RESEARCH PROJECT INTO EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY/
LEARNING AND THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP
Information sheet for Social Workers, Teachers, Carers and Parents
Who is doing the research?
Hannah Burgon is undertaking research into Therapeutic Horsemanship (TH) and Equine
Assisted Learning (EAT/L) as part of a PhD at Cardiff University. Hannah is a qualified social
worker and project manager of a TH project to be included in the study.
What are Therapeutic Horsemanship and Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning?
These interventions are new approaches to working with young people by employing the horse
as a therapeutic and educational medium. Being with animals has been proven to have many
therapeutic benefits and horses, especially, offer unlimited potential in terms of promoting
greater self-esteem and self-confidence as well as teaching responsibility together with the
obvious physical and mental health benefits associated with being outdoors in the natural
environment.
What is the purpose of the research?
To date very little research has been carried out into TH and EAT/L. This study hopes to
provide further insight into the interventions and so contribute to further research, thereby
assisting in providing an evidence-base to EAT/L and TH in the future.
Who is being invited to participate?
Children and young people who are participating or referred to EAL/T and TH projects will be
invited to become involved in the research. This will take place through Hannah conducting
the research as a participant observer/assistant and/or asking them to complete a small
questionnaire/participate in a semi-structured interview depending on their wishes.
The research will make no difference, nor have any effect, on the sessions, as the purpose of
the study is to look at what is happening, and naturally occurring, between the child/young
person and the horses in a session.
Children/young people can choose how long they wish to take part, from just one session or
throughout the year of the project, depending on how long they participate in the programme
and/or wish to take part.
Obtaining consent
All children and young people identified will be provided with a separate information sheet
(enclosed) and asked if they would consider taking part in the study prior to being visited to
discuss their possible involvement.
Children and young people will be given plenty of time to consider the implications of the
research and encouraged to talk to their carers/parents/socialworker/teacher etc about it before
agreeing to participate. Not participating in the research will in no way influence whether a
child/young person can access the equine sessions and they will be made aware that they can
withdraw from the research at any time without it having any effect on their continuing
participation in equine sessions.
The research hopes to involve the children/young people by employing a participatory
approach so that they have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the research. This
includes choosing whether they wish to provide written consent or verbal consent. The person
who holds responsibility (local authority/parent) will be asked to provide written consent in all
cases.
Confidentiality
All information that is collected during the research will be strictly anonymised and all names
changed, with the children/young people being asked to choose their own pseudonym if they
wish. The location, other staff, horses and any other identifying factors will also be
anonymised in any reports or publications arising from the research. All children/young
people and other relevant parties will have the opportunity to comment on any articles prior to
publication as part of the participatory nature of the research.
The Data Protection Act will be adhered to with all material stored in a locked filing cabinet as
is current project policy.
A child protection policy is in place that will be followed as standard procedure during the
research.
The project has the full support and consent of the equine projects involved and Cardiff
University School of Social Sciences Ethics Committee.
Contact Information
If you would like more information about the research project please contact;
Hannah Burgon
01803 866248 or 07958 356114
email: hannahburgon@hotmail.com or BurgonHL@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff University
Cardiff School of Social Sciences
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3WT
Cardiff University
Cardiff School of Social Sciences
Glamorgan Building
King Edward VII Avenue
Cardiff CF10 3WT
Consent Form
Equine Assisted Therapy/Learning and Therapeutic Horsemanship research project
Name of Researcher
Hannah Burgon
Please initial
1. I………………………………………………….. confirm that I have read and
understood the information sheets enclosed and had any questions
about the research answered to my satisfaction
(participant)
2. I give my consent to take part in the study and understand that I
can withdraw from the research at any time without it affecting my
participation in EAT/TH/Equine Activities
(participant)
3. I confirm that I have read and understood the information sheets
enclosed and had any questions about the research answered
satisfaction
(SW/Parent/carer/teacher)
4. I give my consent for ………………………………………………………………………….
to take part in the study and understand that s/he can withdraw from
the research at any time without affecting participation in
EAT/TH/Equine Activities
(SW/Parent/carer/teacher)
Name of person participating in study………………………………………………………………………………………(Print name)
Signature…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………Date…………………………………….
Person with consent authority…………………………………………………………………………………………………….(Print name)
(Parent/Carer/Social Worker/Teacher etc
Signature of above ………………………………………………………………………………………………Date…………………………………….
Copy for participant/person with authorised consent and copy for research file