and a basic orientation, which can be used to develop therapies designed to achieve the clients´ therapeutic goals, while at the same time ensuring the horses´ well-beeing.

8 Author: MARIE PAULE RAPENNE ([email protected]) Country: France

Riding creates an "HYBRID ME SKIN" for rider, withwich, can the therapist "therapeutic" to be: It´s a main therapeutism mecanism

put in pony in a therapeutic aim. Helping us of plans and photos, we retail this transformation, which is one of the keys of the success of such a practice.

9 Author: RENÉ SCHWESIG ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Sabine Neumann, David Richter, Ralf Kauert, Siegfried Leuchte Country: Germany

Communication N 1 Summarized: T.A.A. and Pony with Therapeutic aim transform the "Me Skin" of the child in one "Hybrid Me Skin", favour which the therapist can work effectively on the sufferings of the child, notably inhibitions or intrusive confusions of the Development (TED, Autism...): on the pony, its perception modified by the environment and the sensations (physical, verbal or not verbal) allows an opening to the verbal and physical actions of the therapist; a "triangular" relation settles down: therapist - child - pony in whom "the tool" pony "translates" elements supplied by both and so allows the therapist and the situation to be "therapeutic". The main therapeutic mechanism of the pony with therapeutic aim is the transformation of the "Me Skin" of the child to pony in one "Hybrid Me Skin", constituted by the intricacy of the Virtual Dynamic Space of the pony, (= intimate and personal identity of every animal) within the "Me Skin" of the child, modifying the relations of this one to the world which surrounds him and allowing the adults present therapists to enter communication differently differently with the child: so the inhibitions can be verbally raised and elaborated, the touch can be differently collected and accepted by the child, because the touch is not perceived as intrusive, aggressive or violent at the used ponies and this "opening" of the animal is passed on to the child; as well as the pony perceives the anxieties, the "stress" of the riders, this one infers at the child´s a modified ability to react, of which the therapist takes advantage, by bringing the pony to make movements or by moving him in certain places. The felt of the child are modified: the back of the animal acts as a dorsal "guardian" for the child, modifying its report in the touch and in the relation (it also explains the impact of the work with an adult on the animal, an adult holding against the stomach an "hypotonic" child or autistic child: the animal muscular "guardian" is completed by a human muscular "guardian" "also captivating" and passing on felt intern different, put into words by the adult. By leaning on works of: Didier ANZIEU (Me Skin), Jean Claude BARREY (Ethology and Virtual Dynamic Space), Geneviève HAAG ( Autism), Von UEXKÜLL ( environmental perceptions), and over more than 20 years of practice of Therapy with the Horse in the Centre Psychothérapique de NANCY, we propose a "new" concept with the creation of an "Hybrid Me SKIN " = "Moi Peau Hybride" at the child

Influence of therapeutic horseback riding on posture regulation and gait Introduction: Horses demonstrate optimal preconditions for the sitting- and movement training of patients with motor deficits. They transmit nearly 100% correct anatomical stimuli even to patients with complete motor deficit through the oscillation transmission from horseback to rider. Literature has shown a similarity of nearly 100% between human walking patterns and the movement of a rider during pacing (Baumann 1978, Künzle 1979, Klüwer 1983, Riede 1986). We investigated in this study the short - and long-term impact of therapeutic horseback riding on children with different gait and posture disturbances. Materials and methods: 22 children and young adults (age 5-22 years, mean 9.69 ± 4.01 years) with and without motor / psychic disturbances were analysed regarding gait and posture with a posturographic (interactive balance system) and gait analytical system (portable system RehaWatchÒ). The investigations were performed at four intervals immediately before [MZP 1] and after the first treatment [MZP 2], after an eight weeks treatment period [MZP 3] and seven weeks after stopping therapeutic horseback riding [MZP 4]). Questionnaire data were sampled at MZP 1 and 2. The treatment was performed once weekly (over 30 min.) and included five standardised exercises on the horse with / without the aid of the therapist. Furthermore therapeutic horseback riding exercises for supporting a physiological gait and static and dynamic sitting posture corrections were performed. Results: The study group performed 4.55 therapeutic sessions (± 3.28) in eight weeks. The total treatment time was 20 months of therapeutic horseback riding with 30 min. training per week. The parents could themselves observe long-term changes in their children after therapeutic horseback riding in 12 (57%) and short-term changes in 6 cases (29%). The study group stated positive behaviour in 13 cases (59%) before the start of the therapeutic horseback riding and in 17 cases (81%; Chi2 8.029, p=0.012) after the treatment. The gait parameters showed significant changes at MZP 1 versus MZP 3 regarding step period (p=0.009), step fre-

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quency (p=0.007), gait velocity (p=0.006) and heel contact phase (p=0.007). Significant short-term changes between MZP 1 and MZP 2 were only observed in the heel contact phase (p=0.002). No changes of the gait symmetry were observed. The short- and long-term observation (MZP 1 and MZP 3) showed a deterioration of all posture regulatory parameters (exemption WDI [Weight Distribution Score] and synchronisation). Whilst short - term deterioration occurred significantly in the visual / negrostriatal system (F1: p outline the principles of classical schooling of horses, i.e. d.h. Losgelassenheit (relaxation), Takt (rhythm), Anlehung (willing acceptance of the bit), Schwung (impulsion), Geraderichten (straightness), Versammlung (collection) und Durchlässigkeit (willing submission to the aids), and why these matter in hippotherapy -> outline different components of training of horses for hippotherapy: - general desensitisation - ground work - lunging - dressage - long-reining - "recreational work" -> share her experiences of the process, and -> briefly talk about general horse keeping and horse care relevant to hippotherapy. The classical schooling and specific training of horses for hippotherapy is not only an essential safety requirement, it is rewarding for all involved. Not only does it produce a reliable and willing partner in therapy, it makes the horse more engaged, willing and able in all of his other work. The author demonstrates that this applies to, and is possible with, native ponies just as much as to dressage horses. References: Clüsener L (1998) Plädoyer für die klassische Ausbildung des Pferdes, das seinen Einsatz in der Therapie findet. 3rd European Congress of Therapeutic Riding, Munich, Germany Debuse D (2006a) An exploration of the effects of hippotherapy on people with cerebral palsy. PhD Thesis. Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumbria University Debuse D (2006b) Effectiveness of hippotherapy in the UK and in Germany: A perspective on factors contributing to the quality of hippotherapy. FRDI Scientific and Educational Journal, 10: 2-10 Debuse D, Gibb C, Chandler C (2006) A Physiotherapist + A Horse ? Hippotherapy ? A discussion of aspects con-

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tributing to the quality of hippotherapy. 12th International Congress in Therapeutic Riding, Brasilia, Brasil Longden M (2006) Schooling and maintaining horses in the therapeutic programme. 12th International Congress in Therapeutic Riding, Brasilia, Brazil Strauß I (2007) Hippotherapie. (4th edition). Stuttgart, Thieme Wanzek-Blaul D (2004) Auswahl, Ausbildung und Einsatz des Pferdes in der Hippotherapie. Sonderheft: Hippotherapie, 46-53. DKThR (ed), Warendorf

29 Author: MEIKE RIEDEL ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Fitness with the Theraband on horseback. Practical ideas for the development of good posture in children Introduction: After starting school, a child, whose natural instinct is for play and movement, becomes a seated object: he or she sits all morning in school, then sits in the afternoon over homework, then sits again at his or her computer games or watching television. As a result, posture weaknesses and/or back pain are found even in children (1). The reasons for the posture weaknesses are muscle imbalances and poor strength capability in the trunk muscles. Low performance capability in coordination, in particular poor balance capability, can also have a negative effect on upright posture (2). Against this background, the Sports Medicine group in the Sports Science Department of Bielefeld University in collaboration with the Provinzialverband westfälischer Reitund Fahrvereine e.V. and Sportjugend NRW developed and evaluated a preventive back fitness program on horseback for children. The study conducted served to document possible effects of this back fitness program in terms of the strength capability of the trunk muscles and coordination performance in clinically healthy children. Method: Test subjects: 31 clinically healthy children (10.2 years of age ±1 year) with no previous experience of riding or equestrian vaulting took part in the study. 17 children participated in a twice-weekly mounted exercise program over a period of 10 weeks. 14 children were assigned to a control group and did not carry out the exercise program. Measuring method: 1. Anthropometric data 2. Functional condition/strength capability of the trunk muscles: IPN back check 3. Physical coordination test for children (KTK). Exercise program: Since equestrian vaulting is character-

ized by a large number of exercises requiring a high level of coordination, it was used as the basis for this intervention. This exercise program was completed by targeted strengthening exercises using Therabands and functional gymnastic exercises (3). Results: After the 10-week intervention, a highly significant improvement in the strength capability of the trunk muscles was found in the active group. Furthermore, positive effects on coordination performance, particularly balance capability, were documented. In addition to these physical aspects, positive effects on self-confidence, social skills and the motivation to pursue a sport were observed in the children (3). Conclusions: The sport of equestrian vaulting is, in addition, characterized by a large number of exercises, which place high demands on coordination; such exercises are to be found in comparable form in functional gymnastics. Targeted strengthening exercises using Therabands were also developed and integrated into this program. These functional gymnastic exercises are therefore intensified when mounted compared with when working out in a gymnasium, since the movement of the horse places higher demands on coordination and in particular on balance capability and intra- and intermuscular coordination. Through this intervention, first, protective factors could be developed in the form of an adequate muscle corset in the trunk area, and second, the children can be given personal experience with exercise and thus taught to enjoy it using the medium of the horse. Literature: 1. Dordel, S. (2003). Bewegungsförderug in der Schule Handbuch des Sportförderunterrichts. Dortmund: Modernes Lernen. 2. Reiß, G. & Breithecker, D. (2005). Haltung bewahren in wackeligen Situationen. Haltung und Bewegung 25 (3), 32-36. 3. Riedel, M. & Zimmermann, E. (2008). Rückenfitness auf dem Pferderücken. Haltung und Bewegung 28 (1), 513.

30 Author: ROBERTA CAMONI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Aurora Sotgiu, Silvia Demartis Country: Italy

Selection of a training method to improve and preserve the physical and mental well being of the horse used for disabled rehabilitation and sports horseback riding

cal and mental capabilities of the horses and therefore increase the efficacy of the treatment. Our main objectives were: 1. To prevent and overcome the occurrence of distress signs from the horse due to stress, boredom or poor locomotory function that could have negative consequences for the physiology of the animal. 2. To improve the mechanical quality of the movement to benefit animal and patients comfort. 3. To "educate" the horse and make it reliable, easy to direct by hand or mounted regardless of the ability of the rider. In order to make the horse more cooperative it is necessary to communicate in a clear codified language what is expected from it and make sure that it is involved and integrated in the social structure composed by assistants, therapists, patients and other horses that operate together. The management and living conditions of the horses is crucial in the pursue of the final result as well as the attitude of staff members towards the animals. The work method I adopted is widely described in literature, can be standardised, follows the classic principles of equestrianism that respect the horse's nature, precludes the use of any restraint method; it is based on a language easily understandable to the horse, on dialogue, positive reinforcement, and follows the natural laws of biomechanics improving gait quality. Its purpose is to induce positive physical and mental feelings to the horse so that working with humans becomes a pleasant experience. Work planning, procedures, time frames and progression have been adapted to the specific requirements of each individual taking in consideration several variables such as: physical conformation, age, health conditions, level of training, capabilities, previous negative experiences and attitude. With certain horses of the Centre we planned regular twice-weekly sessions on the days where therapy workload was lighter. Having implemented this program for a year it is possible to observe the following results: increased elasticity during motion, the muscle groups of the back region look more stretched and relaxed, locomotion is more symmetrical, body weight is equally distributed between front and rear limbs, slower and more regular rhythm, prompt response to soft commands and even vocal commands, ability to maintain established gait and direction, reduced or absent hyper-reactivity towards environmental fear inducing stimuli, greater motivation, ability to follow directions from a therapist at a distance when left free with the disabled patient riding them. All of this results in greater efficacy of the rehabilitative session. The horse's back becomes more comfortable for the rider: the motion stimuli are softer symmetric and regular. The patient can relate with a calm cooperative horse and gains security. Being able to direct the horse from a distance the therapist can leave more autonomy to the patient without compromising safety.

The "Amici del centro Vittorio di Capua" non-profit organisation asked for my contribution in developing a fitness and maintenance program in order to improve the physi-

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influence - accepting substantial financial expenditures.

Author: DARIA SCHEYKA ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Karsten Brensing ([email protected])

32 Author: KAROL HORNACEK ([email protected])

Country: Germany Co-Authors: Adriana Jencik ([email protected])

A comparison of the effects and the medial representation of therapeutic riding and dolphin assisted therapy Preliminary note: The workshop will comprise a comparison between the effects of to well-known animal-assisted therapies. - Therapeutic Riding (hereafter abbreviated TR) and the so-called - Dolphin-Assisted Therapy (hereafter abbreviated DAT). Special emphasis will be placed on the representation of both methods in the media. In comparison to TR, DAT is the more popular and frequent subject in the (German) media. Question: DAT for one child for the duration of two weeks costs between 10.000 and 15.000 Euro. This amount covers the TR for ten children for a weekly session during a whole year (per child about 1.500 and 2.000 Euro per year). To put it another way: While DAT costs ca. 1.000 Euro per session, a TR session is about 40 Euro. Do we have to draw the conclusion from this that DAT is 25 times more effective than TR? In addition to an analysis of research and scientific evidence about the effects of both animal assisted therapies, we want to raise the question whether these facts reflect the public awareness of both methods. Method: In a brief preliminary lecture, both forms of animal assisted therapy will be presented in a) research about their effect and b) their presentation in the media. Following this lecture, experts will - together with the public - discuss the implications of these conditions. The panel of the workshop will consist of the following persons: a marine biologist, an instructor of riding therapy, a journalist, a doctor specialized on neuropaediatrics and a representative of a charity that focuses on the sponsorship and promotion of TR. Result: It is the intention of the workshop to set up recommendations for one or the other form of therapy. It is a further aim - especially in a globalized context, in which the media play an essential role - to establish guidelines for a responsible way of handling the subject DAT and to create a greater - more adequate - attention to TR. Conclusion: The workshop is intended as a contribution for mapping out a realistic and appropriate representation of both animal assisted therapies in the media; moreover, it is our aim to prevent patients - adults, children and their parents - from - raising unrealistic expectations - choosing unsuitable therapies because of medial

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Country: Slovakia

Rehabilitation of lower back pain through hippotherapy Introduction: In the article, the authors analyze the correlation between hippotherapy and posture. We observed 10 patients (6 women and 4 men), aged 24 to 30 years old, who suffer lower back pain without apparent neurological symptoms. Material: The patients were clinically and stabilographically examined before and after 14 hippotherapy sessions. Results: We statistically recorded significant improvement of the patients´ feelings of well being, using a sevendegree verbal scale. In so doing, we objectively observed an improvement in the following indicators: intercondylic index, abduction of the hip joint, thigh circumference 10 and 15 cm above the knee, shortened muscles, weakened muscles, global mobility of the back (Schober, Stibor, Thomayer, lateroflexy, Otto's inclination and reclination index), movement stereotypes (ante flexion/ bending forward, breathing, abduction and extension of the hip joint), coordination tests on one of the lower extremities and horizontal position supported by the contra lateral knee and palm of the hand. An evaluation of hippotherapy results indicated correction of postural and locomotion functions (positioning of the trunk, sitting, etc.) in all of the observed patients. Stabilographic examination pointed to a significant improvement of the TA parameter in patients with closed eyes who were standing on a soft mat. Statistically insignificant improvement took place in all of the observed factors Ll and RMS. The group consisted of young patients who had repeatedly gone through physical therapy, yet had experienced insufficient therapeutic effect because they had been rejecting regular exercise. Following the hippotherapy treatments, 4 out of 10 patients voluntarily continued horseback riding as a sport. Conclusions: Hippotherapy has proven to be motivating therapeutic and preventive method that improves lower back pain, even in patients who are not inclined to exercising regularly. Keywords: Hippotherapy - posture - lower back pain -stabilography.

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Author: Willi Gansch ([email protected])

Author: ANDREA TERMATHE ([email protected])

Country: Austria

Country: Germany

Integrated physical sensation improving organisation of motor activity

Children, a horse and a ball - a round thing

This workshop aims to show that quality in all branches of therapeutic riding can be considerably improved through greater consciousness of ones own physical sensation. The motion possibilities of the pelvis form the basic principles of my work. The pelvis plays a major role for each active movement. Each movement gains its power from the middle of the body, as a consequence the organisation of the "centre" is very important. Working the pelvis shows basic problems and questions of integrated body action. - How do I boost ability of physical sensation in special parts of the body? - How much power is necessary to roll the pelvis and how much impact do have other joints (e.g. ankle) in the context of this movement? - Where is the context between motion of the pelvis and respiration? - How far does the pelvis influence balance while standing? Finally I would like to take you on a little excursion to human body language - Horses react on the smallest physical signals, hence consciousness of ones own body language is very important. Please bring casual clothing for this WS!

Question: "What effects can the application of a toy- especially a ball- at Riding for disabled bring?" Method: As a basis for the communication between me and the participants (PTs'), I apply the so called "FactOriented Partnership" (ger.: Sachorientierte Partnerschaft; A. Kröger, 2005, FN-Verlag) in my teaching units. Therefore an esteeming and democratic cooperation is required. Possible performance: Introduction: Warming up and improving movability with and on the horse A) 1 PT sits on the horseback, alternately approaches, different opportunities, e.g. petting and tapping the horse, greeting the rider, naming body parts of the horse, etc. … B) I offer a ring (diameter ca. 25 cm) as a preparation to the ball. 1 PT is on the horse, 2 Pts' run on both sides of the horse. The ring is exchanged in front of the horse, behind its back and over its head from one to another. Main part: The ball is used as a medium to reach diverse contacts and to improve the reaction. A) Riding and playing together: 1 PT is on the horse, 2 PTs' run next to the horse on both sides: a ball (diameter ca. 30 cm) is thrown to each other and catched by PTs', who wants to catch the ball claps in his/her hands as a sign of his/her readiness; this should happen alternately. 1 PT sits backwards on the horseback, everybody else runs after the horse. The ball is: thrown from one to another, after a shout thrown to somebody with different tasks which the PTs' have considered before; this should happen alternately. B) Creativity and self-activity What can you do with the ball while you are riding on the horse? What can you do, if you are two by two while you are riding on the horse? What can you do together with the ball and the horse? Final: Basketball game. Every participant is included in the game. Team spirit and the ability to react are trained. 1 PT sits on the horse and tries (possibly in all three basic paces) to throw the ball into the basket. The other PTs' stand at the basket and pass the ball. 1 PT is in the inner side of the circle to pass the ball if it falls in there. Variation: throwing the ball into the basket while practising different vault figures. Results: In this promotion unit diverse contacts between the PTs' are developed. By using a ball these contacts are target-oriented, but also playfully. The motional dialogue with the horse and the playful element with the ball are very likely to create a positive emotional basis. Thus, even

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rather shy children get involved with verbal communication. The PTs' participate motivated and concentrated in the lessons, but everybody according to his/her abilities. Motorically the Pts' are trained especially in the fields of flexibility, velocity, physical strength, visual perception and responsiveness. Conclusion: The ball as a playful element is, especially for elementary-school children as well as for children who are in integrative groups, very productive to obtain the motivation of the children and to improve beginning communication and contacts and also their capacity of teamwork. Especially a ball can, due to different sizes and surfaces, always be used despite the different Handicaps of the PTs', so nobody has to feel excluded. The pride and the joy of the children, while they are riding and playing, are impressive. For that of course, a "ball-safe" therapy horse is required.

35 Author: MARION VAN DE KLUNDERT ([email protected]) Country: Netherlands

Freestyle training for selection and maintenance training and schooling horses in therapy

answered by work at liberty and groundwork. During work at liberty you can easily estimate the behaviour and character of the horse, as well as how he copes with stress. Every horse reacts differently on unknown surroundings. Add some foreign objects, such as a ball or umbrella, and it becomes clear how this horse reacts. Next to this, you can observe how he reacts on people, when a person approaches him. And how he reacts on body language and leadership. With different groundwork exercises is becomes clear how the horse responds to pressure on his body. Also it shows if there is a balance between trust and respect. - How to keep a horse fit during his job as a therapyhorse is answered by double longing. Also Freestyle riding can be used to train his body and keep him sound. For people/therapists who do not ride, but want to train the horses body, double longe training is very safe, learnfull and fun to do. Conclusions: Selection of therapyhorses is a very important step. The horse needs to be safe for his patients and trainers. He needs a reliable and balanced character. The Freestyle training can be of much importance. Therapyhorses are working on a daily bases. This work is not always suitable for keeping the horse supple and happy. Freestyle training can help to keep them fit and happy for as long as possible.

36 Author: UTE FINGERLE ([email protected])

How to select and train a therapy horse for life? Freestyle training gives an answer to these two questions. This training method aims for save and friendly horse riding. It is divided into 4 techniques; the first one is work at liberty. The horse is running freely in a pen from 15 x 15 metres. Control over its speed and directions are the main goal. Next to this, leadership is settled. In this work body language is the only language being used. The second technique is groundwork. The horse wears a special halter with a lead rope. Next to showing respect and trust, the horse learns to be in control of its speed and directions. During the third technique, double longing, the horse is trained without weight of a rider. This can be done from a circle, or in position behind the horse. Like in the first two techniques, control over its speed and directions is the goal, also to work the horses body. The muscles are trained to be strong and supple, so it is prepared to be a riding horse, up to the highest levels. The final technique is Freestyle riding, in which all three techniques above are combined. Control over speed and direction, leadership and bodywork are the goals, achieved with as little as possible means. The horse feels safe, he is obedient and he uses his body well to live the life of a ridinghorse for as long as possible. Result: - The question of how to select a suitable therapyhorse, is

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Co-Authors: Sonja Lauber-Karres ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Psychomotricity and old children's games applied during therapeutic pedagogy with horses Own experiences can be gained and the different therapeutical aspects of promotion and support can be discovered during a practical workshop session Psychomotricity is a holistic development encouragement affecting the psyche through play, movement, own thinking, acting and experiencing. Movement contributes positively to the personality development and obtains fun at the own activity and performance. Children develop a playful decision-making ability and responsibility. Old children's games are well known to all of us acquired by playing in a group, in the kindergarten, from the free play in the backyard or on the playground. Each generation had their own plays; the rules were simply, the variants regionally different. Games are containing rules and rituals and there are strict roles and duties. They offer

place for creativity, skill, speed, differentiation, perception, space orientation and communication. Social authority such as respect, communication, conflict ability and appreciation is promoted. Abilities which are disappearing more and more in current generations - everyone isolates before its computer - in its therapy - during learning - free clearance became rare. Why with a horse? The horse offers a multiplicity of motion possibilities and game situations. Psychomotricity and welfare-educational promotion with the horse complement themselves positively. With these plays one can strike bridges of the everyday life into the horse world and naturally also in reverse. Children playing already known games together and with a horse require a special consideration opposite the horse. The client must fill out different roles. It should control its emotion, in favour of the horse and the group and in addition cope with disappointments, express praise, motivate and to work and in the team. The workshop offers new impulses for the daily work with the clients. Movement and learning are connected and to support itself positive. New aspects of movement for children, young people and adults are obtained. The relevance of playing for the positive development of the personality is experienced

38 Author: DOROTHEE DEBUSE ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Hal Brace ([email protected]) Country: United Kingdom

What outcomes of hippotherapy on people with cerebral palsy should be measured? The results of a qualitative study and a systematic review In 2003, as part of a bigger study, DD investigated what outcomes of hippotherapy mattered most to patients and should be measured. Data was collected in Germany and in the UK; 31 individuals with cerebral palsy ± their parents contributed to 5 focus groups and 5 interviews, and 21 hippotherapy clinicians took part in 6 expert panel discussions across both countries. Independent of each other, hippotherapy users and clinicians identified key outcomes of hippotherapy that should be measured: trunk and head control, balance, walking, tone and function, such as sit-to-stand and activities of daily living. In addition, users identified prevention of deterioration and a sense of achievement as important outco-

mes. Clinicians recognised the expert status of patients and suggested that it is essential to seek patient opinion on hippotherapy outcomes (Debuse 2006). Based on this earlier study, HB undertook a systematic review of the literature on outcome measures for people with cerebral palsy who receive hippotherapy. Its objectives were: - to investigate which outcome measures are suitable to assess the effects of hippotherapy on people with cerebral palsy; - to identify studies which support the psychometric properties of validity, reliability and responsiveness of these; o to discuss the implications for practice of the results and recommend areas which require further research. Five electronic databases were searched: Medline, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro and ScienceDirect to search for relevant studies. In addition, references of identified papers were hand searched for further relevant studies. The identified papers were subjected to a rigorous screening process using a critical appraisal tool designed by the researcher and based on existing appraisal tools for reliability/validity/responsiveness studies. Results were tabulated and appraised for methodological quality of the study design and psychometric properties. The following outcome measures were identified as being the most valid and reliable outcome measures for use in children with cerebral palsy in hippotherapy, because they all demonstrated strong face and content validity and good to excellent internal consistency (0.7-0.9): - Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66 & 88), - Paediatric Evaluation of Disability Index (PEDI) - Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life Questionnaire for Children (CP-QOL-Child). However, the literature suggests that the GMFM-88 even more than the GMFM-66 has considerable ceiling effects, which the PEDI does not. Therefore, the GMFM-88 and 66 are best combined with the PEDI in order to be able to identify an improvement in function, particularly in more able children. Based on their work and general clinical guidelines, the authors will outline how these outcome measures can be used in a clinical situation to assess the effects of hippotherapy on children with cerebral palsy and to provide evidence of its benefits. References: Brace H (2008) Outcome measures to assess the effectiveness of hippotherapy in the treatment of cerebral palsy: a systematic appraisal of the literature. MSc Thesis. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, Northumbria University. Debuse D (2006) An exploration of the effects of hippotherapy on people with cerebral palsy. PhD Thesis. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, Northumbria University.

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39 Author: VERONICA GOLOVINA ([email protected]) Country: Russian Federation

Biomechanical rehabilitation on horseback for children with disabilities aged from 6 months to 3 years Aims: The aim was early abilitation for children aged from 6 months to 3 years, including those with Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome. Methods: Biomechanical rehabilitation is a variety of riding therapy that consists of a series of exercises for activating the child's motor function, muscle strengthening, stretching, correcting movement patterns. I have been using this program for the past 3 years for young children with various diagnoses, including those with Cerebral Palsy and Down syndrome. The program consists of three parts, done in parallel horse therapy, manual therapy, and a system of exercises done at home. People working with the child are myself as hippotherapist, the manual therapist, and the parents. The manual therapist takes care of the correction of spine pathologies, the parents get the child to do a basic complex of corrective exercises for one hour every day, and I and my horses work with the child once or twice a week. The child is placed on the back of a moving horse, doing passive and active exercises with my support. Twice a week means better results, but is not always possible. The child gets about 1000 hours of rehabilitation within a year. That includes the many hours of exercise done at home - the patterns learned on a horse have to be augmented by the home exercises. Parents have to be instructed for that part of the work. The exercises for home are given to them as a home task. I take the child off the horse and show them how to do it, on the ramp for mounting. I also find it good practice to have the parent lead the horse, even though the horses are trained to obey voice commands. It helps the parents with their anxiety, gives them more involvement, and strengthens the relationship. We work close with the medics. The family's regular specialist has to give the child written permission for the exercise. There is also the specialist in manual therapy, a Professor at the Paediatric Institute, who takes my children, those who need it, for manual therapy. The first step is assessment. If there are problems with the spine, I recommend manual therapy. If the parents say the child has a skill, I always ask them to demonstrate it. The child's motor development is compared with ageappropriate characteristics. I begin work starting from this assessed level. The child has to go through all the developmental milestones in the natural sequence - lift head, support on elbows, arms, rolling over, crawling, kneeling, sidestepping with support, etc.

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The youngest patients (under 1 year) start lying prone on a blanket on the back of a walking horse, head towards the horse's tail, legs spread, fists under them in front. It is a posture for teaching a child to lift his head. Rolling over from supine to prone is possible on a horse when the child lies across the horse's back - I help them to roll forwards and backwards. After they are ready to sit, they ride sitting, with my support. The manual therapist has to give permission for that. Every six months evaluation is carried out, and the individual program adjusted accordingly. Results: The most severe condition of those I worked with, and the easiest to compare with those without therapy, are the children with CP, with the prognosis of not being able to walk by the age of 3. There have been 10 such children in the program. Of those 10 children, after 1-1.5 years of therapy, 3 are able to walk, the others are able to sit and to lift their head. Conclusions: Children with Cerebral Palsy referred at the age from 6 months to 3 years show good results after a year of Biomechanical Rehabilitation.

40 Author: THESY SCHAEFERLE-ZROST ([email protected]) Country: Austria

From hippotherapie to rein-control long-term observation of a patient with cerebral palsy Theresa was born in 1994 as a premature infant and has therefore suffered from severe cerebral palsy in form of a spastic diplegia. She was continuously treated with Bobaththerapy and from 2001 on also with Botox. In 1999, when she started with hippotherapy, she was able to sit on the floor on her own, however, still not on a chair. In order to hold the child, I had to sit behind her on the horse. There was evidence of a noticeable humpback, which could not be actively corrected by the child herself, she was only inadequately able to control her head and she had a lack of mobility in her legs and pelvis due to the spasticity. The hippotherapy focused on tonus abatement in the legs, the stabilisation and the erectness of the torso as well as an improvement of head control, which was only reached by controlled walking of the horse. After about a year, Theresa managed to sit on the horse all by herself for the first time and she was even able to stay more or less centred. Step by step slight bends could be incorporated into the work, whereas the child had constant problems to find a centred position at the beginning whereby the upper part of her body had strongly shifted sideways.

In addition to that, the child spoke little and quietly. She was only able to answer simple questions, however, was unable to relate anything appropriately. When she did not feel like it, she stubbornly denied answering the teacher. For two months - in accord with her mother - the horse also stubbornly refused to start to walk, until finally she commanded the horse to get going, which could take up to 15 minutes. After that the absolute refusal to answer was no issue anymore. Theresa has obtained hippotherapy once a week for about ten years now; there is no therapy during school holidays. During these years she got to the point to be able to handle small distances walking with aid of a walking frame and, in 2008 by means of four point walking sticks. For about two years now constant exercises in rein-control took place. Theresa does not only need to self-consciously control her body, but she has also to find her way in terms of orientation and needs to memorize and finally realize various tasks at the same time. At the beginning Theresa was not able to ride a straight line, was still quite lost and partly lost her balance and erectness. In the meantime, she is able to manage simple tasks that are explained to her. Her lately developed sense of orientation has positive implications for her daily life, too.

In the last two years Theresa participated in hippotherapyintensive weeks in summer. She has made enormous progress in terms of movements, perception, orientation and within all social competences. Thereafter Theresa could not only walk much easier and, for instance, walk up the stairs at home for the first time, which she had to climb up on all fours before, but she also began to call her female friend who she had found throughout that week all by herself in order to fix a date with her. On the whole she began to feel more and more in control of her own life. It has to be mentioned that the combination of hippotherapy with a step by step transition to therapeutic horseback riding as well as the concept of the therapeutic week seem to have brought progress in many sides.

During the years with hippotherapy Theresa has made enormous progress in controlling her body. Now, with reincontrol she also starts to take the reins of her life into her own hands.

41 Author: KINGA WAGNER ([email protected]) Country: Hungary

Which is the desirable minimum riding level of riding therapists? Through the twelve years work of the Hungarian Riding for the Disabled federation, one of the biggest questions were: Which is the desirable minimum riding level of a riding therapist? What are the other equine sciences where they have to have some familiarity? As we created the different training programs for riding therapists and parasport trainers, the educational team of the Federation have had to give standards in every disciplines of the program, to the accreditation committees. Everyone can imagine that there is no maximum level in riding knowledge, but we have had to find the minimum entrance and exit exam levels. The committee have had to declare the Equestrian disciplines and sciences as well, where the different students have to show their knowledge. The first part of the presentation is the short summary of the required levels in the different Hungarian programs, and the difficulties of training for exams of adult hobby riders. The second part is an international research based on the data processing of member countries of Federation of Riding for the Disabled International and International Group For Equestrian Qualifications. Processing the datas we can see, that in some of the countries the therapists have to take really hard exams in lungeing, long rein work dressage and show jumping as well, but in another group of countries the requirements are more gentle. It shows closed connection with the developmental stage of equestrian life and riding therapist education of the countries. In the conclusion we can say, that the biggest part of riding therapists are working, as a "user" of a well educated therapeutic horse. In their basic riding knowledge there has to be proper lungeing and long rein techniques, safe riding in the three basic gaits, ability to show vaulting exercises in walk. The education of the young horse, and the correction of the educated horse is not their work. The parasport trainers have to have every capability as a riding trainer has to have in general. Some ideas about alternative horse teaching techniques (Natural Horsemanship, Tellington program etc.) are also desirable nowadays in both groups. About familiarity in equine

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sciences, we can say, that the therapists and trainers have to learn about stable management, most common diseases of the horse, and a little breeding as well. With the collection of these datas the presentation would like to help the work of the educational committees of FRDI member countries.

42 Author: GERLIENKE VOERMAN ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Bertine Fleerkotte Judy Branger Hermie Hermens

Country: Netherlands

The effects of therapeutic horseback riding on spasticity, function, and general well being in adults after stroke or non-congenital brain injury Introduction: Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is a unique form of physical therapy. In origin, it is potentially effective in reducing spasticity and improving function and well being as was indicated in children with cerebral palsy. However, these studies did not report on objective measurements, and the effects are still largely unexplored in adults. Therefore, the current study was performed. Methods: Post-stroke patients (> 3 months after stroke) with spasticity in the lower extremity and sufficient trunk balance to sit on a horse without additional support were recruited for a randomised trial receiving either four weeks THR (intervention group) or no intervention (control group). Measurements were performed prior to the intervention or start of control period (T0), and after 4 (T4), 8 (T8), and 12 weeks (T12) to study long-term effects. Measurements in both groups included the assessment of spasticity, function, and general well-being, and were subjective as well as objective in origin: Subjective assessment of spasticity: * Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for intensity (patient rating); * Borg Scale for experienced hindrance (patient rating); * Ashworth Scale for intensity (therapist rating); * Clonus score (therapist rating) Objective assessment of spasticity: * surface Electromyography (sEMG) assessment Subjective assessment of function: * Falls Efficacy Scale Objective assessment of function: * Berg Balance test; * Timed Up and Go Test; * Timed Balance Test Subjective assessment of well-being: * SF 36 Objective assessment of well-being: -Patients in the intervention group received four one-hour sessions of THR according to a standardised protocol that was designed especially for this study. To examine the

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immediate effects of this therapy, we performed additional spasticity and function measurements just prior to and immediately after each therapeutic horseback riding session. Results: Preliminary results of 10 participants (43 - 82 years of age) showed a significant improvement on the Berg Balance Scale and the SF36 between T0 and T8, but not for the other outcome measures. Also, there were no differences between the intervention group and the control group. When studying the immediate effects of THR, we found that the VAS and Ashworth Scores were reduced after compared to just before the session. Also, balance seemed improved as was reflected in a significant decrease in the Timed Up and Go test. sEMG data are now being analysed. Discussion and conclusion: The preliminary results suggest that the immediate effects of THR are positive in terms of spasticity reduction and balance improvement. Despite the positive effects on balance and well-being between T0 and T8, the long-term effects of THR are not clear yet as differences with patients in the control group were not found. To further explore the effects of THR we now increase our study sample and analyse the sEMG data.

43 Author: MARIAROSARIA BATTAGLIESE ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Claudia Vinti Country: Italy

Therapeutic riding in a subject affected by Friedreich's Ataxia Introduction: No specific reports on the application of TR in Freidreich's Ataxia (FA) are found in literature. We report the positive results observed in few months in 1 Subject (S), also for its coherence to the Congress Target "Horses for Body, Mind and Soul". Case report: A girl (15 years old) affected by FA: onset of the symptomatology at 8 y with marked and rapid worsening in the last year. TR Follow-up: 4 months. Clinical features: Severe ataxia with retropulsion, asynergy, severe impairment of balance, hypotonia, mild dysmetria and intention tremor, faticability, dysarthria. Competences: According to the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS): Standing 4; Walking 7. According to the "TR Neuromotor Disorders Assessment Scale" (TRND Scale) (Pasquinelli et al, 2006*): Sitting without support is possible for a short time (2,5); Standing without support with considerable sway, is possible only for a very short time (0,5); Walking without support is almost impossible and she avoids it (0); Assisted Walking

considerable staggering, she can't keep the direction (2,5). Psycologically, S shows: fear of fast aggravation of symptoms, sadness and sense of inadequacy due to her 'feeling different' from peers. During the TR, S maintains a two weeks physiotherapeutic treatment, beginning by 3 years. Method: TR beginning: 15y. Frequency: twice weekly; duration of the lesson: 45 min.; Group lessons. Horse equipment: English riding saddle and reins. Independent Riding (IR) after 12 lessons using a relatively narrow horse with an active gait and a good antero-posterior and vertical movement. Serial VRs both on horseback and on the ground are made and analyzed according to TRND Scale. Main aims: Adjustment of tone, favouring pelvis and posture stabilization, improving trunk control, balance and strength, reducing retropulsion, improving strenght and lower limbs charge. Successively promoting the IR to improve motor planning and coordination enhance body scheme and laterality, increase self-confidence. Results: Improvement in posture; reduction of static ataxia (from 3 to 2,5) with a slight increasing in Assisted Standing (2,5 to 3) and fair improvement in Standing without support (0,5 to 1,5); a dinamic ataxia reduction (from 5 to 4) with a slight improvement in Assisted Walking (2,5 to 3) and fair increasing in Walking without support (0 to 1); a slight improvement (½ score variation) both on the ground and on horse in: retropulsion, adjustment of tone, of timing and of strength, maintaining sitting, balance reactions, motor planning and coordination. Moreover can be observed: a reduction of some asynergic components, a better pelvis stabilization, a better coordination, a light increasing in strength of the lower limbs. Psycologically S denotes more confidence in her abilities. Conclusion: The results show that "maintenance index on the ground" of the positive effects observed on horseback is "GOOD" (Index G/H: 0.80, TRND Scale), which is the real target of any rehabilitative treatment. If we consider that the S has a progressive pathology and at the beginning her symptoms worsened abruptly, the results obtained are even more important because produced a trend inversion with improvement of symptoms. TR might have been an intervention that slowed down the worsening of symptoms. It has to be underlined that maybe these good results were also obtained by improving the psychological level as TR proved to be an important psychological and motivating aid. Hence, Horse for Body, Mind and Soul! *Pasquinelli A et al - TRND Scale, Proceed XIIth Intern TR Congr, Brasilia, August 2006 Videorecordings (VRs) are made at TR Center "Equitazione per tutti".

44 Author: PIA TILLBERG ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Gunilla Silfverberg Country: Sweden

The horse as a therapeutic tool equine assisted therapy, well being and quality of life after stroke Introduction: Socializing with animals is supposed to satisfy a basic human need and to contribute to psychological, physical and social wellbeing. In Sweden, interacting with horses and horseback riding are considered to contribute to human health in general, and equine assisted therapy is now recognized as a useful tool for rehabilitation purposes. Stroke: Stroke is a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia, caused by thrombosis or embolism, or due to a haemorrhage. In Sweden, the incidence is 25 000 new cases of stroke annually. It is regarded as the most important cause of lifelong disability in the adult population. Damage to the brain might affect a series of different abilities negatively, for example the capacity of moving, cognition and speech. Irrespectively of how the recovery proceeds and apart from the amount of remaining dysfunctions, for most persons life has changed in many aspects, often in a radical way. The aims of the project were to investigate whether - communication between rider and horse could promote the ability of the rider to comprehend their physical and mental capacities? - Equine assisted therapy could stimulate the lust of learning and contribute to a life with dignity after suffering from stroke in adulthood? - A health promoting activity as horseback riding could support quality of life for persons with life long disabilities after having been contracted by an illness like stroke? Method: Four persons with the diagnose stroke participated in the study, two women and two men, born between 1947 and 1974. Their symptoms included physical, psychological, cognitive and speech disorders. Their former experiences of horses and horseback riding varied from none to having participated in equine assisted therapy during their inpatient time. Equine assisted therapy sessions took place once a week, totally for the four participants between 16 and 22 occasions. Every session included taking care of the horse and approximately 30 minutes on the horseback. The sessions were individually designed regarding to the participants specific disorders. The horseback session was based on learning basic skills of riding with adjusted exercises for each individual, based on specific rehabilitation goals. Examples of individual goals were to facilitate movements, to decrease muscular tonus, to increase the ability to concentrate and to do activities simultaneously,

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reduce pain and to motivate the participant to take active part in the rehabilitation. Interviews: The participants were interviewed during the period of equine assisted therapy sessions, both individually and in-group settings. The interviews were conducted as dialogues around topics related to the aims of the study and analyzed according to a hermeneutic method, which stresses the importance of understanding an utterance in its own context. Results and conclusions: The outcome of the interviews shows that equine assisted therapy can promote processes for learning, re-establish a person's sense of dignity, increase the ability to turn difficulties into challenges and contribute to feelings of wellbeing and quality of life after suffering from stroke. The sense of ability, while being with the horse, has great importance for quality in daily life. The activities also stimulated the realisation of life plans. The participants experienced equine assisted therapy as a meaningful activity in its own right. These kinds of actions play a central role in human wellbeing and quality of life. Being together with horses, taking care of them and horseback riding were appreciated for their own sake, for the satisfaction of the communication between one self and the horse. Another outcome was that the participants also where stimulated to go further with their rehabilitation goals.

45 Author: GABRIELLA BOZORI ([email protected]) Country: Hungary

The new ways/methods and facilities in remedial work with horses: Sensory Park in Fót Introduction: The therapeutic centre of the Hungarian Riding for Disabled Association began its work in Fót in 2003. In the past 5-6 years we have worked to provide the required conditions to meet the high standards for therapeutic riding. At our centre we provide all three types of equine assisted therapy: hippotherapy, remedial riding and vaulting, and equine facilitated psychotherapy. Every week, 90-100 children, diagnosed with physical and cognitive disabilities, behaviour problems, autism and sensory integration impairments, visit us for therapeutic riding, physiotherapy and special cognitive development sessions. Every year, we organise intensive, complex, therapeutic summer camps, where, beside remedial riding and vaulting, depending on the individual needs, children undergo physiotherapy, special movement and cognitive functions development, or hydrotherapy conducted by special guest therapists. Beside the therapeutic work, our centre administers the training of riding therapists. We have a professional staff and the material means to con-

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duct the theoretical and practical training. Ultimately, our experiences of the everyday therapeutic work, the summer camps and the training courses inspire us to search for new ways, methods, and opportunities to become more effective. Method: Our centre is situated on more than 15 acres of land, which allowed us to build a sensory park as an outdoor setting for remedial riding sessions. In developing the sensory park we utilised the natural environment: the winding pathways, hills, valleys, streams, slopes were all there. To this we added numerous artificial fixed features like gates, little boxes on poles, post boxes. On top of this, plenty more removable and variable objects can be placed in the park, depending on the age and needs of our little patients and the goal of the therapeutic session. The sensory park is an ideal setting for individual and group sessions, with various sets of tasks and routes designed to match the needs and abilities of our patients. Result: In my presentation, I would like to introduce the sensory park, where all the elements and features serve the sensory integration of child by stimulating the tactile and vestibular system, "development dyspraxy", (the integration of two parts of the body), and the development of visual, and auditory perception. Conclusion: We find that the children, the therapists and the therapeutic horses love the park, as it provides an ideal background for growth through a colourful experience. And last but not least, I would like to emphasise a very important aspect of these activities on horseback: the activities carried out in an outdoor setting provide a physically, mentally and spiritually uplifting experience for our patients.

46 Author: MARIETTA SCHULZ ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Claudia Pauel Henrike Struck Dirk Baum

Country: Germany

Learning with horses - the contents of psychoeducational vaulting/riding Learning with Horses - What is it about? The recently produced DVD shows the contents of the remedial approach in working with horses and different client/student groups. The remedial approach is based on a model, which is developed by the German Kuratorium of Therapeutic Riding, section psychoeducational vaulting/riding. Within the German Kuratorium training system for professionals in the psycho-educational field, this DVD will serve as a teaching video in order to explain the basics of the method. The term "Remedial or PsychoEducational Approach (PsyEd V/R)" is based on forms of

educational, psychological or social-integrative intervention with using the horse as a medium. Children, adolescents and adults can discover new ways of behaviour and develop stable social skills through this group activity with the horse as a medium. The process of development regarding motricity, perception, learning, emotion and well-being can be influenced on an individual level. PsyEd V/R does not necessarily imply sportive goals. Exercises from the normal equestrian sport (vaulting/riding) are adapted using sensory-psychomotor and/or sociomotor principles to promote development and creativity, well being and appropriate physical and social behaviour. PsychEd V/R is psychodynamic concept based on self-experience and social learning facilitated through working with and on the horse. The focus is on the process of relationship building facilitated by the model of (nonverbal movement) dialogue on and with the horse.

47 Author: UTE FINGERLE ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Therapeutic riding as work accompanying measure in the business world for handicapped people On the basis of a presentation an interesting view of the developing history and organization of the riding therapy centre, the legal bases, the practical conversion and objective ´therapeutic riding´ on ´Gut Aufeld´ and the associated experiences and results are presented. The ´Lebenshilfe Ingolstadt´ offers the work accompanying measures for her handicapped co-workers during the work time, which legal basis is embodied in the ´Werkstättenverodnung´ of the German social legislation IX §5 exp. 3. As specified in the guidelines of the Lebenshilfe: ´to develop the personality, to keep and/or increase the personal performance in order to cover the legal duty to promote the vocational education and the jointly living in the community´ (www.lebenshilfe-ingolstadt.de). In 2005 the riding therapy centre and the meeting place ´Gut Aufeld´ was inaugurated. The ´Lebenshilfe Ingolstadt´ created thereby a special offer for handicapped humans: a) Jobs for humans with handicap b) Work-accompanying measure ´therapeutic riding´. The work-accompanying measures ´therapeutic riding´ on ´Gut Aufeld´ is offered on 5 days. It creates reconciliation to the everyday work and contributes to the improvement of ability to work and improve the motivation. Main aspects hereby are welfare-educational, therapeutic, health-promoting and identity education. The ´Lebenshilfe Ingolstadt´ sets an important focus on therapeutic riding in Germany and shows the meaning and importance for humans with handicap.

48 Author: HILDEGARD CAMENZIND ([email protected]) Country: Switzerland

"Horses make it possible" - professional training in the field of horse grooming for people with special educational needs Access to jobs and a profession has become much more difficult for young people in the last few years. It's especially difficult for young people with unfavourable conditions, whether these are learning difficulties, physical or psychological limitations or precarious family circumstances, to gain entrance to the job market. In the field of hippotherapy, there is a growing desire among some of the participants to work as a horse groom. The Swiss Association for Hippotherapy (SV-HPR) has worked out a concept for training as a groom and its acceptance as a profession in the Swiss educational system. The goal is to integrate the trained grooms into the free economy. Under the sponsorship of the SV-HPR, and with the support of the Swiss Federal Government, a project was set up to investigate what young people with special educational needs would require in order to participate in a basic professional training course. The College of Special Needs Education in Zurich served as the project's scientific co-ordinator and evaluator. (See publications and project presentation.) Young people who have been able to build a relationship to a horse are highly motivated to learn the core tasks of a groom at the stable. These are stable/stall work, grooming, preparing horses for lessons or therapy, and leading the horse during the hippotherapy. After completing instruction, there are tasks that the young people must be able to carry out independently, but they do not need to be able to work totally without supervision. They do not need to make any decisions by themselves, for example, in regard to feeding. Many young people take this training under the professional training programmes of the national disability insurance (IV), which covers the corresponding expenses. Depending on the degree of disability, the trainees are more or less intensively accompanied through the practical learning by a teacher. The theoretical fundamentals are taught one day a week in a professional school (in part prepared for special needs education). It is also possible to request specialised individual assistance for the scholastic as well as the practical aspects. The project has shown that special assistance and the type of lessons are decisive. In the pilot project class, team-teaching was successfully implemented and the general education subjects could be taught in close connection with the specialised subjects. In any case, the

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experience showed that a certain basic knowledge of cultural skills (reading, writing and arithmetic) must be present. In gaining personal and social competence, the horses are often a major support. The students usually live in the teaching institution and near the horses. They give the students a clear opportunity to see and learn the needs of the horse. Indeed, out of love for the horses, sometimes achievements are possible that would not have arisen in another kind of training. Integrating people with special educational needs into the occupational education system and the work-world is a tightrope walk, even when emotions and motivation have a supportive effect in this special occupation. It will always be necessary to find special solutions for special people. Therefore, it is not a luxury to take care that they do not fall out of the system and end up in custodial care, and perhaps provided with some therapy. It has already been shown that the sustainability of this basic occupational education needs attention. The special needs remain, they continue to affect daily work and life and require support through continuing occupational and personal training. Continuing education is a way to ensure long-term integration in the work-world and a self-determined life. A continuing education programme in which the horse once again plays a major role is now in the planning stages.

49 Author: HELOISA GRUBITS FREIRE ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Camila Escobar Country: Brazil

Horseback riding therapy in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Horseback riding Therapy, also known as Equine Assisted Therapy, is a therapeutic method that uses the horse as a facilitator, an educational practice that helps the participants to overcome sensory, cognitive and behavioural injures. Studies indicate that Horseback-riding Therapy generates several improvements to the practitioner, such as: improvements in the maintenance of posture, balance, gait, muscle tone, and also in socialization, emotional and affective aspects. During consultations with some children who had hyperactive behaviour it was observed that many aspects had improved, thus it was possible to conduct a systematic research on the subject to verify the data observed in practice. The Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed when there is the presence of symptoms such as inattention and hyperactivity, bringing injuries and causing interference in the

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family living and at school. The present study aims to verify changes in the behaviour of children with ADHD in family and school, after four months of treatment with Horseback riding Therapy. The study analyzed three cases of children with ADHD, according to the criteria of DSM-IV, which were submitted to Horseback riding Therapy, twice a week during four months. For the results evaluation before and after the interventions, several assessments were used such as: Psychological Tests d2, which analyzed the attention and ability to concentrate; the Test of School Performance; and the Scale of ADHD - version for teachers, who examined before and after the behaviour of participants in the school environment; and also a questionnaire for parents and teachers before the intervention and reporting post intervention. Through the reports of parents and teachers, and the psychological assessment, the three children showed significant improvements in attention, ability to concentrate, school performance, discipline and respect in relation to the individuality of people, hyperactive behaviour and socialization.

50 Author: MEIKE RIEDEL ([email protected]) Country: Germany

The possibilities of therapeutic vaulting for children with ADHD Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ranks as one of the most frequently occurring psychological complaints in children and young people. The treatment guidelines for children's and young people's psychiatrists advise a multimodal treatment concept for ADHD including psychotherapy, psychosocial intervention and pharmacotherapy (1). Up to now, only a small number of alternative treatment concepts in the sense of motorically induced therapy methods (3) have been considered for ADHD, despite the fact that conspicuous irregularities in the gross and fine motor systems, physical perception, and the control of actions and behaviour are essential characteristics of the disorder. The aims of this study were to demonstrate the status of development of the sports-related motor systems and the condition of the autonomic nervous system in children with ADHD as well as to document possible effects on the performance of the autonomic nervous system and sports-related motor system of children with ADHD when they pursue therapeutic vaulting together with a combined endurance training and coordination program. Method: Test subjects: 30 children (7.4 years of age ± 1.5 years) who had been medically diagnosed as having ADHD participated in this study. The active group (m=17, f=1) carried out a 15-week coordination and endurance training program (twice a week) with horses and on horseback.

The children in the control group (m=11, f=1) did not participate in this exercise program and did not change their normal routine during this period. Intervention: In addition to the usual contents of therapeutic vaulting, the exercise program consisted of games using a variety of materials (balls, beer mats etc.) with horses and on horseback. The aim was to train endurance, physical perception, proprioceptive and coordination capabilities and relaxation. Measuring method: 1. Anthropometric data 2. Physical coordination test for children (KTK) 3. 6-minute run 4. Assessment of the autonomic nervous system based on the messenger substances norepiniphrene and epiniphrene in the urine - catecholamine quotient of norepiniphrene/epiniphrene (Cat-Q). Results: The results show both enormous deficits in coordination performance capability and insufficient endurance in the children with ADHD. In addition, the catecholamine quotients (Cat-Q) indicate a chronic stress burden over the entire course of the day. The therapeutic vaulting affects the autonomic nervous system, induces a mood in which the children's attention level is enhanced and creates the possibility of a positive effect on their physical abilities and coordination performance capabilities (2). Conclusion: Some fundamental deficits of children with ADHD can be addressed by therapeutic vaulting, and thus also by handling horses. Not only physical abilities and coordination performance capabilities are trained here, but also the ability to pay attention to the body signals and expressions of the horse and respond to them appropriately. The physical fitness, willingness to exert themselves, and disturbed self-confidence of these children is improved. Their fascination with the horses also increases their motivation to pursue this "sport" in the longer term, which is fairly exceptional in children with ADHD. Literature: 1. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie; Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft leitender Klinikärzte für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie und Psychotherapie (2000). Leitlinien zu Diagnostik und Therapie von psychischen Störungen im Säuglings-, Kindes- und Jugendalter. Cologne: Deutscher Ärzte Verlag. 2. Riedel, M. & Zimmermann, E (2007). Eine sportmedizinische Wirkanalyse des Heilpädagogischen Voltigierens bei Kindern mit dem Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit- Hyperaktivitätssyndrom. Therapeutisches Reiten 2, 25-29. 3. Skrodzki, K. (2002). ADHS - Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung. Praxis der Psychomotorik 2, 76-81.

51 Author: MANON CONDORI ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Supporting attention abilities by therapeutic horse riding The increasing number of children and teenagers with attention disorders and difficulties with concentration is getting focussed more and more these days. The level of school's demands on attention and the increasing difficulties of concentration are definitely linked together. "You can almost say that school itself defines them" (Lauth/Schlottke 2002, 6). Equine Assisted Activity offers a lot of opportunities to influence the development of children and adolescents with attention disabilities positively. How can therapeutic and pedagogic interventions support them by improving their attention skills, particularly in the context of vaulting? The differentiation of concentration and attention is important in this context. Attention is a neuronal process of selecting relevant stimuli or information. People with difficulties in this selective process need special assistance to distinguish the relevance of stimuli and to maintain their ability of perception, their alertness (cf. Bühner/ Büttner/Schmidt 2004). In psychological terms concentration is defined as an actual state of mind but also as a personality trait. Concentration depends on certain conditions, such as environment and organism, but also on psychological factors as cognition, emotion, motivation and social development (Hagemeister/Westhoff 2005, 18). Organism and environment as non-psychological factors are in the focus of every contact with the horse. They are represented in the relationship triangle client-horsetherapist (cf. Kröger 2005). Based on a scholastic intervention program young people can be supported by improving their attention and concentration skills. The principles of this promotion can be used for the therapeutic work with the horse. Feeling and regarding their alertness using the metaphor of an engine, children and adolescents learn to asses and regulate their neuronal level of activity. Learning more of their sensorimotor preferences and possibilities for controlling their activity level, their self-assessment improves. Experiencing the contrast of tension and relaxation they get connected closer with their inner state. Using the training's sensorimotor strategies they can transfer their experiences into every day life. The basic senses in the meaning of Sensory Integration Therapy are important and valued equally in this process (cf. Ayres 1998, Kiesling 2003). Vestibular system, tactile and proprioceptive system are activated within the dialogue with the horse. Equine Assisted Activity allows therapists and pedagogues to watch sensomotori preferences and to give the client a feeling for his individual preference. Phases of effort and relaxation alternate in a session

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of therapeutic vaulting and imply to further self-assessment on the evidence of individual activity levels. The horse offers the therapist the possibility to emphasise the sensomotori input channels for stimulating young people's regulation of attention. They get a new perspective and therefore a new chance for coping with demands on attention at school and in further life. Publication: Condori, Manon: Aufmerksam? Konzentriert? - Okay! Das AKO-Training. Dortmund 2008 References: Ayres, A. J.: Bausteine der kindlichen Entwicklung. 3. Aufl. Berlin, Heidelberg 1998 Bühner, M./ Büttner, G./ Schmidt -Atzert, L.: Theoretische Aspekte von Aufmerksamkeits-/Konzentrationsdiagnostik. In: Büttner, G./ Schmidt-Atzert, L. [Hrsg.]: Diagnostik von Konzentration und Aufmerksamkeit. Göttingen 2004, 3-22 Hagemeister, C./ Westhoff, K.: Konzentration und konzentriertes Arbeiten. In: dies.: Konzentrationsdiagnostik. Lengerich 2005, 15- 30 Kiesling, U.: Sensorische Integration im Dialog. Verstehen lernen und helfen, ins Gleichgewicht zu kommen. 4. Aufl. Dortmund 2003 Kröger, A. [Hrsg.]: Partnerschaftlich miteinander umgehen. Warendorf 2005 Lauth, G./ Schlottke, P.: Training mit aufmerksamkeitsgestörten Kindern. 5. Aufl. Weinheim 2002.

52 Author: JAVIER MORAL BLANCO ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Beatriz De Prada Mato Maria Dolores Apolo

Country: Spain

Simulating platform for studding the accelerations of horse movement at walk, considerations for equinotherapy

forces absorbed by the rider. Through further calculation, this study permits to show off the relation between the horse movements leftright, forward-bakkward and up-down at different points of the riding path through the use of [configured horseback riding class path] covariance operator and showing the results of this relation with scatter diagrams. Methods: This study is based on a riding chair's model that synthesizes the accelerations signals through the riding path configured in the simulation programming application. This simulation allows us to analyze 3D movement's characteristics and to search for their impacts on reacting forces of the rider to get balanced. After the simulation run the signals obtained will be processed in order to correlate the different types of movements with the riding trajectory. These relations can be used to select the riding exercises that could be more adequate for each patient of therapeutic horseback riding. The indicators will also be helpful for the therapists to personalize the routines. Results: In an exercise where we have 4 turns, 2 rounds and the rest is a straight line trajectory (see graph 2). We have calculated that the riding time passed in each movement is 56.75 % in straight lines (different ways), 16.216% in turns and 27.027 % in rounds. Because we have established a joint, which makes into relation the path with the force, we calculate the covariance between the two variables. Running the simulation we obtain the kinetics and kinematics indicators and then we work out their relations to the trajectory through covariance operator. According to this value, we can know where strong dependence exists. We show the variation of the covariance in each path of the designed session related to the force performed in the movement. Analyzing the intensity of the covariance the therapist will choose the more concerned reaction of the rider and if it matches with the advisable exercises. The concrete results of the example are that in the straight line we exercise a 57% of the time the up-down movement that improves vertical balance and the capacity of atten-

Objectives: The aim of this study is to synthesize in a simulating platform the movements of a horse at walk. The simulation platform has been developed in a JAVA programming application. According to the configured movements: straights lines, Trajectory Movement Covariance % of exercise time rounds and turns the platUp-down 9,4 56,75 form will show the vector Stright line forward-backward 1,62 56,75 forces and accelerations Stright line Right-left 0,88 56,75 performed. We will propose Stright line Up-down 0,42 16,21 other measuring indicators Turns forward-backward 0,45 16,21 based on the multidimen- Turns Twisting 6,02 16,21 sional movement of the Turns Up-down 0,3 27,02 horse as the reacting for- Rounds forward-backward 0,057 27,02 ces in the rider, the effort to Rounds Twisting 9,54 27,02 stay balanced, the rolling Rounds angle and the acceleration [The benefits of therapeutic horseback riding class]

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tion and concentration an also improves the space-time orientation, the forward-backward is also highly stimulated. The 16% of the time the twisting movements provokes the translation of hip rider and the activation of abductor muscles, this movement improves the lateralization. Finally for the 27% [View of the software platform] of the time we get the same result as that obtained in the turns. Conclusion: The main critic that could be done to this type of models are the lack of empirical content, the results of the model should be compared with real data; the functional relations obtained through out the model do not match with theoretical concepts neither with evidences or experienced results and finally these models don't include the possible reaction induced for future changes in the context. But the aim of the model proposed is not predicting but comparing the different results obtained by the variation of parameters (rider weight, horse pace frequency, distance) (see Graph 3) and elements taken into account in the simulation (trajectory). This model brings into evidence the main differences of final scenarios when the simulating parameters change. The main contribution of the simulating models is the study of the limits of the potential development of the system under consideration.

53 Author: ULRIKE THIEL ([email protected]) Country: Netherlands

The therapy horse, co-therapist, medium or tool within the therapeutic process Within different approaches of equine assisted therapy or activities the horse plays different roles. Therefore the education of the horse differs according these different approaches. Disadvantages and disadvantages of different concepts are discussed. Finally the SHP-E(NL) concept of the horses role and education is demonstrated. SHP-E(NL) prefers the classical training of a horse in which the nature and individual personality of the horse in question is respected its resources are addressed and its abilities are developed in a joyful way. Next to training the treatment and housing of the horse as well as a good

balance between "professional activities as therapy horse and leisure and other activities are essential to enable him to be open to the therapeutical triangle between client, therapist and himself. Only a happy and well-balanced horse literally and symbolically can stand and enjoy his profession as co therapist with his own responsibilities and tasks. In this documentation the different elements of wellbeing and challenge are documented according to the ethical and functional guidelines of this approach. Next to physical training and education being experienced together therapist and horse develop a deep and dynamic relationship being a fundamental factor during the therapeutic process.

55 Author: VANDETE LIMA ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Susana Ribeiro Country: Brazil

Electromyography analysis of the rectos abdominal muscle of an individual during classic mounting on ten distinct horses Aim: To verify the activity of the rectos abdominal muscle on a clinically normal subject while riding ten distinct horses. Method: The subject of this study was a clinically normal adult at 35 years of age, female, presenting 1.64m (5.38 ft) height and 53Kg (116.85lbs) weight, and basic skills on Dressage. The analysis was intra-subject. The interventions were analyzed for two (02) minutes, while the measures were taken within intervals of seconds, immediately after the rider had completed an adjustment circuit of two (02) minutes, which was repeated at the beginning of each period with every ten horses. The horses were set with the same saddle blanket and cinch and were conducted by the same person throughout an inside arena, at a pace walking. The electromyography instrument used to analyze the rectos abdominal muscle was the NeXus-10®. Result: It has been observed a significant alteration on the muscular recruitment of the subject's rectos abdominal muscle at the variation of mounting on ten distinct horses. The t-student test and the Snedecor F test, in ANOVA (variance analysis) reject the hypothesis of evenness on the motor behaviour of the mounted rider, at a rate of 95% on most cases. Conclusion: The collected data suggests that the rectos abdominal muscle does present a variation on a rider's muscular recruitment, due to the three-dimensional movements executed by distinct horses at ride. This repeated measurement data over the rider's muscular performance

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may become a guide line to the selecting of the right horses for the Equotherapy work, according to their movement characteristics, and also on stimulating the Equotherapy to be practiced over known evidences. This preliminary study puts into the open the need for a definition about the movement of the horses to be used in a scientific research work. Keywords: Electromyography; Horse and Rectos abdominal.

56 Author: JOANNA PILAT ([email protected]) Country: Poland

Alternative and augmentative communication and its application in horse-riding therapy Communication is one of the most important needs of a human being and it influences the possibilities of his development. Most of us thinking: "I communicate" mean: "I speak". However, there is a large group of children, whose speech does not develop at all or develops in a range which is not sufficient to allow effective communication; a group of people for whom verbal communication is unavailable or significantly impaired - temporarily or through their whole lives. It is unimaginable to leave them without possibility of expressing their thoughts, communicating needs, or influencing the environment. Results of limitations in verbal speech can be prevented by using, by people who need this kind of support, methods of Alternative and Augmentative Communication - AAC. The term includes every possible action aimed at assisting in communication of the people who are mute or can only use verbal speech to a limited degree. Instead of verbalized words, they can use graphic signs (pictograms, pictures), manual signs (gestures), or spatial-tactile signs (objects). This form of communication (alternative or augmentative) provides a chance for a conversation in every kind of a situation, therefore also during horse-riding therapy trainings. Thanks to the proper - individually selected and built communication reinforcements - we can, together with the charge, establish the process of training, find out if s/he is having fun in the course of training, what s/he feels. The author of the article brings kinds of AAC systems, ways of building communication reinforcements, using these systems closer, and gives propositions of using them during horse-riding therapy trainings.

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57 Author: MARIETTA SCHULZ ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Calling their horses by names how can we facilitate communication in children who are nonverbal? Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders suffer from a severe communication and social interaction disorder. They produce repetitive behaviour patterns and their interests and actions are reduced. In nonverbal communication they miss out eye-contact, they often don't understand or show mimic and gestures. Their language and speech development can be delayed or severely affected. They can show receptive and/or expressive speech disorder. Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders often do not communicate. When these children enter into a nonverbal movement dialogue with the horse it is impossible for them to ignore communication. The combination of equine movement and sensory input, activate the sensory systems that are directly related to both receptive and expressive speech. The presentation will show how the movement dialogue is facilitated by the horse and directed into communication by the therapist. The results of a recently completed scientific study, "Tapfer", will be included into the presentation. These results support the above hypothesis. A long-term case study about the development of a little boy who discovered speech during the therapeutic process is documented in film sequences. This will underline the hypothesis and visualize the developmental process from being nonverbal to becoming verbal.

58 Author: DORIS RUßIG ([email protected]) Country: Germany

When the soul speaks, a window to our marrow opens Clients communicate with us in different ways and thereby accord us insight in their inner events. These messages can be linguistic, or by acts or by transference on the horse respectively the therapist. The clients express probably their part in the family or other live coherences, their personal live-story, their current mood, but also dreams and goals for their future. Our challenge as attendants is to recognize them - no matter in which form they are expressed - and to interpret them carefully or to clarify them by consultation, in order to act

accordingly in a professional way. With the medium horse, the client gets an unusually active part in the therapeutic work from the beginning, which puts the process in his own hands and provokes his statement. So at the same time we can act goal orientated and be sure that the goals are these of the client. At least two different individuals face to face - the horse and the therapist - make a manifold development of the person in the single unit, especially if there is an intensive and long lasting knowledge of the character of the therapist's horse. The examples of the client's statements result out of evaluation from 20 years experiences made in independent therapeutic work with the horses. They should help to clearly show the different ways of communication, including one interpretation, which was confirmed during progress of the therapy. The enlargement of our capacity to perceive and to act, let the possibilities of views on the inner of the client for the therapeutic progress not go unseen, but let it use for the progress. With these messages the clients give us the opportunity to accompany and support them in achieving their actual and personal aims. Attentive and respectful handling with these insights in the inner of another person should be natural for us.

59 Author: TONJA BOCKELMANN ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Horse-assisted behaviour therapy of anxiety disorders The horse is a perfect model for disturbed behaviour and for positive change in the behaviour therapy of stress and anxiety disorders. As a genetically programmed flight animal with a disposition to panic, it can show us the way to overcome stress and fears in our modern world. Behaviour therapy developed the scientific method to manage anxieties by experimenting with flight animals. The training with patients is almost similar to the methodology used by the police forces to train their horses in anxiety management. The inborn emotion fear is a healthy function of survival and part of the natural fitness. It is only becoming the disease phobia, when it occurs for too long, too often, or too strong, when one is loosing control, having to flight out of the frightening situation and to avoid it in the future. The quality of life and even the ability to work can thus be seriously deteriorated. About 10 of 100 adults suffer from an anxiety disorder at least once in their life, 3 of 100 adults suffer from it in combination with another psychic disorder. Anxiety disorders generate from genetic disposition, education, overburdening, physical

diseases, inexperience, trauma or a combination of these factors. A phobia develops when we experience extreme reactions in a frightening situation like black outs, tremors, transpiration, heart pounding, hyperventilation, faintness and dizziness which become as much a threat to us as the outer trigger. The patients fear to faint from panic, to show crazy overreactions or even to die and have to avoid that situation in the future. With time more and more situations can become a trigger for these reactions. Phobia constitutes thus of fear of an outer trigger PLUS fear of the reactions of ones own body and is hence different from a normal feeling of fear. A horse is a perfect model for such patients, because it shows all these physical phenomenons as part of their inherent natural fitness and alertness in confrontation with new objects. As a flight animal, horses react stronger to fear than humans. The shown increases in pulse and breath frequency as well as in their muscle reactions are much more pronounced. A horse roles its eyes, snores, becomes tense, trembles, sweats and jumps away from a frightening object. It hence avoids the object in a dramatic fashion. Through training it shows as intense physical relaxation reactions and pulse and breathe frequency drop much lower than in humans. This experience of fear and subsequent relaxation convinces patients to see fear as a positive part of natural fitness and not anymore as a deadly threat that can slowly deteriorate ones mental and physical health. Thus a positive expectation to be healed is created. By watching and helping with the horse training, the patient becomes an expert for his own disease through experimenting with the animal. Such patients remember the effective anxiety management better than patients, who learned it through a handout, as it is common in the behavioural treatment of anxiety disorders. Several studies show that patients with anxiety disorders tend to forget the theory on anxiety after a few weeks driven by reoccurring doubt that their fear is just natural fitness and that easy, relaxed confrontation methods can help them to manage it. My patients hardly ever forget their training because the one hour experimenting with a fearful and then relaxed horse is such an intense experience for people who have no experience with horses in their daily life that this memory is leading them on their way through the training. In my practice, patients who learned from the horse in the beginning of the therapy need less time to accomplish an effective anxiety management compared to patients who learned from a handout. For this kind of experience only one hour and a few repetitions of half a minute of fear and a clear anxiety management is required from the horse and it is certainly rewarded for strong management reactions.

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60 Author: ALEKSANDRA SZYMANSKA ([email protected]) Country: Poland

The processes of healing in equine facilitated psychotherapy Contact with horses can help individuals who suffer from emotional and social difficulties. This is the basic assumption of equine facilitated psychotherapy. According to this approach, the essence of the therapeutic process is a dynamic relationship between the client and the horse. The client learns to recognize the feelings awakened by the animal and learns to see how these feelings are related to his/her psychological difficulties. The ability to control the horse's behaviour leads the client to better control over his/her environment. DreamPower Horsemanship, a therapeutic horsemanship program in San Martin, California has been providing equine facilitated psychotherapy for over six years. Therapeutic interventions in this program illustrate mechanisms through which horses help clients: projection, mirroring and shifting the locus of control. These interventions show the role of a mental health specialist in equine facilitated psychotherapy. DreamPower Horsemanship is an example of how horse-assisted activities should be organized to bring psychological benefits to the client.

61 Author: WILLEM VAN LIESHOUT ([email protected]) Country: Netherlands

Communication and transparency in equine-assisted psychotherapy: Is there a need for a method? The first book, ever, about equine-assisted psychotherapy is written in the German language, as far as I know, and the title is "Psychotherapie mit dem Pferd". This book is written by German psychotherapists who are members of the 'Fachgruppe Arbeit mit Pferd in Psychotherapie' (FAPP). The book is edited by the FAPP and 'das Deutsches Kuratorium fur Therapeutisches Reiten' (DKThR). In this book Carl Kluwer, a founding father of equine-assisted therapy, writes at the end: "Die averbale Korrespondenz in dem dreipolaren System von Patient-Pferd-Therapeut wird mit Begriffen wie, Koinaesthetik, Reverie, tiefste Ubertragung, Telepathie und dergleichen annaherend beschrieben". In this lecture the question is posed: "which

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meaning does his words have for us"? We could have a discussion with each other to reach agreement on this matter. And we would succeed, one could imagine, if the participants in this dialogue would be qualified psychotherapists. Because they know what they are talking about, isn't? But Wallerstein (Hebbrecht, 2008) has pointed a finger to the broad variety of methods present in the psychoanalytic theory since the nineties and that this fenomenon makes it very hard to reach agreement about the most (technical) competences in psychoanalysis. And this is the case inside the narrow field of psychoanalytic theory! Inside the European Psychoanalytic Federation (EPF) is searched for a method to enhance the communication between psychoanalysts, who are adhering different styles and schools. Since the year 2000 working groups are formed during international congresses, which communicate together. In this lecture the used method will be outlined. And the suggestion will be presented that such a method has the power to stimulate the communication in our field of equine-assisted psychotherapy in order to reach transparency and dialogue. Also, in this lecture it will be hypothesized that Carl Kluwer 's words, mentioned above, can be integrated in the contemporary post-classical view on psychoanalytic treatment. It will be proposed that equine-assisted psychotherapy can be viewed, also, as activating 'primary phantasies' (Eiguer, 1996, Laplanche, 1973)) about identity, lifetasks, individual development and so on. And that the processes of equine-assisted psychotherapy can be conceptualized as "lived stories'. This view will be enlighted and concretisized with a case study. Literature: Eiguer, A (1996) The status of psychic reality in adolescence: an adult female patient's quasi-adolescent material and the analyst's counter transference response, 77, 1169-1180. FAPP/DKthR. (Herausgeber) (2006) Psychotherapie mit dem Pferd. Beitrage aus der Praxis. FN Verlag. Hebbrecht, M (2008) Vergelijkende psychoanalyse. Over communicatie tussen psychoanalytici van verschillende scholen. Tijdschrift voor psychoanalyse, 4, 255-267. Heymans, P.G. (1994) Developmental tasks. A cultural analysis of human development. In: Developmental tasks. J.J.F. ter Laak, e.o. (ed), Kluwer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Laplanche, J. and Pontalis, J.-B. (1973) The language of psychoanalysis. Norton & Company, New York. Tuckett, D. (2005) Does anything go? Towards a framework for the more transparent assessment of psychoanalytic competence. International Journal of Psychoanalysis, 86, 31-49 R. Wille (2005) De psychoanalytische identiteit. Psychoanalyse als intern object. Tijdschrift voor psychoanalyse, 2, 233-255.

62 Author: BARBARA KLÜWER ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Psychotherapeutic riding: Facilitating the awareness of the own self and the exploring of relationship psychotherapeutic riding as a group therapy in a clinic for psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatic sickness Disorders of the psyche that appear as problems of some ones´ physical health like psychosomatic problems do, require a treatment approach at the nonverbal level because in the personal history of a patient early disturbances are considered forming the base of the psychosomatic problems. Taking a horse into the psychotherapeutic treatment provides several levels of communication to the client within the therapeutic process. Through body language communication is possible from the very beginning. The presentation will demonstrate how psychotherapeutic riding is included into the treatment concept of a hospital for psychiatry, psychotherapy and psychosomatic therapy. Horses and psychotherapeutic riding are an independent part in the treatment concept, which also consists of group therapy, art therapy, social therapy and body therapy. Once a week, a group of four adult clients from that hospital take part in the external psychotherapeutic riding program. There they can get in contact with the horses and experience first steps of the trust building process with the horse. Patients with psychosomatic sickness tend to react and express through their bodies. Like normal riders they experience an emotional supporting contact with the horse while riding. They also appreciate to be able to be physically close to a natural being that facilitates trust because its reactions are authentic. A human being who is ready to dare the experience of being carried by the horse really gets in touch with the animal. In consequence of that, a growing awareness of the own body and movements is coming up as well as the feeling of building up a relation to the horse as a natural supporting being that reveals security and power. (To be able to grasp the handles of the vaulting roller in order to experience to be able to hold one self provides a feeling of safety as well). As a first comment, patients often tell about the warmth and the feeling of the horse, breathing under them. This bridges the memory of early and positive feelings for their own body. The feeling of having been carried by the own parents can (though unconsciously) be remembered as well. Safety and being moved/carried are feelings that are

essential for the preverbal development. In the treatment process during psychotherapeutic riding a connection to the personal resources of people with different disorders (anxiety, depression, borderline etc.) is facilitated. The positive experiences and the ability of successfully coping with the situation are communicated within the patient group. The common experiences are shared and the patients talk about that and are giving feedback to each other. Some even do their first steps in coping with their emotional sealing off process. Some even transfer these experiences into their therapeutic process within the clinic. Psychotherapeutic riding helps to discover resources and missing links in the patients´ personal history and development.

63 Author: MONA THELLE ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Therese Myraas Ann Kern-Godal ([email protected])

Country: Norway

Integration of psychotherapy with horses with a structured intensive psychotherapy in-patient program for severe sexual abuse Introduction: Modum Bad Hospital, Norway has a 12week intensive in-patient program for severe and repeated childhood sexually abused victims (CSA) aged 20 years plus, diagnosed to be currently suffering from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and/or Complex Dissociative Disorders (DDNOS/DID). Method: The treatment program is based on Pierre Janet's dissociation-integration theory as outlined by Onno van der Hart, Kathy Steele and Ellert Nijenhuis, with emphasis on Stage 1, focusing on symptom reduction and stabilization. The program combines both group and individual sessions, and treatment covers psycho-education, alliance building, personal functioning, skill building, affect regulation, symptom management, self-care and support. Since 2002, these themes have formed the foundation for the exercises practiced with and on the horses in weekly sessions of 90 minutes duration, as shown in the presentation. Sessions begin with an evaluation of each patient's present state, grooming of the horses, exercises in the arena or out in the fields, and end with discussion and each patients' evaluation of the session. Staff includes a professional horsewoman, a psychotherapist, a physical educator, and a psychiatric nurse (who records each patient's evaluation). Results: Psychotherapy with the horses is evolving as an

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integral part of the overall in-patient treatment program. Examples of the activities undertaken to illustrate the link with the overall program and the individual themes will be illustrated. The challenges in making this effective will also be addressed. Conclusion: Psychotherapy with horses can be incorporated into a formal intensive psychotherapy in-patient program. It is an evolutionary process, which requires will, dedication and resources to become sustainable.

64 Author: LEIGH SHAMBO ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Susan Seely Heather Vonderfecht

Country: United States

A pilot study on equine-facilitated psychotherapy for trauma related disorders Introduction: Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) has gained increasing attention over the last decade, and evidence of its efficacy for treating specific disorders is needed to substantiate this rapidly growing field of practice. This article reports on a pilot study conducted by the authors, investigating the effects of EFP given in a group intervention for adult women with a history of childhood trauma, who were diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Complex PTSD was used as an operational construct to allow for cross-diagnosis similarities with possible relation to traumatic history. Methods: EFP was combined with psychoeducation in a group treatment. Subjects met weekly for 10 2-hr sessions (total 20 hour treatment). Each session was comprised of one hour of education/discussion and one hour practicing horsemanship exercises. Relationship-based, interactive ground exercises (in horsemanship this is called "partnership training") were used in lieu of higher-risk riding activities. Subjects were taught to monitor and modulate their own arousal and affective states in order work effectively with the horses, which display unique sensitivity to non-verbal signals and fluctuations in emotional arousal. Six women participated in the pilot study. Selected subjects were in symptomatic distress, in spite of current treatment with psychotropic medications and outpatient counselling. All subjects experienced symptoms severe enough to impair social and/or occupational functioning. Measures were chosen to capture major intractable symptoms including depression (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory) and dissociation (Dissociative Experiences Scale); an additional

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measure was employed to capture functioning in major life domains (Outcome Questionnaire™). Measures were taken at four points: pre-, mid-, post-, and 4-months posttreatment. Results: Significant improvements were demonstrated for the group of six women on measures of depression, dissociation, and treatment efficacy overall. The change effect continued post-treatment as participants' scores showed even more improvement in a four month follow up. Most noteworthy in this study were dramatic decreases in depression and dissociation. Anxiety scores showed a marked, though not significant, improvement. The results were enduring; the drop in scores remained consistent or steadily improved through the follow up period, indicating overall a very significant positive effect from treatment. Conclusion: The data presented show an extraordinarily positive response to this treatment, which integrated EFP within a comprehensive approach. While it is acknowledged that this is a very small sample, it is remarkable to see such a striking change effect across measures in such a small group of subjects. These very promising results point to the conclusion that incorporating EFP into treatment of adult trauma survivors can be extremely effective. Replication is needed to determine reliability and to see if similar benefits might be found in applying this group curriculum with other populations, which have a high cooccurrence with childhood trauma.

65 Author: ANN KERN-GODAL ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Mona Thelle Therese Myraas

Country: Norway

Psychotherapy with horses - the patients' perspective. Findings from a preliminary analysis of patients' exit evaluations Introduction: Since 2002 Modum Bad's 12 week intensive in-patient program for severe and repeated childhood sexually abused victims (CSA) (see Mona Thelle's paper) has included in its exit formalities a brief open-ended questionnaire to evaluate patient participants' perspectives on the psychotherapy undertaken with horses. Method: As part of a pilot study of the patients' exit evaluations, we have undertaken a simple count/classification of the words/concepts used in patients' responses to identify both patient views and associated methodological issues for further study. Findings: The preliminary study of early participants' views provided a somewhat unexpected clarity and consistency in the perceived benefits which patients identified

as important to themselves, including mastery/control (of fear, self, horse or new skill), focus/feelings (concentration/being present, joy, freedom, calm) and contact (physical, emotional, personal). Approximately one third advocated that others should be given the opportunity to participate in this type of therapy. These findings are consistent with the growing volume of literature on the benefits of psychotherapy with horses. In addition, the study provided useful information on the methodological benefits and challenges of open ended questionnaires and indicated the need for further work on the perceived impact, including overall design, sample and control, evaluation tools to be used and follow up/verification of continued benefit. The paper discusses these findings (both the research design and the patient perceived values) in the context of a planned large scale study to be undertaken of Modum Bad's psychotherapy with horses as it evolves as an integral part of the overall treatment program for victims of severe sexual abuse. The aim of this further work will be to amplify and quantify values identified by Forsling, Kohanov, the McCormicks, Mehlem, Rosenberg, Scheidhacker, and others as they relate to psychotherapy for severe sexual trauma. Conclusion: Patients perceive considerable value in the psychotherapy undertaken with horses at Modum Bad. The challenge is how these perceptions can best be quantified and the benefits verified in our future work.

66 Author: DANIELA KELLER ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Martina Bösch ([email protected]) Country: Switzerland

Horses in occupational therapy a psychiatric application for depressive patients Our questions: Main question: o How can horses be meaningfully employed in occupational therapy for depressive patients? Further questions: o What are the objectives that could be achieved though therapy with horses? - How does dealing with horses affect people with depression? What are the indications / counter-indications? - What precautions must be heeded when dealing with horses? - What are the demands on the occupational therapist using horses in therapy? In our paper we describe how horses can be meaningfully employed in psychiatric occupational therapy. We have observed and analysed the reactions and behaviour of depressive patients working with horses. Enabling

patients to build up a personal relationship with a horse, without pressure, and in a natural setting, has led to improvements in their overall self-confidence. Methods: We carried out our project with three patients from a psychiatric day clinic at a small farm. The program consisted of clearly structured sequences consisting of direct contact with the horse as well as the duties concerning its care. Three individual therapy sessions of three hours each per patient were carried out. Our patients were evaluated according to the "Bieler Modell" (an evaluational instrument developed at the Occupational Therapy School in Biel, Switzerland). Individual objectives were then formulated accordingly. In order to structure and compare our observations, we developed a rubric with observational criteria. In addition, each step of the program was evaluated in cooperation with the patient by means of a questionnaire we developed for this purpose. Results: Our intensive confrontation with this subject as well as the practical experience has convinced both of us of the positive effect of working with horses on the mental state of people suffering from depression. Throughout this project we have observed how patients have been reanimated through active contact with horses. They are physically, cognitively and socially engaged and, at the same time, experience emotional and tactile-kinaesthetic sensory impressions. In this way, a broad spectrum of the objectives of occupational therapy has been achieved in a holistic manner. Conclusion: We have experienced working with horses and people suffering from depression as being highly successful, presupposing that the setting of individual, appraisable objectives in accordance with a patient's needs analysis can be formulated. This paper has been written within the framework of our final diploma at the Occupational Therapy School, Biel, Switzerland.

67 Author: THERES RANTNER PAYER ([email protected]) Country: Austria

The horse in the occupational therapy Presentation of the Austrian concept of occupational therapy with the medium horse, which will be started in 2009 as pilot project (authors and lecturers: Alexandra Danninger and Theres Ranter Payer) . In the occupational therapy the horse can be used in the most different ways as therapeutic medium. The German pilot project and other trainings already have shown that it is reasonable to use of the horse not only in the SI-field with children, but that it is very successful for many other special fields, too. In

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order to define a clear border to the different, existing fields of therapeutic riding, the question arises of which conditions the horse has to meet, when it is used as medium in occupational therapy in order to achieve the desired effect. With its high stimulative nature towards the client the therapist can use the horse with orientation towards the goal and the client in order to achieve the desired success. The most different therapeutic goals like improvement of the apperception, improvement of the activity, achievement of the corresponding arousal, improvement of the decision-making and responsibility as well as the social competence and/or other goals should be achieved irrespective of the therapeutic concept and approach. The therapist can use the horse individually for all the different fields of occupational therapy like psychiatry, geriatrics, paediatrics, oncology and neurology. It is essential that the duration of the use of the horse per therapeutic unit can be very different in order to achieve the desired therapeutic goal. In addition the needs and requirements of the horse have to be considered to a high extent and are defined clearly. A considerable part of occupational therapy, that is the improvement of the capacity to act and of the social competence as well as the joy of doing, are prevailing when working with the horse. The education of the occupational therapists and the expectation towards him/her are defined clearly and have to be in line with the needs of the client. Furthermore topics related to other fields of therapeutic riding are discussed.

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to develop the neural connections in the brain, which are essential for learning. The exercises are appropriate for all ages and levels of learning. We hold emotions in our bodies. This prevents us from being able to be physically balanced. By releasing the holding and tension in the body whether from trauma or disabilities, we are able to access developmental neurological centres in the brain that have become blocked and out of balance. Releasing the body, frees the emotions, and creates new learning paths not just for the physical aspect of riding but other areas of learning as well. Because we must be bi-laterally balanced to be affective riders, we must develop both sides of the brain to access the technical information that we receive through the left side of the brain as well as the kinetic information from the right side of the brain. The use of mid line exercises, lengthening exercises, and energy exercises both on and off the horse help transfer this information which in turn promotes better balance and appropriate movement in students of all ages.

69 Author: UTE PATRICK ([email protected]) Country: United States

Activity analysis in equine assisted intervention: Small steps big achievements

Author: JUDITH STREHLKE ([email protected]) Country: United States

Integrated riding - facilitating learning with movement integrating the mind / body connection in therapeutic riding programs "Integrated Riding" combines a series of exercises both on and off the horse. This unique blend of Centred Riding Techniques, Brain Gym Activities and Movement Based Learning Exercises stimulate appropriate Neuro synapse reflexes that allow access to whole brain learning. This includes appropriate physical, emotional, behavioural, and academic responses to movement. Certain exercises and types of touch help to stimulate areas of the brain responsible for our survival responses, our emotional reactions to situations and our ability to balance what our body feels with what our senses tell us. When we blend riding and handling horses with certain exercises we provide physical stimulation that increases Neuro pathway development. These exercises enhance the ability to learn, process information and respond to the world around us in a loving and effective way. They help

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This workshop is designed to introduce practitioners from all walks of Equine Assisted Interventions to the concept of "Activity Analysis" as a tool to plan and assess their treatment more efficiently. Occupational Therapists around the world use "Activity Analysis" every day in their treatments. This tool can facilitate the ongoing evaluation and adjustment of the intervention to improve the clients' individual progress, by schooling the practitioners' awareness and clinical reasoning skills. The Equine Assisted Field offers a broad variety of activities, which engage the client in novel and challenging tasks. These tasks can be adjusted to the individual clients needs and the options to develop specific skill sets within this environment are endless. Whether the client participates in barn chores, ground work or mounted activities on the horse; the practitioner needs to be aware of the effect of every step along the way. Professional awareness allows the practitioner to assess the clients' performance in a systemic context and accordingly adjust the situation for the optimal outcome. Most practitioners have established a professional "good feeling" with growing experience, which allows the session to flow and facilitates the outcome assessment, the "what". But with increasing demands for evidence based practice by the healthcare industry, client's families and fellow professionals, it is important to use clinical reasoning skills for the "how to" as well. Green Chimneys

School is a facility in Brewster, New York, that offers a great variety of Animal Assisted Interventions to children within the mental health setting for the past 60 years. Equine Assisted Intervention is a main focus in most of their 160 students' treatment. Horseman ship classes, barn jobs, riding and carriage driving classes, hippotherapy and social-work sessions including horses are interventions offered by Green Chimney's therapeutic riding centre. These interventions enhance the students' treatment greatly and many different professionals (e.g. Riding Instructors, Barn Interns, Therapists, Educators and Social Worker) facilitate the various sessions. This workshop will use the treatment strategies incorporated at Green Chimneys' School to practice comprehensive activity analysis. The participants will be introduced to a systemic approach, followed by video sequences from different equine assisted interventions at Green Chimneys. The participants will be invited to conduct an analysis for each video sequence and the outcome will be discussed within the group. Aim of this workshop is to provide a practical format to learn more about the clients' skills needed to master an activity considering the demands of the environment. It will also provide an opportunity for all participants working in the Equine Assisted field to conduct and discuss an "Activity Analysis" with fellow practitioners and benefit from different views and experiences. All participants will receive handouts with blank "Activity Analysis" forms (in English and German) suited especially for the field of Equine Assisted Interventions to use in their own practice.

70 Author: BARBARA GRAUß ([email protected]) Country: Germany

The rhythm of a horse How can a horse give forward a 3dimensional movement to a rider? How can the 8 beats spiralize the body? What can the rhythm tell us, in accordance with what we see? These are the questions I am concerned with and I hope to have found a few answers to them. A beat is a stop of movement in a significant direction wanted or unwanted through resistance (like the floor). With his hoof, it creates vibration, through the earth and into the body. To the congress, I bring acoustic examples of my studies. Here is a shortcut through my most resent text: To hear a horse walk, means to recognize, what it is - its sound is very typical. Horses have a very dynamic way of walking, since there is a turning point within the 8 beats using the four legs, that spiralizes the movement upwards... this has to do with the fact, that they walk on

their long toe. I want to visualize what happens in a horse from touching the ground with the toe first - and with a beat. The order of beats creates a significant rhythm and good to know, as any musician, that rhythm creates vibration, too. Within this rhythm, it is possible to hear the coordination within the horses' joints and muscles and everything that moves the rest. I can make you hear, where the side couple moves forward, and where crosses the diagonal couple of hoofs. That sound creates an 8 in rhythm and symbol. This is, what I want to make recognizable for all interested people. Being on horses back brings rhythmic dynamics to every body. It is all connected to rhythm always. Riding is rhythm-therapy.... this needs more including in our daily work with handicapped people. Just listen!

71 Author: EDITH GROSS NASCHERT ([email protected]) Country: Mexico

The influence of physical forces while riding a horse and its strategic benefits for equine therapy Universal physical forces are continually influencing our bodies. Gravity, inertia, acceleration, deceleration and centrifugal forces are all fundamentally activated while riding a horse for the reason that the riders' body must adjust to a dynamical base in constant movement. Some equine therapists are not very conscious of these influences and they are not sure how to use these forces to their benefit while giving therapy, one should ask them self: In which manner do these universal forces affect our musculoskeletal system and which are the best specific therapeutic strategies to take advantage of them? By means of a deductive - descriptive analysis of the physical forces and their effects on the musculoskeletal system of the rider it can be demonstrated that the forces of acceleration and deceleration, caused by the movement of the horse, have a special effect on the back and front vertical muscle chain, one that plays a very important role for an upright posture and the stand-up and straighten-up reactions. Mounted transitions: slow to fast and vice verse, changing frequently between the gaits of walk, trot and canter, all naturally apply themselves to these physical forces which benefit the rider to stimulate his stand-up reactions and strengthen the trunk muscles for the upright posture. The influence of centrifugal force is activated while riding curved lines and affects the straight muscle chain, but particularly the cross muscle chain, the one that is responsible for the stand-up reactions and especially for balance.

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Therefore, it is very useful to ride frequent transitions from one gate to another and to use curved lines, which translate into a very positive therapeutic effect on both the posture and balance of the rider.

73 Author: Willi Gansch ([email protected]) Country: Austria

72 Author: EDITH GROSS NASCHERT ([email protected]) Country: Mexico

Sitting correctly on the horse is the key to successful therapeutic riding Sitting correctly on the horse is the key to successful therapeutic riding. Many articles and books have been written on how to sit correctly on a horse. That is why it is very surprising that there is hardly any literature that emphasizes the possible health problems associated with sitting incorrectly on a horse. It has been proven that sitting on the horse in the correct manner is both excellent for the health and therapeutically valuable and also necessary for the proper application of the aids. Then the question presents itself, if incorrectly sitting during a therapeutic riding session causes negative impact on the body structure of the rider/patient, as well as diminishes the tridimensional movement of the hip transmitted by the movement of the horse. Therefore is it possible that an incorrect seat hinders the transmission of this therapeutic principle, especially important in hippotherapy? By means of a deductive - comparative analysis of the correct and incorrect way of sitting on a horse and the resulting effects on the musculoskeletal system, it has been proven that the hip and thorax are in mutual interdependence, producing and maintaining in a reciprocal way an upright posture. Therefore the results are: when the hip is flexible the thorax is straighten and stabilized, and if the upper body keeps upright and stable, the hip becomes flexible. The upright posture of the upper body liberates the hip and gives the horse the possibility to transmit the tridimensional impulses to the rider/patient, inherit to the human pace. Therefore in order to cause the characteristically movement of the human pace, it is absolutely necessary that the rider/patient is sitting in an upright position.

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Integrated physical sensation improving organisation of motor activity This workshop aims to show that quality in all branches of therapeutic riding can be considerably improved through greater consciousness of ones own physical sensation. The motion possibilities of the pelvis form the basic principles of my work. The pelvis plays a major role for each active movement. Each movement gains its power from the middle of the body, as a consequence the organisation of the "centre" is very important. Working the pelvis shows basic problems and questions of integrated body action. - How do I boost ability of physical sensation in special parts of the body? - How much power is necessary to roll the pelvis and how much impact do have other joints (e.g. ankle) in the context of this movement? - Where is the context between motion of the pelvis and respiration? - How far does the pelvis influence balance while standing? Finally I would like to take you on a little excursion to human body language - Horses react on the smallest physical signals, hence consciousness of ones own body language is very important. Please bring casual clothing for this WS!

74 Author: SILVIA SILVI BARDUCCI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Meike Raupach, Emanuela Notarpietro Country: Italy

Indications, precautions and contraindications in a subject affected by monoplegia due to medullary astrocytoma Videorecording (VR) made at the TR Centre "Il Caprifoglio", Impruneta (Florence), member of "Lapo" Association Introduction: The subject (S) is affected by upper limb monoplegia resulting from removal of a cervical medullary astrocytoma (C1-C6), performed at the age of 2 years. The procedure induced a condition of tetra paresis which, in the course of 3 years, progressively improved to a point at which the S was left with residual monoparesis of the left arm: it is interrogated, with proned forearm, the palm of the hand is turned outwards, the shoulder is depressed and in the anterior position. Impairment of the muscles of the shoulder, arm, and forearm is characterized by hypotonus, hypotrophy and areflexia. Any functional movement of the scapulohumeral joint and elbow is impossible. There is limited mobility of the wrist and hand and the limb cannot be extended towards an object. Although insufficient, the muscle groups responsible for neck mobility, the wrist flexors and the extensors of the fingers have been maintained. There is extensive laxity of the tendinous muscle apparatus of the elbow and above all of the shoulder. Sensitivity is impaired (complete loss of sensitivity to touch and heat; partial loss of sensitivity to pain and to the sense of perception of the arm's position in space). The seriousness of this monoplegia has a repercussion on the antigravitational functional competences: during walking there is a slight intrarotation of the right hip, forward projection of the hemipelvis, trunk asymmetry. No cognitive or psychorelational impairment. Method: TR beginning: 7 years, 2 years after stabilization of the disorder. Frequency: weekly; duration of the lesson: 50 min. Follow-up: 2 years. Group lessons. Horse equipment: "Elisa 1" saddle, with high handgrip, collar and reins. In consideration of the ongoing risk of dislocation, (the S previously suffered a dislocation of the shoulder and elbow and fracture of the arm which, however, did not occur during TR), the TR team felt it was wiser to limit activity to the "Hippotherapy" phase in order to avoid risks deriving from any sudden movement of the horse and to limit the risk of falling which could further impair the arm. TR assessment: seriated VR were performed and analyzed according to the "TR Neuromotor Disorders Assess-

ment Scale" (Pasquinelli et al., 2006*). Aims: to achieve trunk symmetry; voluntary commitment to using the residual function of the impaired limb, integration of the limb into the body scheme by means of exercises-games and holding the reins with both hands. Results: in spite of the seriousness of monoplegia, marked improvements were observed: greater symmetry of the trunk, greater commitment to functionally using the left hand which, before then, had been "forgotten"; greater functional activation of the thumb; mild reduction in hypotonus at the level of the wrist and finger flexors. Conclusions: considering the good results obtained and the passion of the S for horses, it would have been useful to move on to the autonomous riding phase. To this end, bandaging/bracing was advised in order to immobilize the scapulohumeral joint. The family, however, felt that this would make the S feel disabled and therefore did not consent. They failed to realize that this would have increased the child's autonomy in riding. The impossibility, therefore, of applying the necessary precautions interrupted S's opportunity to make progress in the acquisition of riding techniques. Reference: * Papini M., Pasquinelli A - Principi Pratici di RE. UTET Ed, Milano 1996 ** Pasquinelli A et al - Proceed XIIth Intern TR Congr, Brasilia, August 8-12, 2006

75 Author: MASAHIRO IHARA ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Masayo Ihara, Misato Doumura Country: Japan

Report of 3 cases in which scoliosis of the vertebra associated with spina bifida and cerebral palsy improved on roentgenogram after 13years of therapeutic riding We report 3 cases in which therapeutic riding was effective in improving scoliosis of the vertebrae associated with spina bifida and cerebral palsy on Roentgenograms. Riding for the Disabled Utsunomiya was established in June 2003 in Utsunomiya City, Japan, as a branch of RDA Japan. We treat 34 members at the moment and give 160 lessons per month. 40%are physically disabled, 30% have autism, and 30% are mentally retarded. We make individual lesson plans for each member and each lesson is evaluated and documented by an instructor, lesson leader, and "side walker". Video is recorded at the start of the riding and after about a year of riding to examine improvement. Roentgenograms of hip joints and vertebrae are also compared before and after riding every year in particular patients. We evaluated the change in posture, development, and

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degree of vertebral scoliosis on roentgenogram in 3 cases before and a few years after riding lessons began. Case 1: 14 yr old girl. Diagnosis: Spina bifida, hydrocephalus, scoliosis and has a VP shunt. She started RDA at the age of 9. Could sit alone, but could not stand with support and could only move by wheel chair when she first appeared. She could only sit on a horse on a mat, raising her legs above the neck of the horse and could not extend her right leg to the stirrup. She had bad left and right balance of the pelvis and her spine curved to the left. Her riding position was unbalanced with her right shoulder pushed forward. After 2months of riding, she was able to extend her legs and sit on the saddle. After 2 yrs of riding she could sit on the saddle straight and hold the reins with both hands. We also found significant improvement of the scoliosis of the vertebrae on roentgenogram. Case 2: 9 yr old boy. Diagnosis: Cerebral Palsy (spastic quadriplegia), dislocation of hip joints, scoliosis of the vertebrae. He could stand with support, crawl and move by wheel chair upon his first appearance at RDA. He could not keep a sitting position while on a horse and had very bad balance and needed the assistance of 4 people to ride one. He was riding on a mat, as the opening of his hip joints was restricted. After 1 yr of riding, he could now ride by himself for 20 minutes with the assistance of only 2 side walkers. We found profound improvement in the scoliosis of the vertebrae on roentgenogram. Case 3: 8 yr old boy. Diagnosis: Cerebral Palsy (mixed type quadriplegia=spastic and atonic ) Athetosis. He had no head control and could not sit by himself upon first appearance. He could only ride on a horse lying on his back or with the support of 3 people. After 3yrs of RDA activity, he was able to control his head and can sit by himself and also can stand with support. He can ride holding the rescue bar with the support of 2 side walkers. We found profound improvement of the scoliosis of the vertebrae on roentgenogram after 7 months of RDA activity. Significant improvement of the posture and scoliosis were observed in each patient after 1 - 3yrs of riding lessons. To date, it is not yet evident what improves the state of scoliosis. Finding balance on a horse while riding may strengthen the supporting muscles and also stimulate the brain to enhance better truncal balance. It is not clear if therapeutic riding improves the scoliosis of an otherwise healthy individual. The scoliosis accompanied with basal diseases such as cerebral palsy or spinal bifida may be the result of weak supporting muscles and not the result of a pathologic vertebral column itself. Comparative study of scoliosis in an otherwise healthy population and scoliosis with neuromuscular diseases is needed.

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76 Author: THAIS ARAUJO ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Mirian Lopes Carlos Franck Rosangela Araujo Levy Santana

Country: Brazil

Hippotherapy in improvement for postural steadiness in patient with lower limb amputated: A pilot study This study aims at measuring the effects of equine-movement therapy (hippotherapy) in the stabilometric parameters of people who have had a lower limb amputation. The postural steadiness analysis (stabilometry) of the physical therapy apprentices in this study was obtained previous to the equine-movement therapy (hippotherapy) and after therapeutic process. A relate study type report of cases was carried out with the participation of 3 (three) patients with unilateral above-knee amputation, who were selected among regular physical therapy amputee patients from the Universidade Católica de Brasília Hospital UCBH. The acquisition of the stabilometry data previous to the hippotherapy were acquired in the Biomechanical and Analysis Laboratory of the Human Movements from the Universidade Católica de Brasília by the F-scan system and the software version 4.21, using a F-Mat sensor model 3100. The stabilometric parameters adopted were: - acquisition frequency of 100Hz, testing time equal to 30 seconds. For test accomplishment, the individuals were guided stand up in the F-Mat platform with bipodal support, feet moved slightly apart and open eyes, doing it for 3 consecutive times acquisitions. These sessions of equine-movement therapy were currently carried through at the Centro Básico de Equoterapia "Gen. Carracho" of the Associação Nacional de Equoterapia - ANDE - Brazil - Brasília and were implemented from September to December, 2005, totaling 20 sessions. On December 2005 an acquisition of the stabilometric data was concluded, following the same methodology adopted in the prehippotherapy measurement. Being an unpublished study, the found results were not compared with other studies. As it is an unpublished work, the results that were founded could not be compared with other studies. Two out of three physical therapy patients obtained an improvement in the Postural Steadiness (PS), indicating that this therapeutic resource can contribute to the improvement of the PS in lower limb amputees. However, there is a necessity of future studies in perspective with a larger number of apprentices, with the purpose of evidence statistically and to provide a larger understanding on the effects of the equine-movement therapy (hippotherapy) in the PS of lower limb members amputees patients.

77 Author: ANGELA BAUERSFELD ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Walk, trot, canter - this is what the world looks like from above Movement with the living creature horse takes on a new identity-affirming significance in this time of uncertain social connections and of desensitizing daily life. In this context therapeutic/educational vaulting and riding has established itself both preventative and rehabilitative as an effective method in the educational and the learning process. Varied and involvement-intensive possibilities of movement with and on the horse are offered. Movement with and on the horse strongly engages the emotional involvement of the participants. The relatively unknown, but well-established field "Horses and Vaulting and Riding" offers many starting points for new, active-learning experiences in the areas of motoric, perception, emotionality and social interaction. The medium horse entails action, it radiates warmth, beauty and nobility; its mere presence can motivate to initiate personal communication with the horse. These possibilities can be individually experienced while vaulting on the longed horse. A variety of games, movement tasks and vaulting exercises are introduced and can be practised. This workshop is also suitable for persons who so far have had little or no experience with vaulting.

78 Author: MARTINA SCHUCHHARDT ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Uta Deutschländer ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Special Olympics NRW in cooperation with the integrative centre of equestrian from the Alexianer group in Münster introduce themselves We explain the Judgment and the Rules of Special Olympics. A Judge will comment the problems of judging. Coachwork and education of the rider with mental disabilities. The riders show: Führzügelklasse, Special Olmpics Working Trails Level C supported and non supported, Special Olympics Dressage Test Level C, Special Olympics Dressage Test Level B,

Special Olympics Dressage Test Level A, Dressage Quadrille with 4 riders with mental disabilities. Demonstration with dissertation and explanations, afterwards chance for Questions and Discussion. This will take about 90 Minutes time. A Power Point Demonstration will clarify.

80 Author: BETH MACAULEY ([email protected]) Country: United States

Effects of hippotherapy on respiration and speech The movements of a walking horse are very similar to the movements of a walking human. When a person with motor impairments sits on a horse, the motor influence of the walking horse affects the patient in a remedial way. As the horse's centre of gravity is displaced three-dimensionally with back-and-forth, side-to-side, and rotational components, a precise, repetitive pattern of movement is transmitted to the patient resulting in a more organized nervous system with improved balance, coordination, trunk control, and gross motor movements such as reaching and bending. When this is accomplished by a licensed physical, occupational, or speech therapist as part of their treatment protocol, it is termed hippotherapy. Respiration is a gross motor act and dysarthria is impairment in the motor control of speech and should, therefore, each show improvement following hippotherapy. The purpose of this presentation is to report the results of a study which examined the effects of hippotherapy on respiration and motor speech in persons with dysarthria. 24 people with motor speech disorders participated in this study. Respiration and motor speech measurements were taken before and after a fifteen minute hippotherapy session. Six participants returned for a second data collection one week later. The respiratory measurements were taken with a MicroLab Spirometer and a laptop computer with Spida 5 software. The respiratory measurements obtained were tidal volume, vital capacity, inspiratory capacity, expiratory capacity, and vital capacity for speech. The motor speech measurements consisted of asking the participants to repeat the syllables /pa/, /ta/, /ka/, and /pataka/ ten times each. The length of time taken to complete each task was timed with a stopwatch and recorded in seconds. Results indicated that 85% of the participants had an immediate improvement in airflow, volume, and coordination of speech following the hippotherapy session. Amount of change and how long the change was evident will be discussed. Video examples of before and after will also be shown.

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81 Author: ANA PAULA NÓBREGA ([email protected]) Country: Brazil

The effects of the hippotherapy on the sensory motor oral system and on the respitatory dynamics in the patients with cerebral palsy Objective: The proposal of this work was to analyze the effect of the hippotherapy in the sensory motor oral system and the respiratory mechanical in 7 subjects with cerebral palsy, who practice hippotherapy in the CEPOM-PE. Methodology: The subjects were submitted to the evaluations of the sensory motor oral system, to the articulation and to the respiratory mechanical. Such evaluations had been carried after through before and the hippotherapy sessions. It was carried repeated evaluations immediately before the beginning of 08 sessions of hippotherapy and repeated evaluations immediately after these 08 sessions. The markers used for the respiratory measures of the respiratory mechanical were: respiratory frequency, thoracic cirtometry, volume minute (ventilometer). The measures of the oral articulation were considering: the diadococinesis and the brief-phonation coordination during the imitation of a sentence. The respiratory mechanics is the movement of expiration and inspiration leading in consideration the complex respiratory system that involves all structures of the respiratory system. Analyzes of the respiratory mechanical was based on the concepts of pressures, flow and volume in a respiratory cycle. The vital capacity for speaks was measured through the TMF - Maximum Time of Phonation that can be gotten through the drawn out emission of affricative sounds /s/ and /z/ and of the vowel aphonic /e/, the diadococinesias is sequences of sounds type /pataka/, /tadanala/… It must be repeated to evaluate the oral articulation ability for these sequences, and the brief-articulation coordination implies the observation of the speed of speak, the respiratory control (respiratory pauses) and the number of words in each expiration. It was observed and evaluated seven practitioners with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (spastic tetraparesis type) with 4 to 8 years. Results: The results were compared with seven normal subjects that had the same media of age of the evaluated practitioners and with measures of normality in the literature. The data still are being analyzed and will be presented in graphs and tables. It was observed preliminarily that the evaluated subjects had presented better results in the tests after the hippotherapy sessions. It can suggest that the improvement in the tonus muscles regulation results in profits that involve the sensory motor oral system and of the respiratory mechanical, validating the interdisciplinary work of the physiotherapist and the speech-langua-

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ge therapist in the hippotherapy sessions. Conclusion: The three-dimensional movements of the horse promote oscillations in the body of the rider. In the patients with cerebral palsy these movements promote motor profits that reflect in all more the muscular chains bringing improvements in the execution of the movements generating adjusted functions. This work suggests that the hippotherapy is an efficient tool also for the oral motor pathologies and for respiratory function. Project developed in the Interdisciplinary Center of "Equoterapia": Cel. Sylvio de Mello Cahú. Recife-PE. ANDEBrazil (National Association of "Equoterapia" - Brazil) affiliated center.

82 Author: BIRGIT HÖLKEN ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Experience with the hippotherapy under special consideration of the representation of the ideal-motor development of the hand posture by 2 to 4 years old children To be able to report about the experiences at the Hippotherapy, it is well to know some assessment criteria. I help myself with pleasure of the knowledge about the idealmotor development of a child in its first year and in this lecture in particular concerning the development of the hand posture. The conditions for a qualitatively high-quality support in the final joints of the upper extremity are created by the raised backbone. The spine and the corresponding settings in the big joints render the body into a safe basis. Are postures or fixed-points necessary, helpful or sensible within the scope of the Hippotherapy? To be able to look at the complicated muscle coordination of the ideal-motor developed hand in its supporting function we assume that the whole axis organ and the extremities are already automatically well coordinated. The muscles, which are occupied with the production of a functional posture, work in well differentiated, holding activity and corresponding active direction towards the aim of the stabilization. If the musculature is tuned in the proximal arm segment concerning an ideal supporting function well on each other, the other differentiation of the hand posture can follow and the hand can adopt with corresponding dorsal extension and radialduktion in the wrist to the functionally high-quality posture. These muscle chains, which are harmoniously on each other coordinated, form a safe attitude background for the controlling of the movement. This muscular development of the hand posture can be watched well at the healthy baby from birth up to the 6th month.

With these assessment criteria the development stage of the child can be found out. The observation of the child shows the influencing control of the Hippotherapy on the control systems of the organism. The experiences with the 2 to 4-year-old children at the Hippotherapy concerning the hand posture are shown with the criteria explained on top.

83 Author: MARIA PIA ONOFRI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Annalisa Roscio Country: Italy

Hippotherapy within a big public hospital: One year of experience. Since 1981 the general public Hospital Niguarda Ca granda in Milan among several departments has a complete center for Hippotherapy. We will explain how our centre works, the professional figures (therapists, Doctors, trainers and assistants), 7 horses and other animals in the pedagogic farm. We did a review of our work in 2007 (81 patients: 32 cerebral palsy, 12 autistic children, 12 multiple sclerosis, 5 attention deficit (ADHD), 12 syndromes with mental retardation, 6 deafness, 2 amputations). The characteristics of the different pathologies, treatment plans involving the horse and the evolution of the clinical signs will be described with video clips and oral description.

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(HT). In the control group of 15 patients without HT, we observed the same indicators in two examinations during the course of 10 weeks. Both groups were receiving standard rehabilitation therapy. Method: Feelings of well being was evaluated on the basis of a 5 degree scale in 29 patients before and after the 1st, 10th and 20th HT. We were examining the posturallocomotion functions (PLFs) in 30 patients during 1st, 10th and 20th HT based on a 5-degree Hippotherapy evaluating test (HET). HET evaluates not only gross motor skills (walking, sitting on the horse, adjusting to the move of the horse, head posture, etc.), but also fine motor skills. The results were processed through SPSS statistical software. During evaluations, we used the T-test, the paired T-test and the LSD tests of multiple comparisons. In our statistical testing, we considered the level of statistical significance alfa=0,05. Results: Feelings of well being showed statistically significant improvement of evaluations before and after the therapy in 1st, 10th, 20th HT (P=0,000), as well as further mutual comparisons of these measurements in the course of the whole therapy P=0,009. HET pointed to statistically significant improvement of summarized evaluation of all examined PLFs between the 1st and the 10th, the 1st and the 20th (P=0,000) as well as between the 10th and the 20th HT (P=0,000). Comparisons of individual PLFs were also statistically significant most of the time. The most significant improvement was typically observed as early as the 10th HT. In the control group, we did not record any changes in the postural-locomotion functions. There was a statistically significant difference P=0,05 in both examinations evaluating the feelings of well being during entry and exit HET in the control group. This test is done for approximately 10 minutes on the horse. Conclusion: HT influences feelings of well being and the postural-locomotion functions very intensive. Keywords: Cerebral palsy, hippotherapy, well being, posture.

Author: KAROL HORNACEK ([email protected])

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Co-Authors:

Author: REBECA SANTOS ([email protected])

Anna Palenikova Alexandra Kafkova Eva Mosovska

Co-Authors:

Fernanda Borges Fábio Cyrillo

Country: Slovakia Country: Brazil

Influence of hippotherapy on the feelings of well being and postural locomotion functions by spastic quadruparetic form of cerebral palsy Introduction: In our prospective study, 30 patients with spastic quadruparetic form of cerebral palsy (CP) were observed under the influence of 20 hippotherapy sessions

Sensory integration applied to hippotherapy Objective: To analyze the effects of sensory stimuli at different levels, evaluation of the trunk muscle activation by surface electromyography, and assessment of muscle tone. Methods: There were a individual male 43 years of spastic paraparesis bearer for Spinal Cord Injury T11 level,

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submitted the assessment of muscle tone of thigh adductor of the intercondylar distance (DIC) Fast and Slow before and after 30 minutes of hippotherapy, evaluation of muscle recruitment riding front, side and back, through the Surface Electromyography (EMG) in muscles rectus abdominal and lumbar erector, values in microvolt (mv). Horse blanket was used and led to the walking and trot, combined the withdrawal of visual information, based on comparison of the values obtained for the seated posture in the chair. Result: There was significant variation in tone by DIC Fast, 18 cm before and 33 cm after hippotherapy. DIC had already Slow variation from 59 cm to 63 cm, respectively before and after.

bitory to mount position, and keep on stretching muscles, passive mobilization and vestibular stimulation. Even through these stimuli can be attributed to changes in muscle activation when the subject was changing posture, or alternated when the horse stopped, walking and on trot. We can conclude that by means of sensory stimuli generated this individual developed adaptive responses suggest that a better integration with consequent improvement of sensory motor response. This study allows therapists to target a specific act appropriately for each case.

86 Author: PETRA HOFFMANN ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Ten Variations of an Exercise Goal-oriented Flexibility in the Use of Therapeutic Vaulting

[Intercondylar Distance Graph]

Noting the results of the EMG posture sitting in the chair presented recruitment average of 5.3 mv lumbar erector and 2.8 mv rectus abdominal. Riding front with eyes open while the horse walks had activation of 6.30 mv erector and 5.15 mv abdominal; this posture with eyes closed 10.10 and 10.20 mv erector abdominal. Riding in right lateral static position had recruitment of 4.40 mv erector and 2.90 mv abdominal; while for walking activation of 6.05 mv erector and 3.15 mv abdominal during horse . For riding left lateral static cruited 4.50 mv erector and 2.90 mv abdominal; while for walking 4.90 mv erector and 3.15 mv abdominal. The riding back to the horse static was activation of 4.90 mv 3.65 mv abdominal and erector; while during it's walking the recruitment has increased to 6.30 mv erector and abdominal 6.90 mv. The posture in front trot had activation of 14.80 and 20.85 mv erector abdominal.

[EMG Evaluation]

Conclusion: In the results, it was observed that the change of muscle tone was very expressive, agreeing with the literature that reports improvement in tone due to be inhi-

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The unique success of vaulting is due to its harmonious and energetic atmosphere, which integrates the whole being. These effects are measurable and stimulate the child's physical, mental and emotional development. What is known about the complex processes occurring during vaulting exercises? In what way is the connection between body, soul and mind truly expressed? Which processes have been proven successful in supporting the development of special needs children in many areas simultaneously? Therapeutic or interactive equestrian vaulting combines elements of physical therapy, ergo- therapy and therapeutic pedagogy. The concepts of body and mind therapy confirm the holistic benefits of this kind of treatment in physical, mental and emotional areas. Meeting the challenges in this manner and with the customized implementation of a vaulting exercise demonstrates the possible range of gross motor, intellectual and emotional abilities of the human being. Through sensitive and careful observation, the therapist can learn much about the overall condition of the child within a very short period of time. This initial impression is verified through conversations with the child's parents and other specialists. The specific movements and postures of the vaulting exercises can also be used to target and support the child's ability to express emotions. Fundamental knowledge of human patterns combined with the interactive equestrian exercises created with our methodology gives us the ability to recognize the holistic effects of an exercise. Working with very young children or developmentally impaired people demands a flexible instructive approach. Depending on the abilities of the pupil, an exercise can be explained visually, verbally, or by using body language. Unbiased and unconditional observation of the abilities of each child is the prerequisite for a trusting cooperation. If

the child feels truly accepted - especially in his/her weakest areas, then a path to self-acceptance and new experiences has been opened. Through visualization, perception exercises, speed adjustment during movements, kinaesthetic exercises and through individualized therapy, the self-assurance of even very young or physically, emotionally or mentally challenged children can be stabilized and expanded. Examples from early holistic therapy with horses show effective methods of combining vaulting with emotional and social skills development programs for young children. The basic exercises utilized in therapeutic vaulting create a respectful, understanding and honest manner of cooperation through their multifaceted developmental elements and opportunities for expression. Through this approaches, emotional skills as well as physical and intellectual skills are developed. The success of this approach is also to a large extent due to the perceptive, interpretive and interactive skills of the instructor implemented in exercise planning, instruction, and the communication of common goals.

88 Author: ANCHANA BOSE ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Quality management by consulting/monitoring and supervision supportive method in day-to-day work Difficulty: The scope of duties of the therapeutic work in horse riding includes on the one hand the therapeutic tasks with the client and on he other hand the formation and the daily care of the horses. Moreover it involves administrative issues, the documentation, the self-reflection, the advanced training, discussion of the cases and more. The daily work demands the therapists on many different levels. Work can quickly end up in stress and at last in burnout. Through additional trainings and supervision diverse new incentives can be achieved, but in practice a modification of the usual workflow is often problematic and can therefore proceed in a difficult manner. The need of continuous support and professional exchange is high. Method: In the following dissertation I present the method of "monitoring and Supervision". This concept has been generated in the 90s as supportive instrument for pedagogic teams from Prof. Dr. J. Schlee Dipl.Psych. The approach of the "KoBeSu" (short in german) is based on the idea of human beings of the research programme "Subjective Theories" (Groeben et al.1988): - The activities of the human are being intended for his

personal self- and world view (subjective theories) - The human is able to logical reasoning, (self-) reflection, autonomy and communication. - The human is able to change his subjective theories, as long as he attains other perceptions and therefore varies his activities consciously. KoBeSu includes elements of: - Client-centred therapy, Crowers, - the Theme-centred interaction (TCI) R.Cohn, - the psychology of the interpersonal communication, P.Watzlawick, F.Schulz von Thun. The basis of the method of KoBeSu is the absolute transparency of the consulting process. The concept and method are known similarly to each participant, consultant and consulter are equal whereas, the consulter remains expert of his/her own set of problems. The learning and process of change depends(?) in the responsibility of the consulter. The objective of the KoBeSu is the fortification of the consulter in matters of his/her potential in logical reasoning, reflection, communication and autonomy. Own parts of the current set of problems should be recognized in order to develop independently new strategies and operational strategies. Result: 2005 a work group has been launched on the regional meeting of Therapeutic Work in Horse riding in Bremen and surroundings. This group works now since four years successfully with the KoBeSu concept in reflecting and supporting each other. Colleagues with different backgrounds of education (DKThR, FökthR ) and working fields (early education, psychotherapy with children and young people), adults with emotional and behavioural disorders make profit of the experiences knowledge and competences of others. Successful integration of new ideas and behavioural patterns are made possible. As of our experiences in the daily work of the Therapeutic Work in Horse riding Monitoring (s.o.) turned out to be a successful tool for self-reflection, development of alternative intervention strategies and the reduction of burnout.

89 Author: PAM BROOKE ([email protected]) Country: United Kingdom

Pilot project team training The Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy has over thirty years' experience of developing the independence skills of young people with learning difficulties. Evaluation, however, of the learning outcomes of the students indicates there are some students who benefit from being challenged to a greater degree than others. Traditionally this has been achieved within the curriculum,

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concentrating on the student, excluding two key partners in the students´ development, horses and staff. The FCRT is piloting a project based on a partnership of four: - Student needing challenging and stretching; - Member of staff experienced in riding and horse care; - Member of staff less experienced in riding and horse care; - Horse needing work to address specific issues. As the FCRT has grown the need to train staff in Equine Facilitated Education and Therapy (EFET) in cost effective ways has become ever more important. The level of fitness among the therapy horses due to the nature of the work is at risk of being insufficient. Currently horses, which could be used in local competitions by both staff and students, are not fit enough and the more capable riders amongst the students miss the opportunity to exercise the horses at a more advanced level. The FCRT holistic approach ensures that all areas of the students' needs are encompassed by the project. The key to the project is the partners working closely together using EFET, requiring close co-operation, clear communication and effective team-working. Baseline assessments of the horses and Individual Learning Plans (ILP) are completed then session plans produced to address the requirements of the ILP. On completion of the documents a student is allocated to the team, based on the behaviours, which the student needs to address which are mirrored by the needs of the horse. Activities to address the training needs of the horses above and beyond their normal curriculum duties may involve: - Loose schooling; - Long reining; - Strenuous exercising and cross country work; - Advanced schooling; - Jump training. Students will have the opportunity to work with staff on these activities. Each horse has its own Equine Information File, containing Activity Records documenting all interactions by the team. Students' progress is recorded and evaluated via existing records of progress. Staff skills will be tracked via the Performance Management system. Benefits of the project: Students: 1. Opportunity to be given the responsibility of working with a team of staff on a specific horse thereby increasing the sense of their own self worth whilst also addressing their own issues, which have resulted in demonstrating challenging behaviour. 2. Enhanced team-working and communication skills. 3. Increased confidence through contributing to team meetings. Experienced member of staff: 1. Maintaining and improving their own EFET skills. 2. Maintaining and improving their teaching skills.

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Less experienced member of staff: 1. Maintaining and improving their own EFET skills. 2. Improving their riding and stable management skills 3. Developing their abilities and confidence when dealing with students with challenging behaviour. Horse: 1. Fitter and physically more prepared for its work. 2. Broader scope of activities for mental well-being. 3. By addressing behavioural issues, the horse will be more responsive and confident when working with students and staff. The FCRT: 1. Improved staff skills and knowledge; 2. Using existing resources available to staff and students, there are no direct costs; 3. Improved outcome for students; 4. Improved staff involvement and retention; 5. Develop and enhance the FCRT's expertise in the field of EFET. At the end of the Project (July 2009) it will be reviewed and evaluated with a view to involving more students over a two-year period. The results of a further more detailed investigation could then be made available for a report to the International Congress in Athens 2012.

90 Author: BERNHARD RINGBECK ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Therapeutic horseback riding in public schools - potentials and implementation When therapeutic horseback riding in Germany began about 40 years ago - it was mainly for children from special needs-schools. Since then the school system has continually integrated more and more of the special needs work into regular classroom work (joint schooling, assistive compound of different special needs schools, assistive centres) and elementary schools generally accept each child of school age and ability and try to open up for each child in the resprecitve school area offering support and challenge for them. Furthermore the increasing number of children with special needs keeps rising. The extending field of special needs of various forms among children and adolescents shows that there is a need for special education not only in socially deprived areas but in every elementary school which requiring a need for additional supportive measures. With the development of the traditional German half-day school system to an all-day-school with respect to Euro-

pean standards there is room and a great opportunity for therapeutic horseback riding within the all-day school-day, possibly leading to strong cooperations between schools and horseback riding facilities. How the daily routine in schools can be shaped under these conditions, which potentials and possibilities of realization (e.g. organization, implementation, networking and financing) may evolve will be explained in the lecture. Many years of experience with the use of horses as part of the school programme in the city of Münster are the background for discussing possibilities of implementation in other communes and cities.

91 Author: LILIANA AGUIRRE BORREGO ([email protected])

Second Stage Formation of the transdisciplinary team through the integration, information and training of professionals in the areas of health, education and sport of the Fundación Equinoterapia de San Juan and the State School of Special Education and Multiple Pathologies of Pocito, San Juan, Argentina. Third Stage Project Evaluation a) Initial b) Process c) End In the first part of the year 2007 the children were acquainted with the place, the equines, their characteristics, necessities, different types of horses and mules, horse mounting equipment, equipment for horses and riders.

Country: Argentina

Integrated the syllabi of equine therapy in state schools of special education and multiple pathologies The Fundación de Equinoterapia San Juan ( Equinetherapy Foundation of San Juan) integrated the Syllabi of Equinetherapy in State Schools of Special Education and Multiple Pathologies with a population of students belonging to Families of a Social-Cultural- Economical High Risk Level. Children that come from large families and in many cases several of them with Special Needs having unemployed parents or in temporary rural employment. The Fundación de Equinoterapia San Juan presented as Institutional Project the Programme of Equinetherapy to the School of Special Education and Multiple Pathologies. The work is divided in three stages: First Stage Project Investigation and Elaboration a) Diagnosis of the population of students that integrate the project. b) Foundation and expectations of equine therapy programmes in relation to: specific pathologies, the socioaffectionate c) General and specific objectives for the practice of equine therapy. d) Meeting with parents to inform and ask for an authorization and medical certificate of the student. e) Inter-consultation with the doctor or health area responsible of the student. f) Request to the Ministry of Education of the province of San Juan of the specific scholar insurance for the practice of equine therapy. g) Presentation of the project to the Directory of Schools for its Approval as an Institutional Project. h) Human, Material, Economical and Physical Resources. i) Days and timetables for the activities.

They took contact and we initiated them in the Trick Riding discipline. During the second part of the year, they assumed responsibilities with the care of the equines, practice of Trick Riding, being a team discipline it identified them as companions and strengthened team work. Everything helped towards the individual mounting, assisted with lateral or guide, in the majority of cases with a saddle and in others with blanket and belt. We adapted, according to individual cases the Trick Riding, active hippotherapy and therapeutic mounting. We all grew together, teachers, students and our horses. The first part of the year 2008 we worked in three teams, divided according to student's skills, although due to the design of the activities they all had to rotate, example: a) Trick riding exercises, individual or by teams b) A figure of riding school in the training ring, individual or in groups, assisted or not. c) In the ring with elements to be passed or transferred, games, balls, numbers, colours, etc. We finished 2008 with an evaluation from the areas of education, health and show jumping. A group of four children from the project, participated in different categories by skills in the I National Tournament of Horse Riding of the programme New Special Olympics in the city of Mendoza, Argentina in August 2008 with the following results: two gold medals, one silver and a pennant for excelling skills. The other children with intellectual disabilities that integrate the project are already in the programme New Special Olympics and the child with physical disability is being prepared in the programme of Para Equestrian. Fundacion de Equinoterapia San Juan, the Special Education School and the Families decided to continue with the Programmes of Equine Therapy in Special Education, San Juan, Argentina.

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92 Author: BERNHARD RINGBECK ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Therapeutic horseback riding for schools - a promising endeavour with a future perspective? In the future German schools will be all-day schools for all students as is already the case in most other countries. This means that the students will spend the greater part of each day in the school. However, schools can only organize and finance this, if they open themselves up to other institutions such as child and youth services, independent providers or sports-, horseback riding and leisure-clubs. As part of this development therapeutic horseback riding can find its place as an assistive program. The workshop focuses on participants who already offer therapeutic horseback riding in schools or would like to do so in the near future. The idea is to contribute to an exchange of experience and show the necessary conditions for a long-term and effective horseback-riding-program. Furthermore the possibilities and appropriate steps of action will be shown as well as how the program can develop to become an element of the school-program for as many schools as possible.

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- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, USA) - National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE, UK) - Several Italian guide lines. Two groups of 14 children each have been observed during a 2 year-period, one group was experimental and the other of control, in both cases there has been a pathology's beginning before the age of 7 years, which has been treated with a pharmacological associated therapy. Each subject of the experimental group with reference to an individual project prepared together with the multidisciplinar équipe, has taken horse therapy and horse rehabilitation sessions throughout the observation's period. Methods: Administration, as far as the individual project is concerned, of M.R.G.C.® of the assessment scale which has been introduced by the centre with reference to international rule ISO 9000 UNI 1994 to DSM IV and to the WISC. R intelligence scale. The effects on target symptoms and competences are scored. Results: M.R.G.C.® acts by inhibiting the external stimulus, by holding back emotions, by adducing and favouring work's memory as far as a multimodal intervention is concerned. It acts as a context, which enables the subject to inhabit its own body. Conclusions: M.R.G.C.® is a valid intervention which favours learning, social integration, it also promotes relational and communicative competences, those ones perceptive motory and cognitive. The method integrates harmoniously in a multimodal project (which can be medical, scholastic, or referring to family), by facilitating the adjustment to background. An objection that can be made to this research is the survey narrowness due to an experimental phase of the subject, which is still in progress. There are no reports in literature.

Author: KARINE CITTERIO ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Danièle Raymonde Nicolas ([email protected])

94 Author: FABIANA RISKALLA ([email protected])

Country: Italy Country: Brazil

The overall method of rehabilitation through the horse (in Italian "Metodo di riabilitazione globale per mezzo del cavallo", M.R.G.C.® with reference to ADHD syndrome - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Aims: The aim of this study is to verify the influence of M.R.G.C.® on the ADHD syndrome with special regard to two symptoms groups: lack of attention and impulsiveness / hyperactivity, which mainly characterize this syndrome according to DMS IV (APA 1994) and to a multimodal project based on guide lines written by: - American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry - American Association of Paediatrics - European Society of Child Adolescent Psychiatry

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Structuring the hippotherapy space addressed to autistic children treatment. Using visual communication based on the TEACCH method The present work aims at showing the benefits and efficacy of a well-structured hippotherapy environment, which prioritizes the specific needs of a patient with classical autism. Classic autism means "developmental disability characterized by peculiar behavioural patterns involving different severity degrees of social interaction, communication and behavioural..." (Schwartzman, 1997). We chose to develop such team after identifying its incidence increase in the last ten years. American statistics show that 1 out of 1000 children have

been diagnosed with classical autism and 1 out of 250 with other types of autism. According to Dr. Ami Klin work developed at the Yale University Child Study Centre, autism diagnosis and early treatment has greatly improved in every aspect: 80% of the cases can be diagnosed before the child is one year old; 100% can be diagnosed during the first two years after birth; in the Yale Child Study Centre it is diagnosed in the first years after birth. Thus, prognostic on the classic autistic child ability to work and have independent life has largely improved from 2% to 30%, and on children who could not speak decreased from 50% to 20% and 30%. The work methodology focuses: Hippotherapy structuring from the moment the child leaves the clinic to go to the Hippotherapy centre; Child's staying period in the Hippotherapy environment; and, child's going back to clinic (the patient who is being observed has tasks to be carried out in an autism private centre named Living Together Centre, in Curitiba, Paraná-Brazil). Such structuring is based on the TEACCH method (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children), which is based on a physical space organized through routines by using pictures, panels or schedules and work systems designed to arrange that environment in order to make it easier for the children to understand such environment, thus understanding what they are expected to do. Such communication system is more receptive, that's to say, it offers a predictable routine that shows what the person is supposed to do. Therefore, the present work main aim is to show how the Hippotherapy environmentwith its several stimuli - can be structured using the minimum amount of visual information and organization needed to offer the patients predictability and easy understanding of what they are asked to do, in what sequence they must do it, where they have to do it and what comes after they finish doing it. This way we reduce the probability of autistic children having crisis and anxieties usually triggered by the new information required from them, and, at the same time, we reduce their difficulty to communicate with the surrounding world. The main purpose of this training is to create, as time goes by, real independence and feelings of being successful that can improve the autistic children ability to understand their daily life without the help of the therapeutic team or family. Besides, it will teach them how to accept changes, thus increasing their life flexibility through a system they can rely on. (NILSSON. I, pg. 25, 2003).

95 Author: JÖRG STRATMANN ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Birte Pertersen Country: Germany

When a horse becomes your teacher... a course for a "Basispass Pferdekunde" (basic certificate horse knowledge) for the cognitively and psychologically challenged in Sozialwerk St. Georg e.V. Objective: Cognitively and psychologically challenged persons gain adequate knowledge (theory and practice) about the needs of and the interaction with horses. This happens in a five-day course and should enable them to pass the "Basispass Pferdkunde" exam of the Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN). Method: Type and amount of the knowledge transfer is always adapted to the individual participant's abilities. The same applies to the day schedule, times for breaks, etc. The course is registered in Sozialwerk St. Georg's adult education program for people with special needs. a) Hands-On Learning: The participants spent the fivecourse in small groups of up to five people on a farm with horses in open stables and box stalls with access to pastures.In a hands-on way, they learn what kind of tasks the keeping of horses entails and how to handle horses. The participants are integrated into almost every part of keeping a horse. Among these are: - Approaching a horse correctly. it, letting it go, loading saddling, etc.) - Horse care (grooming, cleaning, feeding) - Recognizing diseases, health protection - Accident prevention. Every practical unit comes with a corresponding theory unit. Things they have just experienced are continuously reflected and put into an overall context of theory. Recurring tasks make it easier to reflect and reinforce the things they learned. b) Watch and Learn: The participants visit a horse show as well as two horse breeding farms and the horse museum in Münster. By watching dressage and show jumping at the horse show, the participants discover what kind of performance is within a horse's range. The horse breeding farms show horses in several types of housing. Furthermore, the participants will witness live cover of a mare by a stallion as well as artificial insemination. The Westphalian horse museum provides several opportunities: learning about the evolution of the horse, but also - as a special educational feature - seeing the world through the eyes of a horse. Result: The result of the final exam for the "Basispass

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Pferd-kunde" will show the success of the course. This exam is clearly structured by the Deutsche Reiterliche Vereinigung (FN). In order to get the certificate, each participant has to show his or her knowledge and skill in front of an FN-licensed examiner. Conclusion: The course project "When a horse becomes your teacher..." will show that it's possible for cognitively and/or psychologically challenged people to learn interacting safely with horses while also gaining knowledge about species-appropriate handling. To achieve this, we use an adequate amount of theoretical input, hands-on experience, and subsequent reflection - as documented by the standardized final exam for the "Basispass Pferdekunde" at the end of the course.

96 Author: MARGARETHA LUDEWIG ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Jean Fourie Country: South Africa

Therapeutic horse riding in the development of ´core skills´ in a paraplegic preschool child Various forms of therapy such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and remedial therapy are available to assist children with learning and developmental delays. Research question: This study explored therapeutic horse riding in the development of 'core skills' in a physically disabled preschool child, known pseudonymously as 'Amy'. Amy became a paraplegic while still in her mother's womb. When Amy's mother was seven months pregnant, she was shot through her stomach by hijackers. An emergency caesarean was performed and Amy was born two months prematurely. As the baby began moving, it was noticed that her legs remained immobile. After further tests it was discovered that the spinal nerves close to where the bullet had entered, were damaged. Consequently, Amy was left with no mobility in her legs and she was unable to crawl and has never been able to walk. Owing to the limitations in Amy's movement ability, certain developmental areas required for school readiness were delayed. Her perceptual-motor, socio-emotional and language skills were poorly developed and these weaknesses could be enhanced through the movement modality of the horse. A programme of therapeutic horse riding was implemented over a year, with the specific goal of stimulating both physical and psychological core skills. The horse, with its distinctive three-dimensional movement, facilitated this unique form of intervention. The research question thus focused on how therapeutic horse riding enhanced Amy's 'core developmental skills.' Research method: A descriptive case study design was

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followed. Qualitative data in the form of in-depth, semistructured interviews was collected from the horse riding therapist, Amy's mother and her educators. The interviews were transcribed, coded and meaningful units were categorised into themes. Data from Amy's school reports, the occupational therapists report and her drawings was also analysed. Triangulation across the different sources of data ensured that the results were trustworthy. Research results: After receiving horse riding therapy for a year, Amy showed improvement in many areas of her core skills. Amy's balance and posture showed marked improvement, which indicated increased trunk and shoulder girdle control. She could now 'cross the midline,' catch a ball and remain buoyant whilst swimming. Riding on the horse gave her the opportunity to experience threedimensional space, which stimulated the vestibular system, and this improved her spatial perception of her own body in relation to the world around her. Having Amy seated on a horse, as opposed to continually being in her wheelchair, brought about an increase in her body awareness. Her self-drawings showed a change from initially sitting flat on the floor with splayed out legs, to now showing a standing, upright position. Her concentration and listening skills improved in the school classroom as well as during the riding intervention. Amy showed improvement in her social and emotional development. From initially exhibiting angry temper tantrums, she became more even-tempered, confident and able to express her feelings more appropriately. Her sleeping patterns also improved. She was able to hold longer conversations with her friends at school as she spoke enthusiastically about her horse riding. Conclusion: This study concluded that horse riding is an effective therapeutic intervention for paraplegic children. Even though this study explored horse riding therapy with one child, the results show that horse riding therapy would be beneficial for other similar children.

97 Author: ESZTER SZÜLE ([email protected]) Country: Hungary

The role, the practical use and adaptation of the riding therapy in the case of blind children in the age of 4-8 - Presentation of the Kindergarten, Elementary, Special Vocational and Boarding School for Visually Impaired Children - Presentation of the Hungarian Riding for Disabled Federation Centre in Fót, where our remedial work is happening - Structure and organization of the therapeutic work for the blind children

- Number of Participants: 43 children - Possibilities of the therapeutic riding in case of the visually impaired children. Demonstration of the specific methodology of the small blind children 's riding therapy - Work on walking and trotting horse - Work in the riding arena-skills test on led horse - Work in the sensory park - Adapted vaulting for blind children - Competitions for disabled riders (1.Skills test on led horses for visually impaired children 2. Therapeutic vaulting. The complex influence of the riding therapy on blind children's "body, mind and soul". Direct effects: - Development of the orientation, static and dynamic balance, laterality, coordination and motor - Stimulation of tactile system and vestibule system - Development of acoustic perception - Reduction of extreme symptoms in behaviour. Indirect effects: - Fine motor skills developing - Cognitive function - Communication, verbalism - Self confidence, self esteem - Courage - Sense of achievement - Behaviour with animal etc. The video presentation and the poster are self-explanatory.

98 Author: PAOLA ALLORI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Anna Pasquinelli Country: Italy

TR as a tool for the renewal of the rehabilitative project When speaking of Rehabilitation, a distinction must be made between the two methods: Technical Rehabilitation (R1) and Social Rehabilitation (R2) (Papini, 1996). The aim of R1 is to reduce to a minimum level the degree of functional incompetence, which is typical of disability. This is achieved by employing specific rehabilitative approaches. R2 focuses on reducing the problems deriving from the handicap. Therefore, it essentially deals with the problems of symbiosis, viewed as the basic nucleus of thought and of behaviour on the part of the disabled and of the family. The rehabilitative approach that best grasps and supports the healthy characteristics of the subject belong to a particular type of Rehabilitation: Integrated Rehabilitation (Papini, 1996). It exploits the elements of spontaneous healing which are present in the environment and is achieved when rehabilitative measures employed for the disability (R1) are included in activities

also undertaken by normal subjects (R2), thus making it possible to integrate these measures. From this point of view, Therapeutic Riding (TR) proves to be especially effective because it takes place in a non-medical setting, albeit highly professional. This provides for a totally correct form of rehabilitation (R1) and at the same time makes it possible for the disabled to guide the horse, to move in space by means of the animal and to actively engage in a relationship with others (R2). The subject, especially if an adolescent or young-adult, can thus embark upon a process of self discovery, at times achieving unexpected results in terms of adaptation and independence which can even lead to possible work opportunities. All this entails careful and complex work on the part of the TR professionals (TR Team which includes a Specialized Physician) (Pasquinelli, 1996) in order to avoid triggering a variety of hidden dynamics of expulsion (problems of scheduling, fatiguing the subject, excessive economic burden, etc) aimed at interrupting TR so that the family may reaffirm its control over the subject. Another feature that should be taken into account is the degree of anger in the disabled adolescents who often contrast and reject all educational and social proposals in a vain attempt to reaffirm their identity: TR offers an informal approach, reassuring professionals, with a sports connotation. All this may encourage the subject to accept being helped ("to make use of it"). Disabled adults must not be forgotten. They are often crystallized within a dimension where there are no objectives or significant relationships: besides being an effective form of rehabilitation, TR can offer these subjects an opportunity to create authentic relationships and to prove to the family that they are capable to deal with new experiences. A different context, but no less difficult, involves seriouslyaffected subjects where the rehabilitative project clashes dramatically with the seriousness of the pathology. Quite often this condition is followed by "giving up" attitude on the part of everyone involved. In such cases, TR is one of the few effective alternatives: the results, at times quite marked (Pasquinelli et al, 2003), lead to new prospects for the family. Consequently, family members as well as the professionals are willing to reinvest in the child (Allori and Pasquinelli, 2001). The complexity of the situations, the consideration of the evolutive passages (disjointed from actual age of the subject), the possibility of regression and recovery, suggest a period of time not inferior to 1-2 years to renew TR rehabilitation, while another 2-3 years are required for consolidation (Allori et al, 2006). Examples of clinical cases involving a renewal of rehabilitation at different ages and in different conditions will be presented.

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99 Author: MONIKA BIENER ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Right from the street onto the back of a horse - working with dissocial juvenile girls in a group home The therapeutic work with dissocial juvenile girls in a group home who have been living on the street before for some time is explained within this lecture. These girls usually come from neglecting, often even abusing families. In the past they have often suffered sexual abuse and violence, they didn't attend school anymore and took all kinds of drugs. They lived on the street without a home and without a regular structure of daily life for a longer period of time. At the same they are usually traumatized and psychologically hurt. They are deeply distrusting other people and thus it is difficult to integrate them into a group with reliable rules and norms. They often refuse all usual therapeutic offers. But dealing with animals and horses often meets their deep longing for contact and warm closeness to another being that is not frightening for them. The "Eylarduswerk" is a decentred institution for youth welfare that offers about 250 young people and their families' help and support. Dissocial juvenile girls are usually placed in a group home where eight girls live together supported by a team of social workers. Aim of any help - besides the protection from further abuse - has to be the re-integration of the girls into school and society. Therefore, they have to acquire social skills and social behaviour, they have to overcome traumatic experiences of the past, and they have to learn all necessary social competences for an independent life of their own. The "Eylarduswerk" cooperates with a stable for horseback riding near by and offers therapeutic riding every week. Besides groups for younger children, a group for juveniles exists, that can be attended by these girls. A female psychologist with an additional qualification in therapeutic riding is leading the group. The stable offers a number of different horses from which the therapist can choose suitable horses for the group. The social worker of the group home contacts the therapist in order to get a girl into the therapeutic riding lessons. Establishing a trusting relationship between the girls, the horses and the therapist is the first step in working with the girls. Successful communication and social behaviour can be learned through the dialog with the horse. The horse functions as a very attractive social partner and it offers the possibility to learn how to act in a social manner. The motivation to establish a positive relationship with the horse and to foster a good understanding on both sides is usually high. Feelings of success in different exercises help to build new self-esteem. Other important

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points are how to deal with fears, that will naturally occur in the process of learning to ride a horse, and how to deal with criticism and conflicts within the group. The horse reacts without personal judgement but with its natural behaviour. Hence, it functions as a role model and also as a corrective of the girls´ behaviour. The work aims at transferring the new competences to the way the girls treat each other and finally to their daily life. Therefore it is always a small group of two or three girls that take their riding lessons together. The contribution and the effect of the therapeutic riding are explained by two case examples. The process the girls have gone through within in a year is shown by a power point presentation and some video sequences from the riding lessons and from interviews with the girls. The development from the first contact to taking responsibility and finally the successful participation in a local competition is presented and explained.

100 Author: KONSTANZE SCHLEEHAUF ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Horses as a medium in the work with girls with familial abuse experiences If you look at the frequently described psychodynamics in girls with familial abuse experience, then the prospects of orthopaedagogical support with horses become clear. Intensified by the frequently existing attraction of girls to horses, this type of support can often be of importance as a self-chosen path. Exemplary here are the theme groups of care, physical experience and boundaries: a) Through the not (persistently) experienced care in the family, together with violent crossings of boundaries, it can be important to the girls to develop, live and experience the care for themselves, for the horse and - in group work - for the other girls and horses. b) Since the girls have been subjected to a profound disregard for their physical and psychological experience due to the abuse experience, the work with horses offers the opportunity to enable a (renewed) approach to a selfdetermined physical experience, for instance related to sensory perceptions and the experience of movement. c) One aspect of working with horses for the girls could be, due to the experienced violation of boundaries with themselves and within the family, to make the feelings and boundaries of the horse a subject of discussion, but to also perceive and experience their own feelings - such as e.g. fears - and to develop a method of dealing with them. Working with horses as a medium on behalf of the girls moreover requires that the work has developed from the

basics of feministic work with girls: Emphasis hereby is on the premises of holism and participation that relate to the perception of the girls as ones that also act, and that take into consideration the girl's right of co-determination. Reflection on these approaches during the longstanding work with girls with abuse experiences, as well as scientific processing of the subject (in the form of qualitative and self-reflexive examination with narrative interviews), will show that orientation on the girl's resources and the variety in the encounter with the horses are essential: The concept of exclusive estimation of the girls as victims supporting the view of the perpetrators' power is behind this resource orientation. However, a look at the strengths, capabilities and interests of the girls can expand already started paths out of the perceived powerlessness. The variety in the encounters with the horses aims at supporting each girl individually. This variety refers to the approaches with the horses as well as the selection and interpretation of the participating horses that are to be reflected upon. On the described basis, it is important to not exclusively interpret (and "treat") the subject matters of the girls that are frequently attributable to abuse experiences as deficient, but to accompany the respective individual paths of the girls in contact with the horses with their options and (current) boundaries in view of their interest resources. This is demonstrated by practical examples.

101 Author: BIBI DEGN ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Animal Ambassadors horses as "subjects" in educational activities Fortunately, today teachers are looking for alternatives to exercising control in education. Linear hierarchies, suppression of the weaker are not what today's education theories support. The interest is much more in respect, reliable relationships, and the realisation and tolerance of your own and the other's boundaries. This is true for interactions with young people and clients and has to be mirrored in the human-animal interaction. Especially in the therapeutic pedagogy and in animal assisted therapy it is important to exemplify a relationship that shows appreciation, partnership, and support of the horse as a starting point for good work. The assumption of a linear hierarchy that some modern training methods for horses are promoting don't fully achieves that aim. Respectful interaction, mutual positive interests are the desirable qualities aspired for the young generation. Emotional intelligence is what we need for contentment, happiness and success of the upcoming society. Some authors name emotional intelligence opposing to the IQ as the wider measurement for success. Working with hor-

ses by using an appropriate method has the capacity to enhance the social skills of young people. Methodology: Animal Ambassadors is based upon the Tellington TTouch Method (Linda Tellington Jones) and on the philosophy behind this work. The Tellington Method has an outstanding system of breaking horse training down into very small pieces, which makes the work extremely safe, as well for the perceived as for the actual safety. The riding style is influenced by Connected Riding (Peggy Cummings) and Centered Riding (Sally Swift). Both approaches can be described as "riding from the inside out". The central idea is to create a physical composure and a mental attitude that the horse can respond to with the expected exercises. The rider enables the horse to cooperate. These approaches are complemented with elements from different kinds of positive training methods depending on the situation (e.g. Clicker Training, freework and more). Methods are well chosen to support riding following the FN guidelines and at the same time realize horses in their dignity without restriction of any kind. Result: In Animal Ambassadors work children and young people find a new role. Pupils and therapy clients become teachers and therapists for the horse. The approach to the horse mirrors the approach to the youth in humanistic education: existing capacities (of the horses) will be raised by appropriate arrangements and offers, rather than "pulling" a horse towards a goal that is dictated from the outside. The readiness for bonding of horses as domesticated animals, its readiness to cooperate with humans shall be enhanced. The horse doesn't have to "function" for the young, it's neediness and imperfection are helping the young people to grow and learn. Young people and clients will realize how their focus leads to a next step of success. They will learn techniques but as well an attitude of respect, tolerance, flexibility and awareness for the momentary physical and mental state of their counterpart horse The sensitivity for the violation of boundaries increases as well as the ability to defend one's own boundaries. Entangling clarity, empathy, flexibility and focus will be leading to Team success. Conclusion: Animal Ambassadors offers a wonderful link between good horsemanship on the one hand and a worthwhile method of Animal Assisted Therapy on the other hand.

102 Author: GWEN GARRETT ([email protected]) Country: United Kingdom

Horses for courses How can we best recognise and build on the educational content of RDA activities, to celebrate our riders achieve-

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ments and to equip then with transferable life skills, helping to prepare them for independent living, while improving their self esteem and social skills? How can we adapt to the changing profile of RDA riders to best serve the increasing number of riders with learning difficulties and particularly Autistic Spectrum Disorders? RDA created a partnership with ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network), a charity that creates educational programmes for children and young people with special Educational Needs. A Committee was set up to plan the project and disseminate information. Training Days were organised throughout the regions to encourage and support participating groups. The aim of the project was to ensure that the educational benefits of the activities were maximised and recognised by the educational community. The mainstay of the project are the Independent Living Animal Care Horse and Stable Management awards and the Transition Challenge Award programmes, which are nationally recognised and used in many schools. Participants not only learn a skill in riding, vaulting or carriage driving, but also engage in activities that focus on literacy, numerically and other key skills. Participants record their activities in colourful portfolios. Riders can be enters at any level from sensory experience only to minimum help, so that no rider is excluded from the experience. At the end of the project riders are awarded certificates, which are widely recognised and record their personal achievements. We also offer the ASDAN Employability Awards to our riders and the Certificate in Community Volunteering to our helpers. The Employability Award is designed to teach and record skills relevant to entering the world of employment. This is particularly suitable for young people with poor social and literacy skills who experience difficulty in finding a way into employment. Therapeutic Riding Centres outside the RDA umbrella are also using these programmes to good effect and we continue to establish co-operation and exchange of ideas with these groups. Since we began in 2006 251 riders have gained nationally recognised educational awards through RDA. In addition 33 young helpers have been awarded the Certificate in Community Volunteering. This year we already have 280 participants registered with new centres joining all the time. All participating RDA groups have noted huge improvements in the quality of the experience offered to the riders as a result of using the courses. Riders in the programme show a marked improvement in self-confidence and involvement in group activity. The portfolios produced show excellent, imaginative work, which can be appreciated by families, carers and schools. The RDA Education programme has been a great success. The ASDAN programmes have given us a flexible framework for developing the educational content of our activities. It has led to a greater recognition of our role in education and the development of the individual riders´ practical and social skills. All participating centres continue to be enthusiastic, new centres are joining and demand for training is high. We believe this as an important and often overlooked aspect of the work of therapeu-

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tic riding centres and one, which adds greatly to its validity.

103 Author: WERNER FRIEDHELM WECKER ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Authentic human charism and professional expertise Question: In which way is the charism arising, that finds healing of body, mind and soul and also finds true desire to progress within the intrusted one by working with horses? Method: Short analysis of the fear conditioned malposition on the bodily, mental and spiritual layer by the therapist/ pedagogue. Showing ways to inner lustration: As well letting the horse affect unhinderedly as also contributing one's self entirely true and at the same time very decent and professional. Self-healing and self-awareness as foundation for successfully working with others. Result: Authentic and trustful working becomes the foundation of the therapeutic and pedagogic charism. If we really want to assist someone in his very individual misery and accompany him in his personal progress with horses, then we need a continuous and revolving inner strength. This strength is a gift, which comes into the spiritual presence through the intensively gained and then fulfilled moment. Such moments arise as well within the precise pedagogic and therapeutic challenges, as also in the silent moments of preparation and wrap-up and within the inner work on one's self. As certain it is that these strong effectual moments can not be reproduced consciously, so certain it is that also our inner inspired constitution is the foundation for our pedagogic and therapeutic charism. Efficient outwardly stimulating effect has an own, true enthusiastic inner progressing development as a foundation. Therefore it is important to consistently get motivation for one's self. The access path for developing true ped./therap. competence is very different throughout the world, the generations, the individual time and biography. From the vast richness of possibilities, the individual pedagogue and therapist chooses and takes for his own, never ending inner progress and cure, the one that best fits into the individually gained freedom and newly to be found courage that seems to be the most promising method for the moment. The following truly liberating inner vigilance is thereby leading, correcting and rearranging. From a therapeutic work of many years, some western, eastern, northern and southern, historical and present access paths are shown, which can help by concretely implementing them during the therapeutic horseback riding. The sensitive, never cleaving, vacillating unity of

body, mind and soul as a deeply enriching moment of true personhood can be experienced and stimulated especially with horses. Conclusion: The desired "blessing" for the ones entrusted to us needs our inner true quest and practice! The therefore necessary time and leisure "pays off"! A missing continuous inner progress is unsatisfying for everyone and often even dangerous. Werner Friedhelm Wecker *1953 , Hitzacker (GER) Through his longtime work as professional educator and pastor with advanced trainings as "constitutive-psychotherapist", riding-instructor, and -therapist and farming master craftsman he can teach/procure and give essential stimulation to the understanding of the co-operating various energies/forces as a lecturer at multiple educational sites within Europe.

104 Author: MONIKA MEHLEM ([email protected])

their way: they cross bridges, wade through streams, discover places of high energy and "talk" to the surrounding forces of nature. Even the riding arena is being transformed into a spiritual site. We mark the four points of the compass and find out their different qualities. Various figurative forms (such as a figure 8, a circle, a labyrinth) will be experienced, on foot or on horseback. They gain a specific meaning for the individual in its quest. By sensing their individual message the client will find help and signs how to further develop his or her life's theme. The horses provide us with a rhythm and lend their senses to us humans. They point out to whether the chosen path is the "right" one at the moment and will accompany us through our passage of inner an outer life's journey. With this presentation I would like to give a short introduction into the creation of rituals engaging horses. Specific examples will be shown introducing how rituals can enrich the therapeutic process, provide support in dealing with crisis´ as well as searching for solutions.

105 Author: TAINA TUOMINEN ([email protected])

Country: Germany Country: Finland

Healing effects of rituals in equine facilitated psychotherapy Rituals are stylized and fixed modes of actions. They accompany and densify the experience of an action, of an event or of a point in time of individual, social or cultural significance. They own a high symbolic content, often expressed through objects, movements, gestures or sounds. In a psychotherapeutic context, rituals acquire a high and steadily growing importance. They can make conscious life's themes, ease transitions, help to express emotions, provide structure and orientation, revive trust in one's own power. Rituals are of great help in times of a personal quest, times of change, times of growth and development, times of a crisis. Common topics which could be accompanied by rituals for example are: leaving and separation, setting off for a journey, letting go, defining borders, overcoming of limitations, encountering, arrival, transformation. Within the frame of equine facilitated psychotherapy nature rituals do find their meaningful place. The horse is closer to its very nature and essential being than a human being in his or her every day life consciousness. The horse can be the mediator between the visible and invisible world, between man in his or her actual life and his or her potential. Rituals can change the therapeutic setting containing the complete surrounding field, into a special, "healing-holy" sphere. Thus rituals facilitate personal growth by employing supportive powers of nature, which we invite: wind, water, fire, sun, plants, animals, … Together with the horse, client and therapist proceed on

Cognitive-analytic psychotherapy (CAT) and riding therapy (RT) - theoretical analysis and a case example Introduction: I have explored the hypothesis that RT would have some use of CAT with its theoretical and conceptual basis. By theoretical analysis and a case example I have been tying to find out whether it is possible to describe and understand the phenomenon of psychotherapeutic riding therapy (PRT) by means of CAT. This work also summarizes the results of the other three works I have done during my 3-year RT training. The case describes a patient suffering from experiences of discontinuity in consciousness produced by dissociation. The main task at her therapy has been to integrate her self-experience through naming her various self states, observing the changes between the states and finally getting control over the transitions. Method: As a method I have used the analysis of one of my PRT:ies which is still going on. I have reviewed the therapy and described the therapeutic events via CAT concept. Results: Based on the analysis of this case of PRT CAT theory and its basic concepts are of use in understanding the incidents in PRT. CAT offers also concrete tools for the therapist and a shared understanding for the patient and the therapist including common language concerning the patients' problems and the therapeutic events with the horse. The horse offers for the traditional CAT an additio-

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nal means of influencing i.e. the physical channel. Conclusion: It is worth while to continue working on the further development of "the CAT riding therapy" concept. The horse enriches the conventional CAT by offering the physical channel of influencing within the CAT riding therapy. CAT could also be a practicable method for supervision of riding therapists of any kind of background.

106 Author: BARBARA GROTH ([email protected]) Country: Germany

When is the inclusion of horses in psychotherapeutic work indicated? In my work as a psychological psychotherapist I often found that patients were unable to integrate or to apply the knowledge or conclusions resulting from their therapy in everyday life. That may be attributable to the limits of an exclusively verbally-oriented procedure such as a psychodynamic therapy, the patient's defence or ego structure or the relationship between the patient and myself. During the last few years I have kept including horses when working with my patients. Such inclusion widens the scope of the therapeutic relationship and makes for great progress in psychotherapeutic work. However, since a change in the therapeutic setting involves certain risks as well, I am very strict in arriving at an indication. I want neither to avoid or cover up conflicts nor to jeopardize the reliable therapeutic working relationship. Within the framework of my paper I would like to explain how the introduction of horses changes the therapeutic setting of a psychotherapy and when it appears to be indicated and useful. A brief description of some cases may serve to illustrate both the above and the development within the respective psychotherapy. After due consideration of its risks and indications, the inclusion of horses in a psychotherapeutic treatment in most cases constitutes a considerable benefit as regards new knowledge as well as the patient's development. The way in which patients profit by working with a horse depends on their specific symptoms, psychodynamics as well as individual possibilities and ability to accept such type of work and self-knowledge. Working with a horse offers manifold possibilities and chances, such as ego-strengthening by activated resources, clear-cut contact, precise signals and limits, reality examination, overcoming feelings of anxiety and helplessness as well as a gain in the scope of acting. Last but not least by their ability to carry humans and because of their holding-function, horses offer patients real and credible security and a feeling of being held, which some patients frequently cannot accept from other humans.

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107 Author: MICHAELA SCHEIDHACKER ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Innerpsychic development of a chronically schizophrenic patient during a perennial regular participation at the psychotherapeutic riding presentation of a case study Issue: On the basis of a case study the question whether and how the personality structure of a chronically schizophrenic patient during a perennial treatment with psychotherapeutic riding changes. The combination of psychotherapeutic riding with art therapeutic elements are supposed to deepen the psychotherapeutic effects, which result from the relationship to the horse. At the same time a diagnostic of the "Ego"-structure is possible and a change of the personality structure can be visualised. Method: In this study the three-entity-model of S. Freud is used in which he differentiates between the three personality units "Ego", "Id", "Superego" and presents their inner dynamic as constitutive expression for the entire personality. The triad rider ("Ego"), horse ("Id") and riding teacher ("Superego") represents this model. In irregular intervals the patient Jutta L. was told to paint the same theme "rider, horse and riding teacher" immediately after the psychotherapeutic riding. Behind this was the idea that she could display unconsciously her current inner psychic dynamic of her "Ego", "Id" and "Superego". At an illness stemming from the schizophrenic sphere aspects concerning the "Ego"-structure are always an "Ego"-weakness, while the drive parts ("Id"-parts) are on the verge of overflowing the "Ego" as psychotic experience. The "Superego" appears either as destructive in form of "bad voices" or as constructive as possibility to control the overflowing "Id" nevertheless. By means of a series of pictures of Jutta L. it will be shown that the psychotic structure of a schizophrenic patient can be displayed by an oversized horse ("Id") and a very small rider ("Ego"). The riding teacher ("Superego") appears only fragmentary. During the course of the therapy the proportions of rider, horse and riding teacher change towards realistic body sizes and relationships. This can be taken as a sign of stabilisation of the innerpsychic dynamic and a reduction of the psychotic structure ("Ego"-consolidation). Result and conclusion: The 8 pictures of the schizophrenic patient Jutta L. point the profound innerpsychic development of the patient during a time period of three years. Inhowfar the psychotherapeutic riding or other collateral therapeutic treatments are responsible for this cannot be said. In the series of paintings however it becomes clear that the initially extremely pathologic innerpsychic dyna-

mic changes in structure and stabilizes. The consolidated outer life structure of the patient at the end of the time period confirms this development. The casuistics show that with the help of art therapeutic methods innerpsychic states and changes can be illustrated. This is particularly then of importance when because of illness and the subsequent restrictions other methods of evaluation are not or only hindered possible.

108 Author: INÉS FERNÁNDEZ BARNOSELL ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Katrin Kopperschmidt ([email protected]) Country: Spain

Schizophrenia intervention through therapeutic riding Introduction: The Psychosis disease produces a deep transformation of the patient contact with its environment. It happens a lost of contact with the real world. The patient finds difficult to see the difference between its own thoughts (feelings, desires and thoughts) and the outside reality. A consequence is the existence of an own world, which doesn't fit with the social coexistence. The most significant items are: - The lack of conscience of the disease (even when some of them can recognize the amazing of their own thoughts and perceptions). - The lack of self-government. We have been working with a group of 3 Schizophrenic adult patients for three years now. They present different types of Schizophrenia: Catatonic, Hebephrenic and Paranoid. Our main aims are the next: 1. To reduce the feeling of being out of oneself. 2. To control the mental automatism and to encourage flexibility. 3. To provide sensations bodily linked. 4.To encourage the environment connection and to increase its length on time. 5.To encourage their autonomy. Method: When planning the session's structure we had a lot of questions about how to face some of the conditions as the space, the group instead of individual sessions, the therapist conduct. First of all we did an initial evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses. We compared our evaluation with the one done it at the Hospital they are living at, and we defined our aims for the intervention. Then we made a descriptive register of each session. The session is structured in three steps, which are repeated every day to improve their autonomy: 1. Hygiene and preparation

2. Riding, vaulting or floor working 3. Collecting and to give a reward. Depending on the results we are looking for, and on the objectives we want to work at, we can propose them different exercises. Results: The most important progresses we have noticed are the following ones: - They can clean and prepare their horse with little help from the Therapist. - They are able to adapt them selves to the demands of the different activities, showing initiative and being able to take decisions. - They are able to move separately different parts of their body and relate them to the horse body, each time in a most natural way and being conscious of themselves. - They participate actively during the whole session; few times they are lost at their own thoughts. - They must be motivated with the activity and must develop a compromise with it to ensure good results and positive progress. - We have noticed various changes at their day to day live as the as the frequent feeling of relax during the rest of the day and the followings days after riding and the increasing autonomy. Conclusion: Intervention through Therapeutic Riding can help patients with Schizophrenia to face their disease and to develop a more adapted way of doing in social environments. Those advances are better if the patients are motivated to work and to participate in the activities. Based on their level of understanding, patients must know the objectives of their work and must comment their feelings with the Therapists.

109 Author: ANITA SHKEDI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Anat Shalev ([email protected]) Country: Israel

Longitudinal study of the efficacy of therapeutic riding in post traumatic stress disorder In 2007, INTRA launched a longitudinal study to look at the efficacy of therapeutic riding for adults suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). The study will evaluate the following two measures of efficacy: o The effect of therapeutic riding on PTSD and PTSD symptoms o The effect of therapeutic riding on health care services utilization and use of medication. For many years INTRA (The Israel National Therapeutic Riding Association) has been successfully using the properties of the horse as a treatment modality for soldiers and victims of terror attacks with PTSD. A central feature

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of chronic PTSD is a loss of self-confidence and sense of autonomy. It is also characterized by extreme physiological tension, loss of the ability to concentrate, exaggerated responses to mental and physical challenges, and poor control over bodily reactions. These features of PTSD are almost in accessible to traditional psychotherapies and talking cures. PTSD patients often engage in ineffective efforts to reach a peaceful state of mind - such as avoiding thoughts, places, situations, and reducing interpersonal contacts. These efforts often lead to a protracted sense of failure, and defeat, and isolation, further exacerbating their disorder. Therapeutic riding bypasses some of the inherent difficulties of these other interventions by offering a non-verbal method, a guided training in self-control, through the immediate body and mental interaction with horses. Therapeutic riding is effective is because the horse is a species of animal with extreme sensitivity to mood states in humans, providing rapid and genuine reactions. Guided therapeutic horse riding also offers a sequence of successful experiences, thereby ending the vicious cycle of failures and defeat that is inherent to PTSD sufferers. Prior to participating in INTRA's study, baseline data is collected by using standardized psychometric instruments (questionnaires). Outcome data is collected at specified points (every 2 months) throughout the program, and upon its completion. The results of this study will determine whether therapeutic riding provides an effective treatment modality for PTSD, while reducing the use of health care services and medication.

110 Author: STANISLAVA TILESOVA ([email protected])

per- Heilmann writes about three factors of AEE: 1. The experience to be carrying by the horse (in this experience is included the possibility of acceptance of the client and of the keeping of the relation) 2. The experience of possibility of affecting of the horse (the possibility to get over own impotence.) 3. The experience that the performance of control is possible and necessary (the experience of positive control and of the acceptability of the limits). We can introduce the analyser of variables of factors of alternate emotional experience by therapeutic riding with the deeper analysis of the factors of AEE by therapeutic riding with the help of Maslow's hierarchy of needs (which catering becomes to base of the development of individual) and with the confrontation of Erickson's psychosocial theory of development and with the combination of moral development (with the cognitive development included). The factors of AEE diffuse. The experience of competence anticipates the responsibility and conscious action. This way becomes AEE to basic of self realization. The client processes these experiences often unconscious. The described way shows that we can satisfy the dominant needs by fixation to some stage of development and we can slowly help to move the client to adequate stage. It is not important whether we work with the history of the client or with the principle here and now - the needs of the clients should be evident. It is not important haw the problems arise but how they are supported (it means what is happening that the problems can by the client evoked). The most important is the ability of intuition of the therapist and the ability to live with the therapeutic situation. We have to remember about the interpretation here and now.

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Country: Slovakia

Alternate emotional experience by horses The alternate emotional experience (AEE) plays as the factor of healing by children and also by adult's often unusual chance. By such kind of work comes often to buck run in the life of people. On the base of factors of alternate emotional experience by therapeutic riding in the interaction of people and horses what about Kupper - Heilmann writes we can speak about theoretic analyser of work with the client by therapeutic riding. Fundamentals of this analyser are eclectic and it is the outcome of experiences of the therapeutic riding, of the teaching and of the school psychological work. These experiences confirm the validity of the theory of deprivation and the coherence with the development. How important dominant needs are in concrete stage of development shaws the development psychology. This shaws as fundamental by particular factors of AEE. Kup-

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Author: MARGARETA HÅKANSON ([email protected]) Country: Sweden

Enriched environment, restorative surroundings, human-animal interaction or effects from the horse? Objectives: How do we know that the effects from the human-horse interaction cannot be obtained otherwise and more effortless? The reported health benefits from nature and animals in general are often similar to those reported from equine assisted therapy. Methods: From a literature review on effects from domesticated animals and nature on human health, included in an integrative research project, the health promoting effects from different sources and elements commonly included in equine assisted therapy became obvious. How do we know that the effects really are related to the

horse, and not to the situation in general, the cat on the yard or the fact that the person in therapy is allowed a special intervention? How does these aspects influence on design and method in research on equine assisted therapy? This paper discusses the health benefits from nature and from animal assisted therapy. The development of nature based therapies within different contexts, leading to different traditions in practice and research is described.

112 Author: AMAURI SOLON RIBEIRO ([email protected]) Country: Brazil

The impact of family frustration on equine assisted psychotherapy efficacy Introduction: Horses for Body, Mind and Soul: that is the proposition of the XIII International Congress for Therapeutic Riding. It suggests an integrative and holistic approach to therapeutic procedures with the assistance of horses. Following that line, I include the families of handicapped children under treatment with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as a decisive factor of therapeutic failure or success. Parental impact is of immense importance, specially considering frustration and cognitive dissonance triggered when the birth of an imperfect child happens. The purpose of the present communication in to report an study based on the following up of 130 patients and their families in a therapeutic riding centre in Brazil aiming at the enlargement of professional awareness of conscious and unconscious parental conflicts and their impact on therapeutic riding processes and efficacy. Method: Therapeutic riding procedures adopted by Equovida Therapeutic Riding Centre in Brazil under my direction may not be considered under the strict Hippotherapeutic or Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy boundaries once transdisciplinarity is the basis of our work. Neurophysiological functioning and psychodynamic processes, either conscious or unconscious, cannot be taken apart and treated as separate or independent issues. Can we separate Body, Mind and Soul? So physiotherapists, licensed psychotherapists, speech therapists and horse trainers work together, under my personal direction, for our clients' global benefits and that includes parental assistance and orientation which is my personal responsibility. From 2002 to 2008, 200 patients and their parents we assisted in Equovida Therapeutic Riding Centre under my personal supervision. 130 were selected for the present study, considering data available, case relevance and my personal recollections and observations on each of them. Complementary updating interviews were conducted with

parents both individually (father and mother separately) and collectively (father and mother together) when necessary. Results: Exhibits show basic data on the population studied, considering: a. Disability Global Figures according to WHO as compared to Brazilian data b. Age distribution of studied sample; c. Social/economic level distribution; d. Gratuities distribution; e. Pathology distribution; f. Caretaker distribution - children and teenagers; g. Caretaker distribution among adult patients; h. Absence of fathers in different pathologies. Comments and observations are presented to enrich data on the presence/absence of father, mother, other family members and employed caretakers, as well as their respective impact on success and failure of therapeutic riding process. Other conflicts are mentioned and commented. Conclusion: The present study is to be developed into and essay on the impact of frustration and cognitive dissonance in therapeutic riding patients' families in an underdeveloped country, taking Brazil as reference. Some data reveal dramatic numbers of the absence of fathers in the therapeutic processes and the corresponding social, economical and psychological consequences. The phenomenon of mother's roles overloading as sole caretakers as well as exclusive economic responsibility on family survival and maintenance, besides having to deal with the "blame" of having been responsible for giving the father an "imperfect children" is introduced. Comments are also presented on the complex narcissistic issues of male (father) behaviour; on fathers and mothers unconscious wishes for the death of the imperfect children; on the medical attitude towards "health", "illness", "perfection", "imperfection", "cure" and "treatment interruption".

114 Author: KATHARINA WESTERMANN ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Definition of determined training objectives for the horses as a key to a high-quality and efficient therapy A verifiable and specific training for horses used in therapeutic and supportive care for humans in combination with a highly qualified provider has a significant influence on the quality and efficiency of the offered therapy/supportive care. Pooling of information from literature researches, interviews held with specialists and conclusions from a questionnaire form the basis of a pilot study in my disserta-

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tion² on the topic described above. To begin with, it is important to make an interdisciplinary definition of the areas of application and the requirements for the horse resulting therefrom. These requirements will then be adapted to the natural habits of a horse in order to create a training plan that will meet equine characteristics and human requirements. The final stage will be a standardized performance test where the training results will be tested and certified in an objective, reproducible and demand-oriented way. Though there is a widespread demand for special knowledge and special characteristics for the horses used in therapeutic and supportive activities for humans, we often only hear about "well-educated horses" without referring to further details. Often no relation is given between requirements and performance of the horses. For this reason it is essential to define binding training goals for horses used in therapeutic and supportive activities for humans. A further intensive research in this area offers an immense potential to boost the quality and efficiency standard of therapeutic and supportive activities for humans working with horses. These measures will also considerably help to promote public interest and scientific acceptance. ² has not been finished at present time

115 Author: MAJA RYSZKIEWICZ ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Dorota Brzeska ([email protected]) Country: Poland

From hippotherapy to horseriding. The possible ways of development for riders with cerebral palsy Objectives: Due to the complex character of the cerebral palsy, the usual therapy is in most cases very painstaking and long-lasting. After years of repeating similar tasks and exercises that are not stimulating anymore, it is worth looking for new forms of activity and motivating challenges. For some people with cerebral palsy who make use of hippotherapy, such a challenge could be the independent horse riding, for others it could be entering the para-equestrian competition. In our work we present various methods through which we allow patients with cerebral palsy to make a crucial step from therapy to horseriding. Methods: Our work is based on the coherent and practically complementary principles of horseriding, physiotherapy, and psychology. The essence of our method is the sequence of exercises applied in order to teach how to control consciously your own body, witch is absolutely essential for an effective horseriding. This conscious control over neurologically affected muscles is very difficult

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for the people who suffer from cerebral palsy, yet it is possible. We always look for new solutions to help our riders. Therefore, we draw inspiration from the rehabilitation techniques and from the classical education of horseriding, as well as from the RWYM (Ride With Your Mind) School. We also base our method on the specific approaches to the human body originating from the Hatha Joga or from the Results: The satisfying result of the work with a rider suffering from cerebral palsy, is his independence on the horse (at least in walk). If we consider all of the coexisting emotional barriers, like fear or lack of trust in one's capacities, as well as the limitations resulting from disability itself, for many this will already be a great achievement. Through overcoming psychological inhibitions, we open a path to work on the body, on its capacities and on acknowledging how to use it consciously in order to face and fight limitations. The awareness and control of one's both emotions and body allow to learn the horsemanship's ABC. From this early step follows the ability to "read" the horse. This in turn means fuller and easier communication between the rider and the animal. From here, it is just another step to sport. We cannot precisely predict from the beginning the eventual effects of our working with each specific rider/patient. Each of our riders is special. They all have different physical capacities and different motivations to learn. They all differ in the amount of work they're able to put and their expectations are very individual. Nevertheless, in most of the cases we can observe the positive correlation between the development of their riders´ skills, the growing independence, the increasing self-confidence and the openness to social contacts. Conclusions: Teaching a person with cerebral palsy is a great challenge for the horseriding instructor. While working, the teacher needs to concentrate simultaneously on many different problems. He must know the pupil well enough to understand which difficulties derive from disability and which depend on the psychophysical condition. The intensive work of both instructor and pupil pays off in the freedom of movement that the disabled person can achieve on a horse's back. As the possibility of independent, free movement is the dream of many people suffering from cerebral palsy, it is also the teacher's and pupil's biggest reward.

116 Author: PAULIEN RUTGERS ([email protected]) Country: Netherlands

Freestyle in EAT: A powerful tool for the recuperation to normal life Question: Can a method for training, in origin meant for the training of horses, teached to children with behaviou-

ral- and development disorders help them making their lives more secure, more clearly structured and predictable? Method: If you, as an Equine Assisted Therapist, acquire the Freestyle method, you are capable to teach children with behavioural- and development disorders the basic techniques of free work and groundwork of the Freestyle method. Result: By performing Freestyle yourself as a therapist, you will learn skills grounded in a fundamental attitude who will be useful for the supervision of the target-group and who are good to pass to the child, namely: - Respect: to feel empathy - To learn that inaccuracy or errors are moments of learning - The significance and the consequence of body language - To interpret difficult behaviour as a signal - Finding balance between understanding and setting boundaries - Cherishing expectations - To make the environment stimulating and daring. At the same time you will learn skills which have to do with the stimulation of a good relationship and interaction, such as: - To build a bond of confidence - To emanate enthusiasm - To take away pressure as a reward - To be chary of criticism - Making all good things nice/ appropriate (easy) and no good things difficult - The right communication: take the lead by means of adjusting, following and mentioning - Unconditional acceptation. Conclusion: As well as in supervision of the child as in training of the (therapy)horse, you are seeking for possibilities of compensation by focusing on the positive possibilities and talents of the child/horse and you are working at expansion of competence and the consolidation of bearing capacity and resilience. Given that all children from the target group have a shortage in their own structuring and problem solving capabilities, you give rise by offering an adequate tuition with the opportunity of practicing. Freestyle is for that purpose a powerful tool because it offers clues for making life more clarifying by providing structure (logical, step-by-step build-up of the sessions), a distinct environment (one horse in a working space of 15 x 15 meters) and planning of matters (body language: position, posture and movement). The child learns to find the balance between giving the horse structure and giving the horse room, by which the child has the opportunity to draw a parallel to his own life. The exercises the child acquires to do with the horse, encourages the independence, self-confidence and self esteem.

117 Author: MARIT SØRENSEN ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Ann Kern-Godal May Hynne

Country: Norway

Identifying peak performance characteristics and motivation in FEI's top Para-Equestrians The Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and the Norwegian Equestrian Federation are undertaking a study of para equestrian athletes in 2009. The study aims to document the motivation and performance indicators of an elite group of Para Equestrian sports men and women using simple social survey techniques in a 2 stage process, namely: o Stage 1 - use of a electronic questionnaire to all Para Equestrians who competed in the Paralympics 2008 in Hong Kong o Stage 2 - Use of a semi structured interview of 1/3 of all entrants in the FEI European Para Equestrian Championships in Norway in late August 2009. This represents a new area of research into a rapidly growing area of sport and is consistent with the UN Convention on Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. The benefits of physical activity are well documented, and sport is a major contributor to physical and mental health. Youths with a disability seem generally to be less physically active than their able - bodied peers. However, some youths with a disability engage actively in sport, and even develop into top level athletes at international level. Studies have identified some general characteristics that are linked to successful sport performance, and there exists a body of research comparing psychological profiles and a range of characteristics of top level athletes with and without disability. On several variables there are more similarities than differences, but there are also some differences that seem to be systematic (Pensgåard & Roberts, 2001; Prokesova, 2007, Sørensen, 2007). Given that such differences exist, it is important to increase our knowledge about what it takes to become a top level athlete with a disability. Para- equestrians, with their ability to work with and influence a very large and powerful animal, are potentially among the important disability sport role models. The findings of the full study will be presented to the IPC and the FEI in due course. The finding from Stage 1 will be presented to the International Congress for discussion and feed back on this relatively unexplored area of research into riding as a competitive sport for people with disabilities. Method: The project is designed as a cross-sectional investigation. Data will be collected in February/ March 2009 by an electronic questionnaire (Quest-back) to all

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equestrian participants in Paralympics in Hong Kong 2008 . The athletes will be approached through the Norwegian Equestrian Federation (NRYF). They will be sent information about the study, including that participation is voluntary, and asked to return a signed consent form. Quantitative data will be analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package of the Social Sciences). With the International Classification of Functioning (WHO,1999) as a framework, we will measure background variables (age, gender, etc plus the para equestrian classification), environmental factors (social and autonomy support, practical adaptations, motivational climate, etc), and personal factors (needs fulfilment of competence, autonomy, and relatedness, self regulation in sport, achievement goals, and self-efficacy). Results: Selected results from the Stage 1 survey of all riders who competed in the 2008 Paralympic Games will be presented and discussed. Conclusion: Will be presented.

118 Author: JANE GOLDSMITH ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Ann Kern-Godal

with more than 100 indirect beneficiaries who participated in the training/competition/assessment components in their own country. Annual participation in international events increased for all participants; skills levels of all riders improved and 6 riders from 4 countries qualified for and then participated in the Paralympic Games in 2008. All countries reported increased opportunity to attend and participate in international training and competitions with associated beneficial impact on national aspirations, goals and focus. Finding appropriately trained horses for use in international competitions and achieving active involvement of the National Equestrian Federations remain significant challenges. Good international co-operation and support from some established NEFs was a somewhat unexpected benefit. Conclusion: Few if any of the CRF squad riders would have qualified or been able to participate in the 2008 Paralympics but for participation in the CRF/IPC/FEI training projects. Active participation in international Para Equestrian training and competition is needed to enable more riders from more countries to qualify for Paralympic competition.

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Country: United Kingdom Author: MARY LONGDEN ([email protected])

Training and development of para equestrians with disabilities for international competition Introduction: With the support of the Christopher Reeve Foundation (CRF), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in 2006 and the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) in 2008 each conducted a major training course for Para Riders and their trainers from 3 countries. The aim was to increase the numbers of countries and riders participating in top Para Equestrian events (including the 2008 Paralympics) by focussing on intensive training and competion for both para riders and their trainers from appropriate social-economically disadvantaged countries. Method: Countries were selected on the basis of their potential and ability to sustain their active involvement. They were encouraged to nominate a range of riders but with emphasis on those with more significant disabilities. To achieve the project objectives trainers and riders had to participate in international training courses, host a training/competition event in their home country and attended a least one IPC/FEI international competition. In addition, each participant had to agree to 2 skill level assessments by the Course Director, to maintain a log book on activities and progress and respond to a written evaluation survey of their experience. Results: Expectations were exceeded. 22 riders and 16 trainers from 6 countries (1 country participated in both courses) were the direct beneficiaries of the 2 projects,

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Country: Australia

Fun competition for riders of all abilities Introduction: This paper looks at the opportunities that are available for riders with disabilities who are unlikely to compete in the Paralympics or Special Olympics. Riders can compete at their individual level of ability. It gives riders the opportunity to use their acquired skills and to enjoy the thrill of competition. The competitions that are discussed can be run in regular therapeutic centres or as a regular horse show, when horses do not have to travel the cost of running a competition is very small and therefore available to all. Video competition allows a competition to become National or International. Competition gives riders an incentive to improve skills. This in turn adds to the quality of life and enriches "body, mind and soul" of the riders and those involved in running the competition. Method: The main study (which is non-scientific) has been from 2006 to 2008 in Japan, Australia and Canada. Competitions have been developed for riders with either physical, intellectual or multiple disabilities. Many of the riders who have competed have severe disabilities. There are individual and team classes for both leading and riding horses. Prize giving is an important conclusion to a competition.

Results: The video footage from competitions in Australia and Japan show the high degree of "fun" and rider achievemement. Documentation about the classes will be available during the presentation. Conclusion: If the audience can see how easy it is to organise competition for riders of all abilities then more riders will have this opportunity to have fun. Video footage from National and International competition will inspire other countries to include competition for their riders.

121 Author: KRISTIINA RAISANEN ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Merja Alasjarvi Paivi Anttila Annette Lindroos Anne Ojajarvi

Country: Finland

"Did you understand?" Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in riding instruction Objectives: Finnish Riding Federation had a 3-year project called "Did you understand?" Project goal was to inform riding teachers, instructors and therapists how to understand better riders who don't use speak. People with hearing problems or /and speech problems ride and our goal was also support communication and interaction between riders and teachers. Methods: We had a group of professionals and we planned and produced a guide and a DVD of how to use AAC in riding and in riding therapy. We also arranged many courses for riding instructors how to better understand and communicate with riders with special needs. Result: We managed to have over 100 riding instructors in our courses and we are selling the guide and DVD. Conclusions: This kind of information is very useful in order to make a difference in ways how to communicate and interact with riders who have special needs.

122 Author: GABRIELE ORAC ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Andrea Fous Country: Austria

Fun with horses for better harmony of body, mind and soul. New saliva-tests prove positive effects Can laughter, brain-gym and motivation through horses as basic methods vary standard riding-lessons? Gelotology is a rather new scientific field dedicated to the exploration of laughing and its positive effects on people handicapped or not. Laughter is a very efficient tool for - better motivation & more physical input during fitness exercises - better relaxation of the whole body plus more physical comfort - closer coherence within the group (both riders & instructors) - strengthening healthy effects like natural killer-cells activity. Considering the vast number of positive effects, Andrea Fous, physiotherapist and hippotherapist in Vienna, has developed a brand new study to prove positive effects of Hippotherapy on the clients' body, mind and soul via saliva-tests (2008). Levels of certain parameters are first determined under normal living conditions and immediately before and after Hippotherapy. Clients were chosen from children and adolescents suffering from neurological diseases. Our fitness&fun program reaches body, mind and soul by - fun-oriented warming-up exercises based on a physiological background, meaning - stretching, coordination, invigoration, - increasing mobility and power, stamina and concentration - organising mounted games, partly on the long-rein. A psychological side-effect is - motivating riding-pupils to overcome their fear of the huge animal. We always keep an eye on the stimuli required to train and improve the muscles needed for riding, through welltried and proven exercises. Progress in learning may often be slowed down by monotony and constant repetition of routine exercises. Every (riding)-instructor should command a wide selection of varying exercises to stimulate pupils' attention as well as to let them have more fun while improving riding skills. Easy to include are a number of "brain-gym" exercises Edu-kinesthetic exercises to improve the entire brain function by specific movements - to increase the balance of the left and right cortical hemispheres

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- to promote efficient communication among nerve cells and functional centres located throughout the brain and sensory motor systems - to increase flexibility and coordination skills - to improve speech, hearing, vision, reading, writing and to decrease - attention deficit problems - body tenseness (to allow free information flow between brain and body) - auto immune deficiency. The horse serves as a motivation-factor for handicapped riders - to benefit from strength and movement (therapeutic effect) - to enjoy a "partnership" with this impressive animal, no matter whether in their leisure time or during sports - to gain a more "significant" social status in the eyes of other people - to do more fitness exercises than they normally would. Result: In my DVD "Fitness & fun" I demonstrate the practical implementation of my knowledge gained from years of personal experience as the head of the Austrian training system for "riding-instructors for the handicapped": It provides a selection out of a wide range easily feasible and well-proven exercises developed throughout the years, which are suitable for less skilled riders as well as for experienced ones. My film is meant to provide motivation for instructors to try out new exercises and to encourage them to experiment on their own, as many more ideas could be collected and implemented by ridinginstructors. Conclusion: All of us would be well advised to include more laughter and positive stress in our daily lives and to achieve a higher level of fitness by having fun during horseback-riding and thus improving the overall harmony of body, mind and soul.

123 Author: Wang Wan Hua ([email protected]) Co-Author: Chin-Chih Liu, Yu-Chuan Lin Country: China

Sociologistic Interpretation To The Difference Of Effective During Hippotherapy (Pre-Test Questionnaire) Foreword Society is consisted by many groups. Sociology is investigated the origin development structure and function of various groups. Finally, it is consolidated in order to research the overall society phenomenon. Its purpose is to

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investigate human behavior & characteristics of human groups and the combination results of the previous mentioned two factors. For recent 60 years, human use horse working rhyme to bring assistance to nervous system, musculoskeletal, learning disability and mental illness rehabilitation. Research Purpose Taiwan adopted Hippotherapy for 12 years already. In 26 counties, 17 of them had experience on Hippotherapy. 4 of them had implemented Hippotherapy. There were 140-150 (not headcount) children had adopted Hippotherapy over 6 months which were included 31 children who had Hippotherapy over two years. Diseases of these children were classified as CP 76%, infantile autism 9%, hyperactive child 6%, learning disability 5% and Down's syndrome 1%. In Hippotherapy, therapist and horse training have a set of education and basic training . This is the key factor of Hippotherapy and it is also quality control portion. We hope the therapy records and questionnaire for the past 12 years that can assist us to analysis difference of effective during Hippotherapy by sociology observation, family understanding, social level, education , religion, marriage, metropolitan/suburb and special skill of child. Pre-test questionnaire had distributed 56 copies. 47 of them had re-called. Effective questionnaire were 41 copies. The said 41 copies were included children with various diseases. In order to maintain consistency of the questionnaire measurement, we were adopted 28 questionnaires of CP children (anonymous) as measurement group for this Hippotherapy. Research Method Questionnaire was designed by Hippotherapist, Hippotherapy tutor, psychologist and sociology professor. Its reference included, 1. National Health Questionnaire (Wu, Jien-Lien, 2001) 2. Family Violent by Law and Social (Chang, Fong-Chin, 2006) Indicators were set by questionnaire design team after 6 months discussion. There are included 1. Children basic information 2. GMFM 3. Satisfaction from Horse Field and Staffs 4. Social level 5. Marriage status 6. Education 7. Religion 8. Metropolitan and suburb 9. Others learning There were 15 items and 30 sub-items in the questionnaire. It took about 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire. Results 1. It was obviously that the children from higher social level family had more effective therapy results especially when he/she was only child in their family. 2. Children from single-parent family or father not work locally had poor training results.

3. There was no direct relationship to training results as compared to their parents' education level. The one affected to their results was their parents' job. 4. There was no difference to therapy results according to different religion. 5. Hippotherapy results were not affected by metropolitan or suburb areas. 6. Children under therapy had another activity, eg music, dancing, or arithmetic, whose therapy results were much better. 7. In economic recession, the affordable therapy expense is NTD250 each time. Conclusion Hippotherapy is a small social structure. They can share happiness of therapy improvement. It is consisted by mutual affect and interact of psychology (Zanden, 1990). Family is the primary school and it has the responsibility to pass knowledge, moral concept and social responsibility (Kammeyer, 1994). Family pays a key role in early therapy for CP children. This pretesting questionnaire still has room to amend. Observation from sociology can supply us the deficiency on Hippotherapy and it will bring more benefits to children.

124 Author: LILIANA AGUIRRE BORREGO ([email protected]) Country: Argentina

The sum of virtues of the two species of origin of the mules is beneficial for the Equine Therapy. Long life and daily coaching gives an average of 8 more years to the horse and the simple characteristics of its feeding (food and water) allows living in areas of few and different pastures. Physical resistance and rusticity allows it to adapt to the ground, weather and habitat in general. As other equines el andar al paso is in four times y su ante pista, sobre pista o trans pista in some cases is natural and in others is modified with coaching. The Mother of origin's agility allows training exercises and jumping in some cases more than others, depending on the election of the interdisciplinary team according to what must be done with the mule. Lives in herds respecting the elders without discriminating, up to the point that it allows inhabitancy between mules of older horses, that their own herd discriminated. Contact with riders in equine therapy is overcoming and its badly known stubbornness tells us of possible risks. We, as a team were informed; trained and updated, teaching us to share between civil members and military the sensibility, work capacity and social responsibility. The Argentine Army trusted our interdisciplinary team of Fundación Equinoterapia San Juan with three mules to integrate them to the team of equines that work in the areas of Health, Education and Sport. For my Country and others that may have mules, for those interdisciplinary teams that do not count with the physical place to work in equine therapy, or have the necessary animals, they must get to know and look for the possibility, in their local Regiment or Police of their Province.

Integrating mules to equine therapy

125 In October of 2005, Rosita, the mule distinguished with Honours by the Argentine Army died alter 33 years of service to its country, in the Regiment of the Mountain Infantry 22, San Juan, Argentina. As President of the Fundación Equinoterapia San Juan and convinced of the nobility and virtues of the mules and in all honours to Rosita, with the trust and collaboration of the Argentine Army, Project Rosita for the Vindication of Mules through the Research and Investigation of the Interdisciplary Civic- Military Team of Professionals in the areas of Veterinary and Horse Riding. Work was divided in three stages: 1) Formation and Interdisciplinary Training, Civic-Military, of the teams of professionals in the area of Veterinary and Horse Riding to integrate the mule to Equine Therapy. 2) Investigation of the genetics of the two species of origin and study of the biomechanics of the mules. 3) Selection, training and coaching of the mules to work for the Basic Programmes of Equine Therapy. Project Rosita vindicates the forgotten animal between heavy loads, strength and lack of credibility through lack of knowledge, adding him to collaborate with the activities of Equine Therapy.

Author: FORNARA VALENTINA ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Fontana Pietro ([email protected]) Country: Switzerland

Bardigiano´s horses for HTK and HPR About Bardigiano´s Horses: - Origins - Morphology - Character. Why are Bardigiano´s Horses good Horses for HTK and HPR? Our experience with this Horses: videos with clients, analysis of the movement of horse by step ("Schrittgang" in german). Discussion and conclusions

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Author: SUE ADAMS WHEELER ([email protected])

Author: JENNIFER DIXON-CLEGG ([email protected])

Country: United Kingdom

Country: United Kingdom

Recognising stress in horses used for therapy

Take up contact and move forward

A presentation documenting the areas that may cause a horse that is used in therapy to exhibit signs of stress. Recognising stress by observation, using a heart rate monitor and monitoring the breath rate. A stressed horse has a raised heart rate, increased breathing rate and may do many droppings. It may exhibit undesirable behaviour whilst being mounted, eg. Biting, kicking at the off side handler, trying to walk away, or being unwilling to walk on. Ways to minimise the stress. Choice of horse is important. Handling of horse and recognising stress.

127 Author: MARGARETA HÅKANSON ([email protected]) Country: Sweden

A theoretical model for understanding EAT as physiotherapy Objectives: In order to understand the patients benefits from EAT two studies were carried out, one addressing patients with eating disorders, the other addressing patients with back pain. Methods: Research method was action research and interactive research. In the first study, interviews and focus-groups were carried out with the patients suffering from eating disorders, staff, other therapists, PT, riding instructor and scientists in PT (n=35). In the second study, different data were collected during the study, field notes, assessments, comments, videofilms etc (n=24). Results/conclusion: The result is presented as a model of how EAT contributes to initiate a process towards enhanced health and empowerment for the patients, how EAT influence on the role of the therapist and how EAT can be described in terms of defined physiotherapy specialist areas.

The object of the development of National Federations is to increase awareness amongst providers to better inform the general public of the extent and impact of work with horses in education and therapy. Full Members of FRDI should be responsible for disseminating information in their own country to associate members and other interested people. Full members should also work with associate members to encourage and extend the interest and involvement of others. The paper will explain the method of achieving this. UK Full Members of FRDI are working together to organise twice yearly Forum's for Associate Members and other practioners and those interested, forming a non-regulatory National Federation. The paper will demonstrate the benefit of increased joint working and information sharing and explain how this activity was developed and the working together that enables the positive effect to grow. The joint working has resulted in a greater awareness of what exists in the UK, using horses in many ways, including in education, therapy and for personal growth. The paper will explain how networking has brought people together and how expertise has been shared. A national directory of provision is emerging and new joint initiatives and guidelines are under discussion. The paper will describe a national aim to develop recognition of Equine Assisted work in the UK, with providers of every kind networking in order to convey the significance, extent and role of the work. Practioners with different experiences are working together to develop guidelines on the needs of horses in this work. The paper will highlight the benefits and outcomes of working together in a national approach.

129 Author: Jutta Lehmeyer ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Carriage-Driving for disabled: hobby, sports and therapy With my talk I want to inform competitors, because this kind of sport is prevailing unknown, as well in Germany as international. But just carriage driving is an excellent way for people with aggravating or slighter handicaps to go in for sports,

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especially when they had a hard accident riding a horse. Here I want to present the development of driving and introduce driving for disabled . I want to show, with which kind of handicap one is able to drive and speak about our experiences. We notice every day, how therapeutic valuable it is and in which way one can use it. Naturally I want to tell about the sporty success our drivers had during six World Championships we meanwhile had. I would like to show some pictures. We have a good an hearty contact to all disabled drivers, particularly in America, Great Britain, Sweden and Netherlands, so I hope this talk would help them to.

130 Author: CAROLYN MILLER ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Shelley De Rooy Courtney La Rock Myriam Saboui

Country: Canada

Interdisciplinary experience in community health at a therapeutic riding site - "Horses for Body, Mind, Soul" Objectives: In response to the need for interdisciplinary health care expertise, the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada, in conjunction with nonprofit community organizations, offered a new course to students registered in any of the programs in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Medicine, Social Sciences and Education. This course includes both academic classroom work and experiential learning at health care delivery sites. A group of major insurance companies provided funding. The purposes of this study of an interdisciplinary (body, mind and soul) therapeutic riding program are to explore the benefits and challenges of incorporating professional expertise from a range of disciplines into a therapeutic riding program at a rural site; to explore procedures for accessing and incorporating trans-professional expertise into a community program, and to observe the efficacy of combined academic and experiential learning opportunities for the development of personnel with exceptional ability to facilitate interdisciplinary health-related services. Methods: The new course involves 15 classroom hours and a 60-hour practical community intervention at selected sites. The University selected Willowbank Equestrian Centre, a bilingual therapeutic riding school in rural Ontario East, as one site for the practical intervention. The University assigns three students with different backgrounds to work at each of 10 sites. The plan for the practical

experience includes: - Examine the issue of access to health promotion services designed for people with impaired ability; - Design and deliver an 8-session therapeutic riding intervention, in partnership with a public school, a CanTRAinsured facility and community mentors; - Evaluate and report on the outcome; - Develop a plan for sustaining the positive effects of the intervention; - Describe the benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary practice; - Describe the responsibilities involved in community service learning. This intervention integrates body/mind/soul elements from equine dressage, therapeutic riding practices, Chinese medicine, Yoga, equine acupressure, experiential techniques of self-awareness and creative adaptation to change ('Gestalt Therapy', Perls, Hefferline and Goodman) and principles of horse-human relationship ('Dancing with Horses', K.F. Hempfling). Observations and conclusions: Results from the therapeutic riding component of the Ottawa University Course "Interdisciplinary Experience in Community Health" will be available in time for the XIII. International Congress of Therapeutic Riding, Federation of Riding for the Disabled International, Munich. Germany, 12-15 August 2009.

131 Author: MARIA LIGA ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Chrisa Karra, Stavrula Kiriakopoulou ([email protected]) Country: Greece

Applying structured teaching for the vocational training on therapeutic riding of a young man with autism: A case study The structured teaching approach: - Persons with autism need regularity and predictability in their environment. - Rituals and routines of these individuals constitute a mechanism for establishing regularity, can be a useful way to reactivate memory sequences and offer clues to their own learning process. - These persons need be supported with visual cues so that they can remember the exact sequence of events or actions. The method: - In this pilot study, participative observation using technology (digital camera and video) have been used. - Many variables have been observed: imitation, perception, fine and gross motor movements, sensory respon-

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ses and language skills. The participant: - Christos is a young man with autism, aged 21 years old, having some experience with animals. - He also takes part in a structured teaching program. - Teachers involved: the physiotherapist, the Physical Education instructor and the psychologist. Procedure: - Weekly sessions (9 so far), at the same hour and day. - Informed consent was obtained from the parents. - There is also the attempt to establish a bond of trust between the horse and the humans involved in this process. - Use of structured tasks in the care of the horse. - Use of visual organization, visual clarity and visual instructions in the development of tasks. - Tasks/ jobs to be performed by the participant in the work place: a) Feeding the horses, b) watering the horses, c) grooming the horses and d) cleaning the boxes of the stable. Results/ expectations: Up to this moment Christos managed to feed and water the horse by himself this is the first part. We go on with grooming the horse and cleaning the boxes of the stable according always to the TEACCH method. We are looking forward to giving him vocational education and the opportunity to work in such a place!!! Note: This pilot study was carried out in the context of a project funded by the E.U. and the Greek Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs. The project was on "Design and development of pilot programs for the social integration and the vocational rehabilitation of students with autism." (2006-2008).

132 Author: Stefanie Leonhardt ([email protected]) Co-Author: Dr. Susanne Föllinger Country: Germany

Hippotherapie am Reitverein Ender Tal e.V. mit neurologischen Patienten des Gemeinschaftskrankenhauses Herdecke The presentation of the procedure of the hippo therapy are delivered as a PPT or respectively as a video recording - Short historic presentation of the therapy in co operation with the RV Ender Tal with the community hospital Herdecke (PPT) - Demonstration of the hippo therapy on the bases of

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case studies with patients - of the paraplegia station (narrated by Mrs. Dr. Föllinger /executive doctor of the paraplegia station - of the station for psychosomatic medicine - of the station for children and youth psychiatry and ambulant patients with conditions after craniocerebral injury Video recording: - case study 1: hippo therapy with a patient of the paraplegia station for the community hospital - case study 2: hippo therapy with a patient with psychosomatic paraplegia with interview/ field report - case study 3: therapeutic riding with children of the station for children and youth psychiatry - case study 4: hippo therapy with two patients with conditions after craniocerebral injury and similar condition with interview - case study 5: field report with new alternatives in the hippo therapy

133 Author: SILKE BOSWELL ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Anne Kaiser ([email protected]) Klaus Gusowski ([email protected]) Peter Flachenecker ([email protected])

Country: Germany

Hippotherapy in multiple sclerosis results of a prospective, controlled, randomised and single-blinded trial Hippotherapy is thought to improve spasticity, walking, balance and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), but evidence in the literature is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to prospectively evaluate the effects of hippotherapy in patients with MS in a controlled, randomised and single-blinded trial. Patients and methods: All patients admitted to inpatient neurological rehabilitation between October 2007 and June 2008 to the Neurological Rehabilitation Centre Quellenhof with a definite diagnosis of MS and impaired walking capacity (EDSS 4.0 - 7.0) were considered for recruitment. Exclusion criteria were (1) therapy with corticosteroids within the last 3 months, (2) new or modified immunotherapy within the last 3 months, or (3) severe concomitant conditions such as acute spinal diseases, seizures or osteoporosis. After written informed consent, patients were randomised to the hippotherapy group (HG, consisting of 20 minutes hippotherapy once weekly for 3 weeks I n addition to the individual, goal-oriented rehabilitation program) or to the

control group (CG, additional 20 minutes physiotherapy once weekly for 3 weeks). Standardised gait parameters (6 minute walking test, 10 m walking test, and Timed-getup-and-go-test) were assessed before and three times per week during the three-week period by a blinded investigator. At begin and at the end of the three-week period Tinetti-Test, ARAT and gait analysis were performed. Spasticitiy (MSSS-88) and fatigue (WEIMuS) were evaluated by standardized questionnaires. Results: Data were available from 29 MS patients (15 HG, 5 men, 10 women, age 45.2 ± 8.5, median 44 years; 14 CG, 3 men, 11 women, age 48.6 ± 9.6, median 45 years). Rivermead- and Tinetti-test, ARAT and MSSS-88 were significantly ameliorated in both groups after 3 weeks. However, gait analysis after 3 weeks was only improved in the hippotherapy group compared to baseline, but not in the control group. Similarly, pooled analysis revealed that quantitative gait parameters were significantly different on the day after therapy only in favour of hippotherapy. Conclusion: Hippotherapy had a positive impact on gait, walking capacity and endurance that exceeded those of conventional physiotherapy. Thus, hippotherapy constitutes an important amendment of the therapeutic armentarium and deserves more attention in the symptomatic treatment of MS patients.

134 Author: SABINE LAMPRECHT ([email protected])

time base of the gait rhythm and important indicators for evident gait typical rump training will also be described. One of the most frequent types of illnesses treated with therapeutic horse back riding is multiple sclerosis. The special problems of multiple sclerosis and its therapeutic main symptoms will also be gone into in detail. Paresis, ataxia and spasticity will be described in their complex interaction and the effects on the daily functions of the patients will be shown. The movement analysis of therapeutic horse back riding will now be placed in the context of the main symptoms of multiple sclerosis and therefore the specific effect on the corresponding area of the body will be described. To summarize, new insights will be presented and shown for a successful evidence based neuro-rehabilitation which therapeutic horse back riding fulfils in an exemplary manner.

135 Author: DANIEL BENS ([email protected]) Country: Belgium

Hippotherapy increases axial control of the trunk in the treatment of cerebral palsied individuals. The results are closely linked to the frequency of the sessions

Country: Germany

Analysis of the transmission of motion of horses and its effect on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis taking into account evidence based therapeutic approaches The 3 dimensional movement of the horse's back is the main component of therapeutic horse back riding. The analysis of the movement relates to the 3 movement levels of the patients, namely the sagittal plane, the frontal plane and the transverse plane. The effect of the 3 dimensional movements on the individual sections of the patient's body will be explained in detail. The corresponding sections of the body are pelvis with hip joints and lower lumbar spine and the ribcage. The equivalent to analysing the physiological human gait will also be presented in brief. A further important parameter is the gait rhythm of the horse, which should exactly correspond to the human physiological gait rhythm. This will be carried out using gait analysis and treadmill studies. The role of central pattern generators as a physiological

The aim of the study was to confirm the efficiency of postural stretching of the trunk so as to improve control of the pelvis when riding a horse at a free walk without a saddle. The three-dimensional movements of the back of the horse give sensory information to the trunk muscles, required to react to the changes in posture during riding and to postural correction. It goes without saying that a combination of both is required to maintain trunk balance. Tone measurements are made with biofeedback equipment and trunk posture is simultaneously registered on tape. A comparison is made with the activity of the lumbar erector muscle during everyday activities. The different recordings take place in identical conditions. Contrary to e.g. assessment with the GMFM test, measurements are made immediately and on the spot. There is no trial period as this has already been illustrated sufficiently. The starting point is to demonstrate the results of the practice session at the very moment and in different movement functions and situations. As most hippotherapy sessions only take place once a week, we also demonstrate that an increase of the treatment frequency is of utmost importance to achieve specific results.

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136 Author: Gwénola Herbette, Ph.D. ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Patrick Guilmot Country: Belgium

Horses and Mindfulness: How meditation and relationship with horses can teach us about healing and serenity Introduction: Mindfulness takes its roots in the meditation practices in Buddhism tradition. It has been defined as a specific state of mind, resulting of "paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" (Kabat-Zinn, 1994). Mindfulness practice, introduced 25 years ago by Kabat-Zinn in the behavioral medicine, is nowadays widely spread among hundreds of mental health programs. It is also the subject of a great amount of scientific research. Mindfulness practice involves to intentionally maintain attention on specific present stimuli (physical sensations, cognitions, or emotions). At the same time, people experience their mind that tends to wander. Every time they realize it, they just need to notice what took them away and then, bring their attention back to the stimuli. Such an attitude helps to create a distance with thoughts and emotions, and to consider them just for what they are: thoughts and emotions, and not reality. In our practice as equine assisted therapists, we invite people in the situations with horses to focus on the experience that unfolds moment after moment, independently of the obtained results. We are confident that such an opened and non-striving perspective gives rise to a more fruitful and respectful experience. We classify these situations with horses into four categories: the horse as a model, as a stimulus, as an interlocutor, and as a mirror. In such experiences, the relation with horses may sustain various benefits similar to those of mindfulness practice: serenity and calmness, being present, nonjudgmental, greater awareness of internal experience, and better coping with negative emotions. According to the similarity between the processes involved in the mindfulness training on the one hand, and in the relation with horses the way we practice it on the other hand, it became obvious to us to combine these two approaches into one program. Our program is particularly relevant as it offers people more interested by the relation with horses at first, access to new skills to increase their well-being. We hypothesized that participants would report: - an increased well-being after the program;

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- increased effects compared to the mindfulness traditional program; - decreased drop-out and absence to classes. Method: After an information session, twelve participants joined the program. We extended the initial Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy protocol (MBCT; Teasdale, Segal & Williams, 1995) from 8 to 10 sessions. As in the MBCT initial program, in each class, a time was devoted to a 45minute meditation, to sharing experiences with the group, and to the introduction of a specific theme with new exercises. We added a time period with horses. The class ended with the assignment of exercises to practice at home until next class. Participation in a mindfulness program requires participants a strong commitment to practice for 45 minutes the formal techniques on a daily basis for a period of at least ten weeks. We built the "horse program" to be progressive and linked to the meditation classes. The horse program was also the opportunity to focus on the "seven attitudinal factors" that Kabat-Zinn (1990) identified as being the major pillars of mindfulness practice: non-judging, patience, beginner's mind, trust, non-striving, acceptance, letting go. Results and Conclusion: Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire before and after the 10 sessions. It aimed at assessing effects of our program, and to compare our data with results obtained from a traditional MBCT protocol. According to previous studies (cf. Baer, 2003 for a metaanalysis), we predict that participants would report greater mindfulness skills (i.e., observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judgment, and non-reaction). We also predict lowered depression and anxiety scores, increased self-esteem, and a lowered general psychopathologic symptomatology. In addition, we hypothesize that the experience with horses would increase these benefits. After presenting our results, we will discuss the relevance of adding a specific program with horses to the traditional MBCT program, as well as applying a mindfulness training program to people working with horses.

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Author: PETER HOLZMÜLLER ([email protected])

Author: PETER EDVI ([email protected])

Co-Authors: Gabriella Bozori ([email protected]) Peter Edvi

Co-Authors: Peter Holzmüller ([email protected]) Country: Hungary

Country: Germany

Within five years, from a collective learning system to a state-accredited modular education program Issue: How to achieve a high degree of acceptance along with a high level of specialization among the occupational groups engaging in therapeutic riding, in line with the strict framework conditions of a state-accredited education. Background/method/measure: From the training courses held in Hungary since 1997, an occupation-specific education has developed, initially within the field of hippotherapy. The corresponding training has been based on a curriculum with clear distinction to other occupational groups engaging in therapeutic riding. In cooperation with the professional associations, the education has been adjusted gradually to meet the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Culture with respect to quality standards, evaluation criteria, training hours and the qualification of instructors. In order not to cause a too wide gap between the various education programs (remedial riding and vaulting, hippotherapy, horse-assisted psychotherapy, parasport) regarding quality and contents, the positive aspect of interdisciplinary education from the early days has been re-integrated through the modular education system. Result: The modular education program allows us to now engage the most qualified instructors not only on a costefficient basis but also more effectively due to the wider sphere, especially with respect to the common basic modules. All occupational groups receive a standardized basic training through the state-certified instructors. The subsequent specific modules are built on the contents of the basic training program. An additional favourable aspect is that subject to the topic to be taught the acquired basic skills can be contributed and used on an interdisciplinary basis within the framework of refresher courses. Conclusion: In our view and in particular from the viewpoint of quality management, the modular education program offers nothing but advantages and, over the course of time, enables all fields of education to be easily adjusted to state-required standards.

How to manage a national association, having regard also to international aspects Issue: How to build a national association that is fit to function on an international basis as well. Method / result / conclusion: Set up of occupational and national political networks featuring international occupational competence. In retrospect, it is quite a balancing act, which is hard to maintain, to bring together the various groups of interest under economical aspects and to prompt them into making a commitment. However, considering the current situation with a view to future aspects, it is a sensible step in any case.

139 Author: REGINA SCHNORBACH ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Why horses are special suitability as co-therapists for humans with borderline-syndrome Resounding successes in many partly longstanding therapies have shown, that horses, as co-therapists for humans with borderline-syndrome are especially suitable for initializing the healing, and development of psychical illness. With their help highly deficit and trauma experiences of the age of infancy can be worked up. As a result you can observe a psychic after-ripening, a reduction of stress and a mental stabilization. Furthermore you can experience new possibilities of arrangement in relationships by the handling of the horses. This lecture should be a report about my own experiences as a technical report nether less comprehensible to everyone, with a help of a case. It shall also stimulate the discussion. For twenty years I have been working as a riding therapist with chronic psychically ill or disabled people in the Cologne -Ring association for attendant living people in Cologne. During that time I have learned a lot about the curative effect of the behaviour from horses on psychically ill persons. Also humans with Borderline-Syndrome can profit from the contact with the horses. Those persons are very instable and hardly to be for seen in their behaviour.

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Another problem is the dense conditions of stress, which can be based on trauma experiences during Childhood, and which impact their whole life in a very negative way. To reduce the status of stress self-injuries, consumptions of drugs or criminal activities are likely to be all serving to degrade the extraordinary emotional burden. Furthermore concerning human relationships humans with borderlinesyndrome are supposed to have difficulties. Often they break the contact. The constant nearness of others hardly can be endured by them. On the other hand those people seldom not yearn for secureness and nearness as I always observe in connection with their handling of horses. With other human beings they use to suffer the stranding of contact they retreat from without realizing own dues. The approach to an animal is therefore easier for them than to a human therapist. A contact free from negative experiences from the past offers more scope for development for humans with borderline-syndrome, as they just know from human relationships. Horses facilitate coping with active disorders out of the early childhood, which are likely to be the one of the reasons for the Borderline syndrome. Because the special effect of horses is their attitude to lead humans back to their emotional experiences of childhood. This fact differs from other animal co-therapists. Horses carry humans on their backs and the non-verbal communication with them based on empathy. Considering the results of development psychology, it is easy to find similarities to the early childhood of human beings, in which everybody depends on empathy and resonance of the caregiver. Unsatisfied necessities out of this period can not only be transferred to the horse, but also partly caught up. That circumstance leads to a constant stabilization. The core theme of therapeutic pedagogy by horse contracts on the performance of an emotional after-ripening that could only fragmentarily happen in the first years of live. The basis of such a process is created by the horse itself, accepting the elementary psychically necessities of affiliation, comprehension and acceptance. Experiences to be accept and agreed are very important especially for humans with borderline-syndrome who often suffer from refusals, personal offences and disappointments in human relationships.

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140 Author: VERA HORNE DA CRUZ ([email protected]) Country: Brazil

The experience of the psychologist of the professional team of equotherapy on a program designed for Brazilian adolescents living in situation of social risk This program of Equotherapy was designed at ANDEBRASIL as a therapeutic mean to bring the Equotherapy method to adolescents at risk of social hazardous. It includes a series of techniques and programs for persons needing special care for either physical or emotional deficiencies or disturbances counting on the assistance of the horses, specially to benefit the people from the physical and affective characteristics of horses as living beings, performed and supervised by a trained team of professionals. The group of young participants presented themselves with a full background on behavioural and social conflicted situations such as escaping from school and from their parents and tutors orientation in early ages. On choosing to adrift in drug use or traffic and in making inadequate choices towards friends and taking part on anti-social activities, most of them had to accomplish one or another legal punishing measure, eventually incarceration, during the actual program or at some point in the past. The principal goal intended is to provide the time and motives to stimulate each one to proceed into the analysis of the responsibilities for their actual way of living, enabling them to make healthy and socially accepted choices in the future and make the necessary changes on their ancient criteria. It also looked into respond to their needs for new and motivating experiences, although facing an evidenced lack of opportunities inherent to the social environment in which they live in. Both the team performance and the number and types of activities proposed were designed concerning the developmental stage of the participants, the adolescence, and the usual personal difficulties along the period. Also, it followed a logical reason intending to lead the participants to take interest and efforts into accomplishing the circumstances that may provide a safe life style for them, becoming a stimulating challenge. The program for the specific young group described here and which is the subject of the further work to be presented was taken over by a team of professionals, being: a Social Assistant, an Occupation Therapist, one Psychologist, a Public Relations technician and one Riding Instructor who showed a large experience in the teaching of Equitation techniques and being a skilled rider himself. The professionals are graduated on university level courses, having gone through the basic course of Equotherapy at ANDE-BRASIL, which provided the

knowledge about important aspects of the adolescence, the families and drug abuse issues. The team's Psychologist had earlier experience on the practice of Equotherapy and initial riding skills. The group of participants of 3 girls and 11 young men resided mostly in small towns around the main city and belonged to a poor or very poor home and dissolved families. They were divided into two smaller groups, each one attending the program twice a week. The Riding Instructor was responsible for the riding and equine knowledge activities in which the Psychologist played an active role. This interaction allowed this professional to get acquainted with the individuals, their emotional reactions and their expressed behaviour facing a wide number of situations with their horses and in face of others. The observation data from those occasions and from the daily interaction of groups and team served as base for the Psychological group therapy approach held once a week. The results compiled through interviews and questionnaires applied individually notice a significant decrease on the number and types of drugs, as well as in the frequency of their use, an increasing search for the conditions to return to school and a search for regular jobs under realistic conditions of gain. The program of Equotherapy executed under the actual exhibited conditions has shown itself to be a very important Psychological mean to treat a number of social and individual affective behaviour disorders or disturbances.

with psychomotor method called Procus-Block. The program is destined to work with groups, but its element can be use during individual classes with a horse. Applying the program provides children with an adequate number of repetitions, necessary for strengthening newly acquired skills. It enables conscious participation in classes through the mechanism of anticipation. Work is based on materials composed of lyrics, simple songs thematically related to horses and their surrounding, and simple motor exercises, which patients perform during classes. Results: It has been observed that "Little Dots" program, applied during classes of psychopedagogic horse riding, has significantly improved awareness of one's own body and has been extremely helpful in therapy of patients with various dysfunctions of psychomotor development. Conclusion: Thanks to the combinations of speech, melody, and rhythm with gesture, demonstration and opportunity of mimicking , the "Little Dots" program appeared to be very attractive for children and extremely helpful for therapists during therapeutic work aimed at comprehensive support of children's development.

142 Author: ANNA STRUMINSKA ([email protected]) Country: Poland

141 Author: BARBARA GASIOROWSKA ([email protected]) Country: Poland

Little Dots - program supporting psychomotor development of disabled children, who attend psychopedagogic horse riding Introduction: In most little patients who attend psychopedagogic horse riding classes, even those with partial developmental disorders, we observe dysfunctions which result from delayed development of somatognozja. Somatognozja is the awareness of one's own body, it's boundaries, a sense of belonging of each of its parts to one whole. It is an example of integration between the neurological dimension- body schema, and psychological dimension, which is the image of one's own body. Author presents therapy conducted during classes on a horse back, which engages many cortical functions at the same time, and therefore influences development of somatognosia. Method: The presentation introduces assumptions, course, and effects of applying a program, which children call "Little Dots", based on experiences of educators working

My pony and me. Questions and answers Introduction: How to get handicapped child familiar with hippotherapeutical situation? How to make first approach safe, unstressful and satisfying for a child? Author presents the book, which originated from the need of providing a handicapped child attending hippotherapy classes, a reliable information about horse and hippotherapeutic classes carried on with horse participation. Acquired knowledge will influence an increase of the child's feeling of competence and security during hippotherapy classes. Method: Working on "My Pony and Me", I followed the example of "My Social Stories Book" by Carol Grey and Abbie Leigh White, which contain stories that make selfservice and social intercourse easier. "My Pony and Me" consists of four chapters. "The Horse" chapter describes a horse itself, its habits, likes and dislikes. Second chapter named "Lessons with a horse" describes situations that child will face at hippotherapy classes. Third chapter named "Hippotherapist" introduces hippotherapist and his/her role during classes. Finally chapter "Meeting a horse" provides a child with detailed information on how to behave during classes and react to various surprising situations. The book is written with simple language and richly illustrated. Text and illustrations compose an inseparable whole, making recognition of the subject easier for a child. Depending on age and developmental problems of a

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child, the book can be read by the child itself or by it's parents or other caregivers. It can also be looked through before hippotherapy classes together with a therapist, especially if we want to go through some specific problem during the classes. Results: Function of the author's work is not only to provide a child with certain knowledge and information, but also to support it. The book is supposed to make it easier for a child to acknowledge and "train" situations which they encounter during hippotherapy classes. It will make the hippotherapeutic situation understandable and foreseeable, and therefore easier to accept and not frightening for a child. Thanks to the acquired knowledge a child will no longer be a passive recipient of what is happening, but it will become an a active participant, or even a creator of given propositions and solutions. Conclusion: The book should appear extremely helpful, especially for work with small children attending hippotherapy because of different developmental disorders.

143 Author: ANNA PASQUINELLI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Paola Allori Country: Italy

Organization and application of an integrated model for TR treatment Introduction: TR requires a highly professional multidisciplinary Team, specialized in TR. It must consist of a Physician, TR Therapist, Riding Instructor and Assistants (Pasquinelli et al, 1996, 2003). The Physician is responsible for verifying the indication, for reviewing the program as well as the results attained. This is done through periodic visits with the subject, meetings with the Team, family counselling as well as meeting with the other referral professionals. While respecting the scientific-rehabilitative criteria, the work of the Physician must not interfere with TR since this therapy takes place in a non-medical environment and is a form of treatment, which stands out for its unique abilities to listen. The requirements set forth by the form of collaboration established between the Institute of Child Neurology and Psychiatry and numerous TR Centres (TRCs) in the Florentine and extra regional area, members of the "Lapo" Association, call for the Physician involved to be post-graduate student or a Specialist in Child Neuropsychiatry who has attended a specific training program within the School of Specialization or with another physician specialized in TR ("University Master in TR" or "Theoretical/Practical Course in TR") who works closely with the Hospital Department of Child Neuropsychiatry, which is part of the Institute. An integrated operational model has been created, calling for the involvement on the part of the Hospital and of the

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TRCs accredited by the Institute. Aim: To identify the program applied for selected cases, involving interaction between Hospital/TRCs, and to analyze of possible involvement of Territorial Services/SocialHealth-Care Professionals in order to implement a circular rehabilitative procedure so as to share together the positive the results attained through TR. Subjects (S): 74S (41 M, 33 F) were followed jointly by the Hospital and the TRCs, from 1995 to 2008, with a followup of at least 6 months. Mean age at the beginning of TR: 13y6m (range 4y-45y); Neurological Pathology: 43S; Psychiatric Pathology: 12S, Mixed Forms: 19S. TR follow-up: mean: 5y (range 6m-18y); TR still on-going: 27S. Method: Analysis of method of referral to TRC, of the form of TRC/Hospital interaction and identification of the types of approaches applied; implementation of interaction with Territorial Services/Social-Health-Care Professionals. Results: - Method of referral to TRC: Family: 20S; Hospital: 47S; Territorial Services/Professionals: 7S. - Form of interaction TRC/Hospital: from Hospital to TRC: 47S; from TRC to Hospital: 27S. - Method of interaction TRC/Hospital/Territorial Services/Professionals: 54/74S (72.97%). In particular, 16/25S without any reference point were taken into care. - Follow-up: high mean: 5y; the range is similar for the various group. Contraindications to TR in 4S with neurological pathology. Conclusion: The high percentage of renewal or consolidation of the taking into care shows that the organization and the implementation of the described model makes it possible to achieve a circular intervention and underscores the role played by each Services. This enhances the role of TR when it is applied with methodological rigor and professionalism, viewed as a way to strengthen rehabilitation and not as acting out (TR - "the last resort") even in adolescents or young adults. This repercussion, which goes beyond mere rehabilitation, becomes increasingly important for the many subjects who are without a reference points and emphasizes its ability to perceive different needs, be them also unexpressed or ignored.

144 Author: MAURIZIA DEMO ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Eleonora Tranfo ([email protected]) Katia Olocco Country: Italy

Multidimensional and multidisciplinary assessment in adolescent with psycological disabilities Before the beginning and at the end of an integrate hippotherapeutic Course for two years, 53 subjects, aged

8 -14 yrs, (23 males and 30 females), with psychological disabilities (anxiety, depression, autistic syndrome) have been treated with a multidimensional and multidisciplinary assessment. Statistical data of the results are in processing phase.

145 Author: OCTAVIA BROWN ([email protected]) Country: United States

vities medically, financially and socially through proven research results has implications far beyond the reach of any individual EAA/T program or centre. We need to work together to prove that primary intervention with the aid of the horse has implications for reduced dependence of clients on social services, increased potential for self-supporting skills to be enhanced, and in general much broader recognition that the choice to include equine activities is a valid financial investment to make for society's greater good.

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Some thoughts on the status of EAA/T research in the USA and globally

Author: MICHAELA SCHEIDHACKER ([email protected])

Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to address some issues in the current status of research into the effects of EAA/T as measured by acceptance of various studies for publication in peer reviewed journals in the English language. This presentation will include information from a meeting sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) September 2008 which focused on the current and future direction of human-animal interaction research (HAI). EAA/T research was included in the session on the therapeutic use of HAI and will be included in a chapter of the resulting report. The presentation will also highlight the work of Horses & Humans Research Foundation (USA) and its efforts to promote and fund high quality research studies capable of bring published in peer-reviewed journals. It needs to be understood that the author is not herself a research scientist. The ideas that follow have been inspired the NIH symposium, and by being a board member of the Horses and Humans Research Foundation. Method: An overview of the subject matter of several research studies that have been published will be given. Areas that have received the most attention will be identified, as well as areas that are under-represented. Some theories will be presented to explain these demographics. Areas for future research will be identified together with the obstacles to ensuring scientific validity in research design and implementation related to the nature of EAA/T. The benefits and difficulties of developing an international resource that can identify and catalogue valid research studies in many languages will be explored: e.g. translation into a few common languages of abstracts of published peer-reviewed work; identification of future needs based on past results; avoiding duplication of effort in study subject matter; sharing of valid measuring protocols and instruments, and so on. Conclusion: A mechanism needs to be developed that can result in an international understanding of the potential future direction of scientifically valid research on a worldwide basis. Spreading the word of the value of EAAT acti-

Country: Germany

Co-Authors: Alexandra Koch

Contents and objectives of the advanced training in psychotherapeutic riding Issue: The presentation deals with the question of which conditions and qualifications are necessary for a professional work with horses as medium in psychotherapy. The trainings in psychotherapy and in hippology, i.e. the science of horses, are shown as basis for the advanced training in psychotherapeutic horse-riding. The conjunctive methods, which are build on the two subjects, are discussed concerning contents and aims. Method: The classic method of the training in psychotherapy, this is a training analysis, is presented and questioned. As complementary analogy in the training in hippology - in special concerning the training in horse-riding and in professional handling of horses - the analytic relationship experiences between therapist and horse are named above all. Reflected relationship experiences are very important for the professionalism in working with patients. This is based on a very huge pool of experiences in the Munich School for Psychotherapeutic Riding: more than 20 years psychotherapeutic riding with stationary mental ill people (up to 400 inpatients per year) as well as more than 10 years advanced training in psychotherapeutic riding. Hence, in the centre of the advanced training of the Munich school for psychotherapeutic riding is self assessment with the horse in a group dynamic context. Here special emphasis is laid on multifaceted relationship experiences and their reflection. The perception of different qualities of relationships, possibilities of establishing and forming contact respective relationships as well as their effects on the therapeutic relationship between patient, horse and therapist are taught and can be experienced. In the main focus is the making aware of the importance of the individual life history of the therapist with all his personal experienced horse relationships.

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Result and conclusion: Quality assurance is only partly guaranteed by the means of defined learning contents, final exams and certifications. The other essential part of the quality of psychotherapeutic action is based on the fact that the psychotherapist has developed during his many advanced trainings a consciousness for himself with his individual life story, with his deeper motivations, with his competencies and his boundedness as well as his huge responsibility to the patients. For the work in the psychotherapeutic horse-riding the knowledge of a personal "horse complex" is of crucial importance. The psychotherapist has to know that he is never allowed to stop learning - learning from his patients as well as from his horses and above all learning by the constant reflection in professional supervision.

147 Author: PIA STRAUSFELD ([email protected]) Country: Germany

Mother-and-child riding at a special clinic for drug addicted women, as well as in the ambulant support of families on a freelance basis Mother-and-child vaulting and riding supported the therapeutic efforts of the clinical program for motherly drug abusers, who lived in the clinic with their preschool children. The therapeutic riding program aimed at the improvement of the mother-and-child interaction. The training/therapy of body awareness on the horse helped the mothers to develop a better awareness for their child's physical and psychic needs. Special vaulting exercises supported the re-learning process between mother and child and opened a chance to less stressful interaction. In the following years I have also used mother-and-child riding in the ambulant not clinical sector and developed it further to parents-and-child riding. It is very often used successfully if children are very fearful at the beginning, if they are handicapped or if the interaction within the family is difficult. Often parents-and-child riding makes a common stress-free-experience possible for the first time in strained and burdened situations. By this positive experience it is possible to find a new approach to each other. The pattern of interaction within the family can be designed anew so that stress-free acting and reacting of the family system also in conflict becomes possible again that goes beyond the common riding experience.

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148 Author: SABINE BURKHARDT ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Steffanie Ehmke Nicole Soleinsky

Country: Germany

Förderkreis für Therapeutisches Reiten e.V. presents: A holistic way to become a riding therapist Förderkreis für Therapeutisches Reiten e.V. is an organization which offers a training program to become a riding therapist. This 15-minute presentation explains the contents of the program and shows the organizations holistic approach to a therapeutic contact between humans and horses.

149 Author: MICHAI KACZOR ([email protected]) Country: Poland

Behaviourism in horse-riding therapy practice Introduction: Many times in our therapeutic practice we meet some problematic behaviour of our patients, that is not only related to the main health problem of our patient - difficulties in our relation with patient that do not result from his disease entity. These burdensome behaviours can disturb the process of our therapy, therefore dealing with these behaviours is significant for whole therapy that we carry on. Therapeutic influence is closely related with having a good contact with our patient. Thus there is a place for behavioural therapies. Method: Often we cannot diagnose and all the more change environmental factors which influence on our patient in his daily life, and which can be a reason of his negative behaviour. However, we can stipulate on patient desirable reactions in certain situations that may take place during hippotherapy sessions. To cope with negative behaviours of my patients, as well as to achieve intended therapeutic effect, I have included to my hippotherapy sessions some elements taken from therapies based on behaviourism. In my lecture I will briefly present some chosen techniques and most relevant elements of them, as well as I will present several examples of appliance this techniques in hippotherapy. Results: Behavioural techniques, which I applied in my hippotherapy sessions, proved to be an effective method to correct patient's problematic behaviours. It also affec-

ted on quality of relation between the therapist and the patient positively. Conclusion: Behavioural therapies due to its simplicity and utilization of learning primary mechanisms, that are common for people as well as animals, can be used perfectly in therapy with younger children or children with considerable cognitive deficit. They are easy in application and can become an element of hippotherapy sessions successfully.

examples from practical work with different children from Peru.

151 Author: GIOVANNI VOLTOLIN ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

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Erica Biscaro Alessandra Salomone Giovanna Rabbiaa Piccolo

Country: Italy Author: HEIDI KÜBLBECK ([email protected])

Therapeutic vaulting Country: Peru

Secrets between man and horse therapeutic riding and anthroposophic anthropology Since antique times the horse is a symbol for intelligence, and stands for cleverness of humanity in animality. Although the horse does not count on human intellectual qualities, it offers esoteric, intelligent energies, which may help to interact in a curative way towards the human being. In order to understand these forces, full of intelligence and wisdom, we inevitably have to draw our vision towards the deeper coherency of the human being. Does man only consist of material, or has he got a soul and a spirit, which form his identity in a decisive way? Science of Anthroposophy of Rudolf Steiner allows us to understand the human being in a better way: He does not only live this single life, he already existed before birth, and he will also live after his death as an individuality of soul and spirit. The physical body is interpenetrated by invisible, higher principles, which give him life, soul and spiritual individuality during his incarnation. On one hand we have the life body, which forms the physical body from birth onwards, penetrates it with life, and serves as the memory of the human being. As a second part we have the soul of the human being. Because of the soul we can interact with other people using our thinking, feeling and wanting. The third mantle is the Ego of the human being, his spiritual individuality. Considering this anthroposophic background, we may understand that a handicapped person is not ill in its individuality, we can say, that the penetration of these mantels got out of their places. At the same time we may describe, how the horse, which has got forces full of wisdom, can interact in a harmonizing way on the soul of a disabled person. A presentation about the inner secrets between horse and man, the invisible parts of human being- presented and based on anthroposophic background- and how the inner oscillation of the horse can have positive effects on the different human parts of the handicapped person; with

Vaulting is a choreographed freestyle gymnastic and acrobatic exercise done to the rhythm of music on the back of the horse as the horse walks or canters. The vaulting horse moves in a 15-metre circle and is controlled by a longeur. This discipline is considered to be the highest of equestrian skills, as not only the horse but also the rider must be highly trained as vaulting consists of a repetitive synchronized movement between horse and man. In our experience we propose the use of vaulting as remedial work with horse, for children who have neurological problems. This discipline is particularly known for it's capacity to aid motor development, cognitive development and in particular helps children to build self confidence and self esteem, allowing them to deal better with their emotional problems. It also helps in the development of social interactive skills as well as helping the children become more independent individuals. Down Syndrome and pervasive development are neurological and psychiatric disorders, both greatly recognized for its social interaction impairment. Five children with Down syndrome and two children with Autistic Spectrum took part in a Vaulting Therapy, which was integrated with non-disabled children. Their progress from the beginning to the more advanced stages of the therapy was followed and assessed by parents and therapists. Using the valuation scale of The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF). We created a valuation chart with the six indicators to measure the evolution of Simple Interpersonal l Competence (from D71000 to D7105 ICF) l and of Complex Interpersonal Competence (from D72000 to D7204 ICF). The results of the valuation chart, the questionnaires, completed by the parents and the equine rehabilitation therapists and the study of the serial video recordings, where discussed by the team who agreed that there had been a net improvement in social interactive skills for the majority of the children. As only a small number of children were assessed and valuated we are not able to use the results statistically as requested by the evidence-based medicine. However the experience suggests that integrated remedial vaulting is a useful therapeutic choice for psychopathological condition with social deficit.

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Author: SHOSHANA POLLACK ([email protected])

Author: GODI DE VOS ([email protected]) Country: Belgium

Country: Canada

Equine facilitated psychotherapy with women with addictions: Results from a Canadian pilot study This project was initiated as a result of Canadian research that revealed the need for innovative approaches to working with criminalized women with addictions. Although women-centred correctional programming is now common parlance in Canadian corrections, individualistic models prevail and cognitive behavioural approaches dominate (Pollack & Kendall, 2003). A recent study revealed that Canadian women's prison programming continues to rely upon the expert discourses of psychiatry and psychology which medicalize responses to trauma and inequalities and allow little room for women's own wisdom, attribution of meaning, or socio-political contexts (Pollack, 2008). This paper reports on findings from a small pilot study on the effectiveness of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) conducted in Ontario, Canada. Using both quantitative measures of change as well as qualitative interviews with participants, this paper discusses the use of EFP with women with histories of trauma, addictions and criminalization. Five women engaged in a 6-month inpatient addiction treatment program participated in a 12session EFP program for addictions. Another five women who did not participate in the EFP program were used as a control group. Findings from this small-scale study suggest that the use of the horse as a metaphor and mirror offers powerful opportunities that talking therapy, regardless of its theoretical foundations, may not allow. Using the horse as a therapeutic guide, participants experienced new insights about themselves, their relationships and their addictions, which they derived from their own interpretations of experience and meaning. Building connections with a powerful, sensitive, strong and often imposing being allowed participants to experience a multiplicity of meanings or narratives related to such issues as gender relations, confidence, fear, boundaries, spirituality, and identity. It is recommended that further multi-method research be conducted on the impact of this therapeutic modality on women with histories of trauma, addictions and incarceration.

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Equine assisted therapy as a holistic therapy The Pegasus project 2002-2005 was a Leonardo da Vinci project funded by the European Office in Brussels. From the very beginning on, one of the main goals of Pegasus project was to work from a holistic vision and to work together with all the representative disciplines. In the following text the holistic model used in Pegasus' Equine Assisted Therapy and also in the Pegasus postgraduate course EAT will be presented. In all human activity and behaviour there are always 3 important components: - a physical or motion component - a cognitive or insight component - an affective dynamic or emotional component This happens also in all Therapeutic Riding activities. Always there is motion, there is cognition and there is emotion. The importance of the components in EAT activities varies depending on the goal we have in mind. * The physical motor component is mainly present in MOTOR ACTIVITY as in Physiotherapy. Locomotoricity puts the accent on the movement system: bones, joints and muscles. Neuromotoricity puts the accent on the central nervous system: the operating system. There is also motorial activity where emotional and cognitive components give sense and significance to the movement. This is what we call PSYCHOMOTOR ACTIVITY, which is situated, in an area between motor activities and behaviour. In the area of psychomotor therapy we can find 2 possible directions: * Psycho Motor Therapy as FUNCTIONAL TRAINING. Sensomotoricity focus attention on tactile, vestibular and proprioceptive systems. Perceptuomotoricity focus on the senses. * Psychomotor therapy can also be INTRAPSYCHICAL THERAPY, when expression, affection, social skills, communication, dialogue and relaxation are more important. This is expressed in behaviour and attitude and therapy becomes 'experienced'. This is the work field of psychologists and pedagogues. Emotiomotoricity is activity with the accent on expression of emotions. Sociomotoricity is activity with the accent on social factors and the role and influence of others. The 'European Forum of Psycho Motoricity' said in 1996: 'Psychomotoricity is based on a holistic vision of mankind, a vision that starts from the unity between mind and body. This term integrates the cognitive, the emotional and the motorial aspect as well as the capacity to be and to (re)act

in a psychosocial context.' Holism says that there is a constant interaction of all the different factors. All of them have influence on each other and the result of the interaction is more than the sum of all the components. In the field of revalidation EAT is used by different therapists (Physiotherapists, Psychomotor therapists, Movement therapists, Occupational therapists….) to improve locomotion, neuromotricity and functionality as in Hippotherapy and Sensorial Integration with and on the horse. In pediatry and (ortho)pedagogy the goals of EAT can be situated in several areas. For example movement activities for autistic children, in ADHD, mental retardation, …. Besides affective, social and cognitive goals the therapy will try to influence the motor function, often linked to sensorial skills, perceptual skills and specific goals of cognitive development as school and learning skills. In psychiatry the goals of EAT are situated mainly in the affective, emotional and relational area. This is called Psychomotorial Psychotherapie. Even if goals and accents in EAT can change we may never lose the totality of a person as we all take part in a total treatment project and where all the components are present: the physical, the cognitive and the emotional component. HORSES for BODY, MIND and SOUL References: Simons J., Introductie tot de psychomotoriek, Leuven 1997. Vallaey M. & Van Droemme G., Psychomotoriek bij kinderen, Acco Leuven 1994. Vanderheyden V., Psychomotorische therapie bij kinderen, Leuven, UZ Leuven 2003. European Leonardo da Vinci Project Pegasus 2002-2005, www.pegasuseurope.be

physical and emotional treatment development based on experiences abroad. After 2 years overcoming the many difficulties, more than 30 cerebral palsy (CP) children had received ten weekly hippotherapy sessions of 30 minutes each. All children demonstrated a significant improvement in their neurologic function and sensory processing ability to recover stability in walking, achieve balance, express the feeling, keep calm, follow the order as well as control bladder following training. We also strive hard to make greater progress in regulating standards of practice, building the insurance system, training professionals and awaking social awareness. Perspective of hippotherapy in mainland China is related to the following general areas: a) Collecting the funding b) Education and training for therapist and instructor c) Cooperation atmosphere with various rehab departments; Finding the support from related academy and institute d) Development academic and technical base; Entering the regular medical treatment system and safety issue e) Establishment a stable and structuring the training center for special needs

155 Author: ANA PAULA MARTINS ([email protected])

Country: Brazil

Intervention of therapeutic riding X myelocystoceles: Report of case

154 Author: Weihong Wu ([email protected] ) Co-Author: Xin Li Country: China

The status quo and development of hippotherapy in children with disabilities in mainland China With development and experience of hippotherapy in hundreds of countries in over 50 years, with the great help of Priscilla Lightsey, PT, MSPT, MA, from R.O.C.K. in Texas, in 2006, a small well-trained group in China Rehabilitation Research Center began to make scientific researches on hippotherapy in children with disabilities in mainland China. Our mission statement is to provide a foundation for therapeutic strategies involving the movement of the horse, and to promote our own characteristic

The Myelocystoceles is a malformation of the vertebral column that affects the spinal marrow, therefore causing, depending on the height of the paraplegia injury, disfunction of the inferior members, neurogenic continence, muscular kidney hypotonia , hydrocephalus, etc. Its cause is mainly tied to the lack and/or absence of folic acid in the alimentary diet of the pregnant woman. During the first gestation trimester, the neural pipe is developed, generating our vertebral column that will protect the spinal marrow. The absence/lack of folic acid during the development of the vertebral column through the neural pipe causes its disruption that causes "confusion" of the bones, muscles and nerve structures, occasioning an unstable vertebral column and generating a physical deficiency. In this article we will describe the introduction of Therapeutic Riding in a carrier of Myelocystoceles that presents as sequels: hydrocephalus, neurogenic continence, paraplegia of the inferior members, and the important role played by the horse-practitioner- riding instructor team, that not only showed postural improvement, balance and muscular force but enormous benefits in terms of

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improvement of the effects caused by the neurogenic continence. Materials and methods: At first we used a hippotherapy blanket and double riding, moving on to independent riding with lateral support, still on the blanket. Later we progressed to an English saddle. Currently he rides twice a week in a dressage saddle, conducting the horse alone, starting basic Dressage training in the arena. Along with his riding activities, parallel work was developed to improve corporal conscience and understanding of the urinary function. This work consisted of Floral Therapy, recognition of the "I", through drawings and trainings the use of the bathroom and basic hygiene. Results: After 3 months of Hippotherapy in a routine appointment with the urologist, laboratorial evidenced through examinations and ultrasonography showed muscular response of the kidneys, increasing its residual capacity in 25%, calling the attention the team of doctors of the AACD*, institution known in the care of carrier of special necessities. With the continuation of the riding and establishing new challenges, more positive resulted have been obtained, improving balance between the residual capacity, size and conformation of the kidneys, placing him inside normal parameters for his chronological age. Currently 13 years old, he walks with the assistance of Canadian crutches, with better corporeal positioning, and the psychomotor conditioning carried out by the hippotherapy team, the doctors at AACD submitted him to surgical intervention, with the objective to minimize the effects caused by the Neurogenic continence. Thus, our practitioner will have, in the future conditions to abandon the use of diapers and schedules use of the bathroom. Keywords: Myelocystoceles, Neurogenic Continence, Physical therapy, Riding Therapy and Floral Therapy.

156 Author: ROSWITHA ZINK ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Thomas Stephenson Dorothea Gansterer Sophie Fischer Karin Poinstingl

Country: Austria

Evaluation of non-verbal communication patterns between horses and humans by video analysis Equotherapy is a therapeutic method using specially trained horses. It is based on the skill of the horses to read body language and expression of clients and show it to a therapist similar to biofeedback. Movement and body expression are the first and most important means of human communication. Different states of the psyche and also conflicts, like tension, fear, ire, anger or happiness

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will show themselves in the quality of the movement and will become apparent. You have to account for this essential part of human expression because you can use it as a formidable resource. Research focal point: Which possibilities/opportunities are given by non-verbal communication during the "Open Interaction" between client and horse as a main part of Equotherapie? Method: The client has the task to get in contact with the horse, which moves at a manageable place, and he/she will get more assignments throughout the session. Item 1: Getting in contact: While getting in contact there can be a first offer for a relationship. Item 2: Claiming distance - space: The client's task is to gain distance between himself/herself and the horse. He/she should claim his/her own space, earn respect and defend his/her borders. Item 3: Giving closeness - space: To allow closeness it is necessary to give the horse enough space and to retreat. Only then the horse can step closer without fear. Item 4: Together - walking part of the way together: Walking part of the way together challenges the client in different ways. To be successful the client has to walk with purpose for the horse to follow. In addition the client has to combine elements from item 2 and 3 to motivate the horse to start moving and to follow trustingly. Item 5: Relaxation: The client's task is to create a relaxation phase for himself/herself and the horse. Item 6: Challenge/frustration: overcoming difficulties: Difficulties can complicate walking part of the way together. The client gets a new challenge, which could cause failure and frustration. Item 7: Saying goodbye: Saying goodbye ends the sequence of interaction between the client and the horse. The video was analyzed regarding non-verbal interaction between the client and the resulting reaction of the horse. These quantitative analyses are used for further qualitative investigations. The open interaction provides a good situation for the therapist to observe psychodynamic structures. The horse indexes body language and non-verbal communication. This is not meant to replace, but rather to support the process of verbalization, which is led by the therapist. Furthermore, it will help to point out psychological and emotional aspects, which might not yet have been verbalized. By Using non-verbal ways of communication and experimenting with it the client has the opportunity of development and progress as well.

158 Author: ROBERT GÖTZENBERGER ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Uwe Krause Country: Germany

Function, role and design of equipment for therapeutic riding from the viewpoint of a saddle manufacturer Method: The starting point of the presentation is the understanding that the technical equipment influences the movement dialogue and the type of relationship between man and horse on both the physical and mental level in all three areas (according to DKThR) of therapeutic riding. 1. Educational / psychological area - therapeutic vaulting or riding 2. Medical area - hippotherapy / ergotherapy 3. Sporting / rehabilitative area - riding (and driving) as a sport for people with disabilities. The equipment required for therapeutic riding will be presented based on the many years of experience and knowledge of classical riding sports (popular and professional sport) from the viewpoint of the saddle manufacturer and the interfaces pointed out. Also implemented at this point will be the saddle manufacturer's knowledge and knowhow from the therapeutic area accumulated over 30 years. Awareness will be created of the major influence that technical/functional equipment can have on the success of the therapy. Which technical components can affect the therapy? How can these be influenced by the manufacturer in the therapeutic context? The term "equipment" mainly comprises saddles, but also includes reins, girths or saddle pads/numnahs. At the physical level, the equipment has a compensating effect, i.e. it compensates for the patient's physical impairments, and promotes the achievement of the (sporting/therapeutic) goals pursued. It furthermore supports the work of the therapist, for example with regard to protecting and ensuring the proper seating posture of the patient and contributes decisively to the welfare of the horse. Optimally adapted equipment is the foundation for a harmonious working relationship between man and horse. At the mental level, the appropriate equipment creates trust, for example, by providing a secure hold on the horse, thus giving the patient and the therapist a feeling of safety. Patient and therapist can concentrate completely on the actual content of the therapy. This feeling of safety is conveyed to the horse, thus making the animal feel calm and balanced during the therapeutic work. Results: Based on some examples, it will be demonstrated how physical disabilities can be compensated by technical changes on the saddle. A sample saddle will illustrate this. A checklist will be presented as a working tool for

everyone involved in the therapy process. This list serves as a guide to enable as many technical equipment components as possible to be taken into account for an individual selection and combined use of components. The important role of equipment in therapeutic riding is clarified. Existing potentials can be better identified and exploited systematically. Conclusion: The appropriate equipment supports the therapist in his work, the patient in his/her therapy, the sportsman/woman in reaching performance goals, and moreover serves the welfare of the horse in every area of therapeutic riding. Years of experience and technical know-how on the part of the manufacturer can be used in a crossdisciplinary way in therapeutic riding.

160 Author: GINA TAYLOR ([email protected]) Country: United States

The developmental individual and relationship-based (DIR) approach in equine assisted therapy for people with autism This presentation will help therapists working in the Equine Assisted Therapy realm to incorporate the Developmental Individual and Relationship-based (DIR) approach into their treatment of individuals with autism. Video case studies will show professionals working in the equine assisted therapy field how to incorporate the DIR approach into their work. Dr. Stanely Greenspan's DIR approach honours the child's sensory and biological differences, focuses on the development of relationship skills and delights in the child's own joy and personal interests. By learning the milestones for social/emotional development therapists can begin to focus on the real challenges of autism- communication and building relationships. The horse opens a natural door to building relationships and exploring the child's sense of playfulness. The horse provides a multisensory input that can meet the individual needs. The DIR approach takes a social rather than behavioural approach to habilitation. It addresses the fundamental needs of the child's mind to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities. By combining treatment incorporating the horse and the DIR approach the therapist touches the soul of the child by experiencing his world through following his leads and interests. This presentation will highlight the development levels in the DIR approach, teach therapists key engagement technique for use in equine assisted therapy and highlight case studies that make the combination of equine assisted therapy and the DIR approach so powerful.

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161 Author: GABI EICKMEYER ([email protected])

c) the participation at tournaments, the national games as well as at international games of special Olympics d) It requites a long preparation of mental handicapped humans, in order to lead it to the achievement sport.

Co-Authors: Karin Lange-Greisiger Country: Germany

Horseriding as sport for people with a mental disability Special Olympics What is a mental disability/handicap? - Systematic analyse - up till recently - an IQ between 70 and 85 is below average, category learning disability. An IQ below 70 was a diagnosed mental disability. Now these diagnoses have a holistic based background. Educators, therapists and psychotherapists mutually assist each other, they work together as a team from a mutual basis offering assistance to the person with a disability. Following leading principles apply: 1. Adult orientation- treat the individual relevant to his/her age 2. Subject centralisation - the wishes and needs of the individual must be taken into consideration 3. Me / you relationship - a partnership-like relations between the teacher and participant should be established, no force or compulsion 4. Emancipatoric principle - the participant should develop to a strong personality, with his/her own needs. 5. Assistance and co-operation - the aim being the development of self-independence 6. Holistic - integrative approach - the person with a mental disability is seen in his whole development, education coming from multi-perspectives 7. Principles phases of development - continuous further development finds place in pleasant situations 8. True to life and learning by doing - the person with a mental disability experiences real life situations and conditions, for example everyday housework and other normal life responsibilities. 9. "Let it be" and trust in the resources - the possibility must be kept open, to acknowledge and to value abilities, competencies and skills. Taking into consideration the before mentioned points, the following aims can be reached: - social participation in everyday life - consideration of future plans in life - respect instead of discrimination - integrated life side-by-side instead of selection and societal-institutional exclusion - inclusion for interested, cost objective, associations, teachers, therapists a) the development mentally handicapped rider and voltigierer of the beginning of the promotion with the horse up to the achievement sport and participation to tournament b) slow would drive near and an individual dealing with the special restrictions of each participant, who would like to participate in tournament

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162 Author: LORENZO LUCARELLI ([email protected]) Country: Spain

Let us produce a diplomatic document to invite South American Governments to cooperate in the development of national public services of equine therapies in their countries The international situation of equine therapies is not homogeneous: in some Countries they are technologically developed, backed up by government, integrated in the national sanitary system; in some other Countries, on the contrary, there is no technology at all, no laws regulating the practices and no integration in the sanitary system. I don't have sufficient information about Africa, Asia, and Australia, but I think I have an appropriate knowledge about Europe and North and South America. In Europe almost all Countries have a National (public governmental) Health System, while in U.S.A. all medical services are private (normally controlled by big insurance companies); this difference makes that in Europe, but not in U.S.A., it is possible to obtain the governmental legislation and integration of the equine therapies within the National Health System. On the other side, being privates, the north American enterprises and associations or foundations who deal with equine therapies, always have more chances to rise founds to provide their services with the most advanced technologies and to promote research, while here in Europe it is very hard to find sponsors, since in most cases the equine therapies are not organized as a business, but as a service. In South America some Countries have a National Health System, and some others don't have any, or have a partial system which doesn't include equine therapies; there is an endemic lack of technology, related to the general situation of sub development and economic dependency; and, furthermore, there is a general lack of information about health care and prevention practices, and specially about equine therapies, both at governmental and popular level. There are, therefore, basically two ways of helping the development of equine therapies in the Latin American Countries: sponsoring the construction and activation of equine therapies centres (that would work with high quality standards, but for a very reduced number of people

due to high prices); and/or inviting the governments to cooperate internationally in the development of National Public equine therapies centres (that would maybe work with less technology, but still with high quality standards, and for a larger amount of people). I propose to make a workshop to develop a document in which, as FRDI members - each one backed up by his government laws - we ask to the Latin American Governments to cooperate in an international program of development of the equine therapies in all relevant aspects. The document should also include recommendations for enterprises interested in cooperating with the program, in order to ensure the compatibility between the enterprises profit interests and the non-profit institution of a public service. In conclusion, the workshop participants should be allowed with enough time to expose and discuss their opinions - 1 hour - and then we/they should take the last 30 minutes to develop and sign a formal agreement, in order to have the diplomatic document also redacted and signed in the shortest possible time. The overall time for the workshop should be 90 minutes.

163 Author: MARIAN COSMAN ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Ineke Kroese Country: Netherlands

Riding Instructor and therapist about cooperation, similarities and differences in course and profession The Dutch Federation of Riding for the Disabled (Federatie paardrijden Gehandicapten, FPG ) monitors and promotes the quality of both the training and the practice of instructors and therapists who work with horses when treating patients, hippotherapists. Horse therapy is not a regulated profession in the Netherlands and anyone can call himself a hippotherapist. The various approaches to people with disabilities, either as horseman or as patient, each demands their own specific expertise and methodology. Instructors for recreational horse riding as well as volunteers need to acquire sufficient knowledge to enable them to work responsibly and in accordance with the principles of horse therapy. To provide this knowledge, a special course has been developed for riding instructors working with the disabled, and the volunteers also receive training. Effective horse therapy, however, demands more specific qualifications; the FPG strives to acquire the necessary knowledge about horses and therapy as well as the combination of both: therapeutic work with horses. The FPG committed itself to this goal in its statement of guidelines and applies it to the practice of horse therapists.

This presentation describes the course opportunities in the Netherlands, the quality monitoring of the courses and the practice of the profession, the cooperation between instructor and therapist, and the similarities and differences within their work.

164 Author: REBECA SANTOS ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Kerstin Offtermatt Country: Brazil

Effects of hippotherapy on a hemiparetic spastic patient´s gait Objective: To evaluate the mobility and balance of a patient before and after Hippotherapy, and observe its evolution over 4 sessions. Methods: Participated in this case study a female patient, 52 years, the bearer of the right spastic hemiparesis, for sequelae of aneurysm. Classified by the Berg Balance Scale, the patient has 40 scores. The patient underwent a 4 Equine therapy sessions, lasting 30 minutes each, riding in horse blanket. To quantify the data was used to test "Time Up and Go" - Lift and Walking timed. The Test quantifies the functional mobility in seconds by the time that the individual performing the task, with is in how many seconds he raises a standard chair, walk 3 meters, turn, back towards the chair and sit down again. This test was applied immediately before and after each session. This patient had never received treatment of Hippotherapy, just maintained its routine Kinesiotherapy five times a week. Results: Before the first session, the time spent on task was 2.21 minutes, and immediately after was 2.16 min. In the second session was the result of pre 2.13 min, and after the 2nd therapy was 1.45 min. In the third session was pre test result of 1.41 min to accomplish the task, and after therapy of 1.34 min. At the fourth session before patient spent 1.27 min and 1.55 min after therapy. In this, the second was applied immediately after the first attempt after therapy because the patient waited for a second order of initiation, and the time was worth. In the second attempt the time was 1.11 minutes after the therapy.

[Time Up and Go Test]

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Conclusion: It was observed by the data obtained from the application of the test "Time Up and Go". Hippotherapy that had direct influence on improving the performance cost for the task of motion immediately after the session. The results also show that since the beginning of treatment, the patient has decreased the time for the initial task, which means that each session the running speed was significantly improved. We may attribute these results to the three-dimensional stimulation while active for years and with balance on the horse. As the pelvis a key point for the gait, the horse worked their mobility, which facilitates the exchange of steps and stage support on one foot. This study showed that the Hippotherapy had a positive influence to this case, and suggested continuation of articles in this line of research.

165 Author: BONNIE DEPUE ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Sherman Gorbis Country: United States

Hippotherapy and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): Is there a connection? This presentation is intended to share the results of an interdisciplinary research project to determine if hippotherapy has any effect on the presence or absence of somatic dysfunction, which is an alteration in the musculoskeletal system, which can involve muscle, bone, tendon, ligament, as well as neural and vascular elements, including lymphatics. The diagnostic triad of somatic dysfunction is asymmetry, range of motion restriction, and tissue texture abnormality. When these objective findings are present, the patient may be a candidate for OMT, which is the use of the hands carrying out a therapeutic modality to improve the physical findings, as well as the patient's complaint. This is a collaborative effort to evaluate the potential to combine hippotherapy treatment with traditional Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) services for qualified patients. Licensed/credentialed physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, psychologists, and psychotherapists may use hippotherapy (HPOT) as a tool in treatment. This is the use of the equine environment in treatment sessions. Through the horse's movement, the vestibular, proprioceptive, tactile, cognitive, and motor systems can be positively affected. Osteopathic Principles include: the body is a unit, structure (anatomy) determines function (physiology), the body has the capacity of healing, and manual treatment (manipulation) can be used to keep the above at their optimum. Osteopathic palpatory diagnosis is used to locate somatic dysfunction.

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Participants with no equine background and no specific diagnosis were chosen for this study. Data was collected from 21 participants. These participants were given an Osteopathic structural evaluation before and after their session on the horse where hippotherapy techniques were employed. The sessions lasted 45 minutes on a bareback pad on the horse. Various positions on the horse's back were used to give input in various planes of movement, accenting specific muscle groups and challenging balance through changes in the three systems used in maintaining balance. The OMT evaluation was used to determine if the use hippotherapy has any effect on the somatic dysfunction(s). Is there indeed a change in the system? A significant number of positive pre-ride findings were no longer palpable after the hippotherapy session; of particular note in the lumbo-sacral (LS) region, sacro-iliac (IS) and rib cage. The ride alone could have value in the treatment of somatic dysfunction, especially in the LS, SI, and rib cage areas, or have the potential of acting synergistically with OMT. Osteopathic somatic dysfunctions are prevalent in the disabled and non-disabled population. The fact that positive findings pre-ride were eliminated post ride, suggests that hippotherapy may be helpful in the treatment of patients with somatic dysfunction. This was a unique opportunity to blend together the world of osteopathic medicine and hippotherapy in a research endeavour that can only benefit both areas of practice. With the call for validity and credibility in the practice of any treatment this research can open up a whole new avenue for such ventures.

166 Author: BARBARA GRAUSS ([email protected]) Country: Germany

How can the horse, a quadropedien, lift us up? In my studies, I like to explain, how the fact, that horses walk on their long toe has relevance to a rider. From my experiences as a godo walker for more than ten years, I started to see the parallels that I want to describe you now. Godo is the international word for the way of walking, where the toe is touching the ground first and the feet rolls from there to the heel - not the other way around....it needs a lot of re-conditioning to return to this genetical loaded style, after I was walking as everybody else for more than 30 years before I met Dr. Peter Greb, the founder of godo. I would not change for one day back to my old style, that only made me tired and exhausted this never happens now. Now I get perfect expansion from heel to head from the impulse of arrival on my heel - instead of rolling over it. And horses? They do the same with their four legs within

the five levels of movement: I rest, I want, I thank, I feel, I arrive - they give the impulse for expansion from a natural point of resting. Also it is important, on which spinal part of the horse, the rider takes place. From the rules of spirals we know, that every point is in movement, but there are always parts, that have less flexibility or degrees of freedom, we call it. Get the rider on a highly dynamic segment, and the overtaking will be best. With the two-tuber ischiadicum the rider catches what comes from the ground - throughout all rotations within the horses joints - especially the pelvis, the vibration expands all the way up to the human head. Same as the human pelvis goes up and down the horses' pelvis goes forward and backward - before the back leg lifts up, the hip locates further back from the diagonal shoulder. The natural uplifting comes from the spiral power of the horses walk, and this comes from their long toe cause they feel the walk. One hoof is in the state of "I rest", whereas three legs are in move. In this context, I see the letting go of weight of the back leg before it lifts from the ground also as an action. Since the movement shows the figure of an 8 (from bird's perspective) that stretches from left to right and back this symbol also names endlessness. It goes round and round and round, like the spirals. I hope my short introduction to the theme awakes your interest and I can assure you, that my pictures and graphics will make the cause less complicated. Anyone who likes to contact me in this context is most welcome.

167 Author: BONNIE DEPUE ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Hilary Clayton Lana Kaiser Camie Heleski LeeAnn Kaiser

Country: United States

Evaluation of pressure of the ´Independence Saddle´ on horses in therapeutic riding The industry of equine assisted activities has grown exponentially over the last couple of decades and the world of technology and assistive devices relating to this industry has not been left out. Along with the recognition of the benefits of these activities has come the creation of various pieces of adaptive equipment to aid riders in independence, safety, and quality of participation. These new creations bring with them inherent questions concerning risks and stressors to riders, staff, and the horse. This study is directed at one such piece of equipment, not

to endorsed or condemn the equipment but to objectively look at its impact on the horse that carries it. The unique Independence Saddle has been field tested by many programs in various states and with various populations of riders. The data collected so far has been specifically looking at the impact this saddle has had on various riders. This study will look at whether this saddle causes a significant increase in pressure on the horse's back as well as increased stress to the horse, potentially impacting the welfare of the therapy horse. The study was conducted in agreement with C.H.U.M. Therapeutic Riding Inc at Michigan State University. A special computerized saddle pad that indicates force/pressure at 256 points beneath the saddle, analyzes and charts the data within a computer program is used to look at pressure exerted on the horse's back over all and any pressure 'spikes' in regards to the engineering of this saddle. The data includes; baseline with an English saddle and 4 riders with no significant diagnosis and the same 4 riders in this saddle, 4 riders with Cerebral Palsy who use a variety of techniques to participate including tandem or back riding in a therapeutic riding program in the English saddle and again in the Independence Saddle. Data was collected at intervals over a period of 10 minutes of walking in straight line travel. In looking at the weight distribution on the horse's back for the riders with Cerebral palsy, the average pressure distributed over the entire weight bearing and the average pressure on the left and right sides of the horse's back tended to be higher with the English saddle even though the Independence saddle is heavier than the English saddle. The riders showed a larger sway pattern with the Independence saddle, which is interpreted as an effect of forces transmitted through the back support which is rigidly attached to the seat of the saddle and thus amplifies the effect of the horse's inherent motion pattern. This effect may be useful in developing core strength of the rider. The horse 'stress behaviours' were assessed through an ethogram developed by Drs.Kaiser and Heleski used at CHUM in previous studies on stress behaviours and 'at risk youth/youth in special education' studies. A specific list of behaviours that potentially reflect conflict/stress/frustration were noted in a series of timed trials. These were done during each rider's session on the English saddle for 5 minutes and again on the Independence saddle for a 5 minute period. Neither saddle caused significant stress to the horse, however, total stress behaviours in the English saddle were more than those identified in the Independence Saddle. Data such as this should aid programs in making educated decisions about the use of equipment in regards to the impact on the horse's welfare in addition to data collected in other studies on the safety and quality of participation for the rider. It is studies such as this that can help therapeutic riding programs quantify decisions as growth continues in the combined fields of riding and technology.

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168 Author: SUSANNE SEUFERT ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Marion Diekel, Petra Kalusche Country: Germany

The therapy horse in triple-relationship: Pack-mule, co-therapist or independent working partner?

o What does the horses self-efficiency mean for the concept and the creation of the therapeutic riding lessons? o Which possibilities do this basic attitude have and what limits are there in practical lessons? At the end, we look forward to an exciting discussion about how far it makes sense for the horse assisted therapy to follow the way of the horse and to allow him a selfcontained character in the triple- relationship and what this could impinge on our role as a riding therapist.

169 Author: ELINOR SWITZER ([email protected])

Horse assisted therapy still is guided by anthropocentrism. Although it is apparently based on humanitarian and natural reasons, the horse, as a partner in therapy-riding is very rarely drawn into moral consideration. The daily working routine, the care, the boarding and the training of therapy-horses are often controlled by motives like utility, domination and negativity, which stay mostly unreflected. The distinctive ability to communicate and the peculiar sensibility of the horse are highly appreciated by everyone and especially in the educational riding lessons they have an elemental value. But still the most important aspect in the training and the general use of the therapyhorse is based on its physiological abilities. In our presentation we want to focus on the psychological, emotional and communicative abilities of therapy-horses. We would like to encourage horse assisted-therapists to give more importance to those abilities of horses and let them work with more self-efficiency. Our thesis is that the only time the horse is able to be an elemental being in this triple-relationship if it has the chance to work as an independent, self-confident and mentally free individual in order to interact with the client and the therapist. It is amazing what a professional performance the horse can show emotionally in therapy lessons when its own cooperation is highly focused on. Just as well as we have the desire to work with our clients, based upon physical, spiritual and emotional aspects, the therapy horse also should be allowed to enter these levels in order to develop its individual qualities. Unfortunately this doesn't happen by itself and so our presentation shows what consequences our special mindset has for the daily working routine, the care, the boarding and the training of a therapy horse. With the use of practical examples, the following questions will be discussed: o How does a therapy-horse have to be raised, boarded and trained in order to develop a healthy psyche and mind and as well an established social behaviour? o How is the training absolved in different areas when I focus on the horses' ability to communicate and to reflect on the people? o In which degree is the therapy-horse allowed and required to react and how can I as a horse assisted therapist respond to its offers?

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Country: Germany

ParaWesternReiter e.V. - western riders with disabilities in Germany Objective: Until recently there was no organization for disabled western riders in Germany. Forced to compete against non-disabled riders at western riding shows, many disabled western riders had no way to participate in such events at all. As a result, these riders felt a need to take care of their own interest as experts for their own cause rather than having others make decisions for them. Method: In the beginning of 2008, a group of German western riders with handicaps formed the organization ParaWesternReiter e.V. to coordinate regional efforts, exchange experience among riders, organize training camps, establish show rules and help in the organization of show classes for disabled riders at regular western riding shows. Result: Within the first year of existence, ParaWesternReiter e.V. has more than doubled the number of members, has organized training sessions and first show classes at a western riding show. Most importantly, show rules for lead line classes, walk-trot as well as walk-trot-canter classes were devised and presented to a national organization of western riders also coming to an agreement to cooperate in the organization of show classes and training camps for disabled western riders in the future. Conclusion: Western riders with handicaps have successfully raised the awareness for their needs in Germany. However, much work is still needed to firmly establish classes for disabled western riders not only in Germany but perhaps also on an international level.

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Poster

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Poster Exhibition

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P1 Author: URSULA BILAND-THOMMEN ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Isabelle Guéra-Pfiffner Anne-Lise Joray-Tendon

Country: Switzerland

Hippotherapy-K® Hippotherapy-K® (K standing for its founder Mrs Ursula Künzle) is a physiotherapeutic intervention where the rhythmical and three dimensional movement of the horse back is used to elicit balance reactions in the body of the patient. The horse is led at a walking pace by a horse master and a specially trained physiotherapist walks beside the horse, to facilitate the correct position and the transfer of the movement of the horse onto the patient's body. Especially children with cerebral palsy and patients with neurological symptoms due to traumatic, inflammatory and degenerative affections of the central nervous system profit immensely from this kind of training. The goal of Hippotherapy-K® is to enhance balance reactions in the trunk, strengthen the back muscles, normalise the tone in the lower trunk and the leg muscles and maintain or improve the mobility of the lower spine and hip joints. In the poster we would like to present the philosophy and aims of Hippotherapy-K®, as well as the ones of the Swiss Group for Hippotherapy-K® and some statements on Hippotherapy-K® made by patients.

P2 Author: TEREZA ISONI ([email protected]) Co-Authors: Marianne da Silva, ([email protected]), Myrian Lopes

were excluded from the study subjects. The research began only after consideration and approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the Catholic University of Brasilia, as the resolution CNS 196/96. After collection, the data underwent statistical analysis, which enabled their study. The more individuals who sought the assistance Equine therapy were the ones, which bearers of syndromes and the ones affected by neurological diseases. The population were of 147 male and 62 female subjects, aged between 2 and 74 years. The highest incidence was of males 70.4% which drew the attention of the researchers. The women represented 29.6% of the total, 50% of this sample had neurological diseases, 21% were individuals syndrome, 21% had neurological damage and 8% some kind of sensory disabilities. The male population showed different proportions: 42.9% were syndrome, 36% had neurological disease, neurological lesions 10%, 9.5% had some type of sensory disabilities and 1.4% had no diagnosis closed. Only 7.2% of the population, regardless of sex showed no changes, this group consisted of people with severe disease and were off in the following proportions: 40% by infrequency, against 26.6% for physical therapy or medical-alert, 33.4% for inappropriate or severe degree of impairment and physical or mental. After evaluating the data we concluded that this therapy is not recommended for subjects with severe impairment regardless of pathology, since it was not shown significant improvement for this group. To improve the care at CBEGC-DF a restructuring was drawn, by hiring more professional, by ergonomic systematic approach, by the acquisition of animals of various sizes appropriating the size of the animal to the practitioner and the mediator in order to minimize cases of DORTA. Purchase of ergonomic and entertainment materials, for better use of the horse. Reduction of the number of visits per period with an interval of 20 minutes between sessions so that the professionals can do stretching and record of the session.

Country: Brazil

Profile of the participants who are attending the National Association of Equine therapy

P3 Author: MARGUERITE WEITH ([email protected]) Country: France

A retrospective study by review of medical records of 658 individuals who underwent the treatment of Equine therapy at the Basic General Centre for Equine therapy Carracho (ANDE-BRASIL) from 1990 to 2007. This study aimed to verify the profile of the practitioners in order to observe which individuals might be benefited from the Equine therapy, with the aim of improving the model and health care. This was collected: age, sex, pathology and treatment gains observed with a total of 208 patients. Those who did not have completed the data for analysis

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On behalf of the Fitram On behalf of the Fitram (International Federation of Therapies and Assistance through Mediation; NGO participative of the Council of Europe), I would like to share with you my thoughts on the question. "Wie sag´ ich´s meinem Kinde?" I think we all know that it is not easy to explain to outsiders - who sometimes express their amazement at our results - what, exactly, we do with an animal.

This is particularly true in the case of therapy with horses and this misunderstanding seems an obstacle to the official recognition of our practices, with recognized status and remuneration. This means that in the present situation anything goes: some equestrian centres in France do "horse-riding for disabled" in their off-peak hours and the trainings proposed vary from two days to 700 hours. The Fitram was created in order to find a solution to this problem: Being an organization, which is present in seven European countries we decided to turn to the European institutions in the hope of introducing a minimum of recognition and order. To say the least, we have introduced the animal, especially the horse, in the Council of Europe. Until then, it was only known as object of mistreat, and not as subject of mediation. "Europe" is composed of at least two different bodies: the European Union in Brussels and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. As the saying goes in Strasbourg: "Brussels has the money, we have the brains!" In Brussels the so-called Social Protection Committee is in charge of the implementation of the "white paper on services of general interests" which controls the "quality of services defining quality principles " and promotes academic research. The "General directorate for education and culture" is working since April 2008 on a "European Qualification Framework" (EQF) of which the outlines will be presented for signature, before 2010, to all the member States who will have the possibility to adapt the contents to their local contingencies. We sincerely hope that in this context there will be a possibility to include a law on therapy with horses. Through which canals can we proceed in this direction? 1. Through the Council of Europe This body has adopted a "partial agreement in the social and public health field" with an executive called the "committee for the readaptation and integration of the disabled" which has set up an action-plan called "Disability Action", leading from 2006 to 2015. This plan recommends member States to lean on habilitated non- government organisations to follow up the " good practices " in this field and to report them, via an ad hoc working group moderated by an international NGO, to the Council Thus the Fitram, which has been accepted in 2008 as a full participative member of the Coalition of international NGO´s of the Council , is invited to provide films, real-life stories, reflections etc, which we hope to do with the help of you all! 2. Through the E.U. In Brussels there is a very active "European association of service providers for persons with disabilities" (EASPD) this huge federation has adapted the EQF to the persons with disabilities (EQPF) and created the EUROPEAN CARE CERTIFICATE (ECC) based on the comprehension of the life-quality of the concerned persons, taking in account their dignity, equality of opportunities, independence of life, participation in social life, physical and

psychological well-being, the development of their personality and self-consciousness. It's ambition is to become the "basic entry certificate in the care sector to be recognized across Europe. It hopes to promote a common EU wide understanding of the values and quality we should find in social services". The Fitram as a partner of the EASPD has received precious help from them in order to find our way through the maze of European institutions. We hope too that you will be convinced by our approach and join our efforts.

P4 Author: HEIDI BRADY ([email protected]) Country: United States

Principles of hippotherapy as a service-based learning course within a university curriculum a ten year perspective Objectives: Recently there has been an increasing emphasis among educators to develop service-based learning courses within existing curricula in a university setting. The number of universities now offering servicebased learning curricula has exploded in recent years. At Texas Tech University, a collaborative program has been established to offer training in the field of equine assisted therapy including hippotherapy. Our program has won numerous national awards including being one of the Texas Tech programs highlighted in the President's Honour Roll for Service and the USDA Exemplary Teaching Award for Service based learning. Benefits of hippotherapy to the riders with disabilities has been well characterized, however, we have also documented the lifechanging experience of our students participating n our courses. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of our service based learning class, "Principles of Hippotherapy", on undergraduate students. Methods: Principles of Hypnotherapy (Animal Science 3309) was first offered in 1998. It is now taught each semester and both summer sessions and is open to students from all majors. To date, over 400 students from 27 majors have taken the class. Students also work with paediatric physical, occupational and speech therapists in weekly labs. The structure of the class involves a lecture component and a weekly two hour lab session, which are the hands-on hippotherapy sessions with the disabled children. Within these labs, teams of three students are assigned to work with one disabled child for the entire semester as they ride for their one-hour weekly therapy session. Their roles include acting for the children to ensure safety and helping with the implementation of therapy. Two methods were used to evaluate the impact of this experience on the undergraduates enrolled in this

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class. An instructor-designed post-course questionnaire was administered to all students (n=90) from 4 semesters. This questionnaire presented questions probing student attitudes towards the course and towards disabilities. In addition, a standard university-wide course evaluation form was administered for 7 semesters at the end of the course. A comments section of this measurement tool summarized voluntary reflection towards the overall course. Students were encouraged to evaluate the effects of the course, children, and overall experience of participating in this class. Results: The instructor-designed post-course questionnaire presented questions probing student attitudes towards the course and towards disabilities. It is clear that service-based learning provides an excellent opportunity for students to be more involved and interested in the subject matter. It was found that 84% of the students felt that they were changed by taking this course. Also, it was striking that 98.9% of the students felt that they had a better understanding of what children with disabilities face and 100% of the students felt that they has a better understanding of what families with children with disabilities face. Overall themes in the reflective comments included appreciation for their own health and an appreciation of what these children face on a daily basis. Many felt that this was a life-changing experience. Conclusion: Service-based learning classes can play an important role in the undergraduate student learning experience. Working with disabled children in an academic setting has significant positive effects on students. Many of these students plan to make a career of therapeutic riding, thus we feel that by offering this program, many children across the United States may be positively impacted as a result of our graduates. Based on our findings, we believe that service based curricula is highly advantageous to students and that the combination of serve based learning and hippotherapy is an excellent model that can be implemented in universities world-wide.

P5 Author: MASAYO IHARA ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Masahiro Ihara Misato Doumura

Country: Japan

History of RDA Utsunomiya and the present status of therapeutic riding in Japan RDA stands for Riding for the Disabled Association. RDA Japan was established in 1986. There are 17 units at the moment but only ? facilities are active under the name of RDA. There are other units that are active under NARHA instructors or under the Japanese Association of Riding

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for the Disabled, and others that are individual pony clubs. As the activities of RDA are not well known publicly, "Riding for the Disabled" is, as you may say, still at the starting line in Japan. I came to know about RDA through the Internet in 2001. After attending RDA activities as a volunteer at RDA Yokohama for a year and a half, I started giving lectures to the members of Utsunomiya City local Lion's and Rotary Clubs, and to city and prefecture staff. We then established RDA Utsunomiya in June 2003 in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, about 100km north of Tokyo. Utsunomiya has a population of about 500,000. We began with one horse and one instructor, giving pre-opening lessons to volunteers. We now have 13 horses treating 34 patients and we give 160 lessons per month. About 40% of our patients are physically disabled, 30% have autism or a related disease, and about 30% have a form of mental retardation. 2 instructors hold those 160 lessons with support from 2 internships and 60 volunteers. On their first day, we record each patient's level of basal disease, motor and verbal development, social relationships, and communication skills. We then video record their first ride during the beginning of treatment, and again after about a year of riding to compare their improvement. For specific patients, we also compare Roentgenograms of hip joints and vertebrae before and after a lesson once a year. We make individual lesson plans specialized for each patient, and after choosing an end point for each lesson, the lesson is documented and evaluated by a "side walker", (a helper who walks along the side of the horse as the patient rides), the instructor, and a lesson leader. In 2006, we gave a report and analysis of the data accumulated through our activities at 2 medical conferences. In 2007 we started giving lectures to students at medical, veterinary and welfare universities. We also began holding riding lessons for the students. Our present task is to lobby for the creation of a governmentally administered license for instructors of disabled riding therapy programs like RDA, and to establish a public economic support system for riders. In 2006 we established a welfare facility to facilitate job placement for physically and mentally challenged individuals. This was primarily to ensure that children attending RDA Utsunomiya will have an opportunity to find jobs and be active, productive members of society. Until recently, government assistance to the disabled was mainly aimed at placing them in the care of welfare facilities or relatives. Welfare services differ depending on the type of disability, while public assistance to help the disabled find jobs has been inadequate. However, in 2005 the Japanese National Diet passed a law creating a system to help the disabled be more self-reliant and boost funding for such assistance, indicating that progress is being made.

P6 Author: BONNIE DEPUE ([email protected]) Country: United States

Straight from the horse's back What do you do when the doctors tell you there is nothing you can do for your child's scoliosis? This is a case study of a seven year old girl who is diagnosed with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital. At three she was also diagnosed with scoliosis. By six years old, the curvature had progressed to seventy-six degrees despite the use of a TLSO (thoracic lumbar sacral orthotic) brace. "The doctors and therapists had all told us that there was nothing that could be done to improve her condition except surgery". Therapeutic riding has been part of her life all these years and has played an important role in her continued flexibility. She had been participating for several years in this inherently therapeutic and social recreational activity. However, at the news of her scoliosis progression to 76 degrees curvature of the spine, the therapist at C.H.U.M. Therapeutic Riding, Inc. suggested hippotherapy with specific positioning on the horse to address the curvatures while the family took the next three months to investigate the suggested surgery. It was widely asserted by professionals that at this point one could maybe stabilize but certainly could not change or reverse the curvature. The only change in her therapy was the way in which the horse was now used. The gradable three dimensional movement of the horse was used while she was in specific positions with the therapist on the horse to increase the flexibility and rotation to her spine, to give input and to facilitate strengthening of the over stretched muscles to improve her alignment. Over the next three months change was measured by her doctors and radiologists at University of Michigan. This gave the family hope and time to continue with this process. One year later her scoliosis measured at forty degrees. This is a change for the good of 36 degrees! In this session you will hear this very special case. You will be shown what has been done during that year and the astounding results along the way. This case prompts so many questions and begs for further research. The possibility that the results can be replicated and those children can be spared the cycle of invasive surgeries and even braces when caught at the early stages with the help of the horse cannot be made light of or overlooked in this industry…or in the medical industry.

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P7 Author: NEZABRAVKA GENCHEVA ([email protected]) Country: Bulgaria

Bulgarian model of hippoterapy and therapeutic riding training and education The aim of this report was to describe the organization of Bulgarian model of Hippoterapy and Therapeutic riding training and education carried out by the National Association of Therapeutic Horseback riding and Hippotherapy "Ustrem" and the National Sports Academy in Sofia. The Ustrem Association was established in 2001. The objective of the Association is: to create special programs of Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy for persons with physical, sensory and mental disabilities; to conduct training and to carry out participation in riding competitions for healthy and disabled people; to organize and take part in programs and courses for training specialists in Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy; The Master´s program in Adapted Physical Activity was established as a separate part of the Master's degree of education in National Sports Academy in 2004 and the training by Therapeutic riding and Hippotherapy were included in the education of the students. The courses of Therapeutic riding and the organisation of adapted competitions are supported by Bachelor Students of Physiotherapy and Master students with specialization in Adapted physical activity in National Sports Academy with coordination of Ustrem National association. Results: The courses stimulate positive emotions and develop social integration of children and adolescents with some sort of disability. In the same time the Hippotherapy and Therapeutic riding courses improve educational quality and professional training of students in the field of Physiotherapy and Adapted Physical Activities. Conclusion: This model of coordination between nongovernmental organisation and University is an example for concrete realization of social politics according to the European criteria for equality, accessibility and a society without barriers.

P8 Author: KAROL HORNACEK ([email protected]) Country: Slovakia

Hippotherapy evaluating tests of postural-locomotion functions Based on clinical experience we know that HT significantly influences postural and locomotion functions (PLFs).

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Although we have certain possibilities of objective conclusions of the influence clinically (GMFM, Tinetti scale) as well as through auxiliary examination methods (posturography, APAS), their utilization has not always been satisfactory and accessible. Simultaneously we may establish that in spite of all the efforts (Heipertzs), the specific test for evaluating the influence of HT itself, recording its complex influence on PLFs, has not been used internationally in a wider scale. Therefore, we have created a 5 degree hippotherapy evaluating test (HET) (Hornacek, Hanusovska, Palenikova, Kralikova). It consists of 18 evaluations of gross and fine motor skills. We evaluated the following: mounting the horse, sitting on the horse, adjusting to the movement of the horse, holding of the upper body, of the pelvis, of the lower extremities, of the shoulders, and the walking. Some functions are evaluated both when the horse is standing still and when the horse is walking. Besides this, we also evaluate the ability to grasp and the counter pressure of the thumb. The norm is represented by degree 1 and the absence of the function by degree 5. This corresponds to the number of points in the statistical evaluation of the test as well. Later we created a more sensitive 10 degree HET (Hornacek, Kafkova, Palenikova). In its several evaluations, some degrees are divided into subdegrees A and B, A meaning the number of points corresponding to the given degree and B being even 0.5 points more. The test comprises 19 evaluations and it is broadened by an examination of the balance in the sitting position on the horse with eyes closed and with eyes opened. The 5 and 10 degree HET is being used in the clinical as well as the research evaluation of the influence of HT on PLFs. It is used mainly with patients with both central lesions of the nervous system and functional defects of the motor system. We may use the whole test or only its parts, depending on the objective of the observation. Although HET allows for flexible modification in the choice of evaluation methods with their different numbers, it enables us to group patients according to the clinical diagnosis since their state can be easily mathematically evaluated before and after the therapy. Patients can be ranked into 3 groups according to the percentage or the number of points: 1. slight up to 35%, 2. moderately serious up to 65%, 3. serious defects above 65%. Concise evaluation can also be done through graph comparisons in which on the ax "x" there are individual evaluations, and on the ax "y" there are 5 or 10 degree scales. HET examination can be combined with an examination of comfort levels of 3, 5 or 7 degrees (Hornacek) according to the evaluating abilities of the patient and with the evaluation of spasticity through modification scales according to Ashworth. With the 5 degree HET, we use a 6 degree scale (Bohannom, Smith), and the 10 degree HET is combined with a 10 degree scale (Hornacek). Our tests offer a number of modifications of their utilization. They also challenge a discussion with regards to their further modifications or to creation of completely new

evaluation scales, in an effort to record the influence of HT on PLFs in the most sensitive and complex way. They could be used internationally in the clinical practice as well as for research purposes, which in return can support development and acceptance of HT in the world. Keywords: Hippotherapy evaluating test, well being, posture.

P9 Author: ANJA SAGER ([email protected]) Co-Authors:

Dieter Pöhlau Marion Drache Bettina Schaar Country: Germany

Pilot study on the evaluation of hippotherapy in the course of treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Hippotherapy (Greek. "hippos" = horse, "therapia" = therapy, treatment) is a physiotherapeutic treatment of an individual patient that uses the movement of the horse. Today hippotherapy is considered a component and supplement to physiotherapeutic treatment measures and finds application especially for disorders of the CNS in children and adults. The movement, the body and the nature of the horse are all components of the treatment success. Therapeutically valuable, three-dimensional oscillating impulses emanating from the walking gait of the horse are communicated to the patient sitting upright on the horse's back. Objective: The pilot study carried out in 2007, in which 16 MS patients took part twice a week in a three-month hippotherapy intervention investigated the effects of hippotherapy in the areas of balance, spasticity, ability to walk and quality of life of MS patients. Methods: The Pilot Study is a Single-group, A-B-A experiment with initial, interim and final testing. During the threemonth treatment, 16 MS patients came twice weekly to individual thirty-minute hippotherapy sessions. The balance capability was determined using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) is a scale to assess the spastic increase in muscle tone. Walking ability was tested by the 10-meter walking test. The SF-36 health status questionnaire was used to assess the influence of hippotherapy on the Quality of life of the Patients. The test group comprised 13 female and three male subjects (N = 16, age: 44.81 (± 9.18) years; disease duration was 10.44 (± 8.66) years; EDSS was 4.5 - 6.5). Results: The balance capability of the test subjects shows significant changes between the initial and interim test (p=0.033) and very significant changes between the initial and final test (p=0.002). The balance capability of the MS patients improved continually in the course of the study. In the 10-meter walking test, the patients walked a

distance of 10 meters as fast as they could. A significant deviation (p=0.009) is shown between the results before and after the conducted therapy. Accordingly, a short-term effect of hippotherapy was that the patients showed a higher walking speed. The Modified Ashworth Scale is a scale to assess the spastic increase in muscle tone. There was a highly significant difference in the spasticity of the patients before and after hippotherapy (p