Benefits of an experimental program of equestrian therapy for children with ADHD.
BACKGROUND
Equestrian therapy has been shown to be a useful instrument in the sphere of the emotional wellbeing and mental health of different population groups.


OBJECTIVE
To empirically determine the effects of a program of equestrian therapy on quality of life and various psychosocial variables of a group of 14 pupils diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), aged from 7 to 14 years.


METHODS
A quasi-experimental design, with a pre-test and a post-test, was implemented with an experimental group and a control group. The program consisted of 24 biweekly sessions, therefore lasting some 3 months. The data acquisition instruments used were: the "Behavior Assessment System for Children" (BASC) and an ad-hoc quality of life questionnaire.


RESULTS
The results deriving from the teachers' responses and the different scales of the BASC showed no significant group differences, but for the experimental group there was an improvement in the indicator corresponding to interpersonal relationships in the quality-of-life questionnaire.


CONCLUSIONS
It would seem that it is currently possible to recommend this activity, for this target population, as a sporting activity that provides similar benefits to other physical activities, but which is still far from being able to be recognized as a therapeutic activity.
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Teacher Training, University of Extremadura, Campus Universitario, Av. de la Universidad, s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: agarcil9@unex.es.
Andrés
A
García-Gómez
Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education, University of Extremadura, Av. de Elvas, s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain. Electronic address: marta.rodriguez.jimenez@gmail.com.
Marta
M
Rodríguez-Jiménez
Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education, University of Extremadura, Av. de Elvas, s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain. Electronic address: eloisa@unex.es.
Eloísa
E
Guerrero-Barona
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Teacher Training, University of Extremadura, Campus Universitario, Av. de la Universidad, s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: rjjcarlos@gmail.com.
Jesús Carlos
JC
Rubio-Jiménez
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Teacher Training, University of Extremadura, Campus Universitario, Av. de la Universidad, s/n, 10071, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: inesgape@hotmail.com.
Inés
I
García-Peña
Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education, University of Extremadura, Av. de Elvas, s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain. Electronic address: jmmanso@unex.es.
Juan Manuel
JM
Moreno-Manso
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D066107:Social Skills; D058013:Test Taking Skills; D016896:Treatment Outcome
ADHD; Adapted riding; Personal relationships; Quality of life