The therapeutic effects of working with Dartmoor Ponies: a pathfinding project

Authors

Dawn Chaplin, University of Plymouth

Document Type

Project Article

Abstract

The area of Animal Assisted Therapy, and in particular therapy with Equines, was investigated to assess whether this sort of therapy could contribute to Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL). It was proposed that quantitative and qualitative measures would suggest an increase in social and emotional functioning following an Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) intervention. Three ‘at-risk’ adolescent males were nominated by teaching staff to participate in a quasi-experimental research design, whereby measures were taken but no variables manipulated. Quantitative data provided weak support for the hypothesis although qualitative data suggested an improvement in functioning followed by a decline in two of the participant’s behaviour. It was concluded that EFL provided a basis for social and emotional development.

Publication Date

2010-12-01

Publication Title

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Volume

3

Issue

2

First Page

60

Last Page

91

ISSN

1754-2383

Deposit Date

May 2019

Embargo Period

2024-07-03

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Chaplin, Dawn (2010) "The therapeutic effects of working with Dartmoor Ponies: a pathfinding project," The Plymouth Student Scientist: Vol. 3: Iss. 2, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24382/0gb0-ca95
Available at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/tpss/vol3/iss2/1