The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study
Adaptive or therapeutic riding (A/TR) is a recreational activity which provides mounted and ground-based horsemanship opportunities adapted to the abilities of the participants. A/TR provides physical and psychological benefits to participants with diverse disabilities, including physical, developme...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1303991/full |
| _version_ | 1797447921736613888 |
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| author | Moriah R. Hanson Kathy Alm Beth Fields Robin Gabriels Arlene A. Schmid Lorann Stallones B. Caitlin Peters B. Caitlin Peters |
| author_facet | Moriah R. Hanson Kathy Alm Beth Fields Robin Gabriels Arlene A. Schmid Lorann Stallones B. Caitlin Peters B. Caitlin Peters |
| author_sort | Moriah R. Hanson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adaptive or therapeutic riding (A/TR) is a recreational activity which provides mounted and ground-based horsemanship opportunities adapted to the abilities of the participants. A/TR provides physical and psychological benefits to participants with diverse disabilities, including physical, developmental, cognitive, and age-related disabilities, promoting higher quality of life. A/TR professionals may be limited in their capacity to implement outcome assessments and report the benefits of their community-based A/TR services to a broad audience. The purpose of this study was to identify whether and how A/TR professionals currently measure participant outcomes; benefits and barriers to implementing standardized assessments in A/TR; and characteristics which would make assessments useful in the community-based A/TR environment. To address this purpose, we conducted a survey among A/TR professionals. We found that while A/TR professionals measure outcomes among their participants, they typically do not use standardized assessments. Survey respondents believed benefits of implementing standardized assessments included bolstering the A/TR profession, acquiring funding, and communicating about A/TR services to a broad audience. Respondents also identified several barriers to implementing standardized assessments including time, systemic, and expertise constraints. Respondents reported that useful standardized assessments would be relevant to all age groups and populations who receive A/TR services. Finally, respondents shared that for standardized assessments to be useful, they would need to be low-cost, require less than 10–20 min, and available in either paper or computer format. This study revealed that standardized assessments may be a strong support to the A/TR profession; however, assessments must meet the unique needs of A/TR professionals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:02:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-630f5ac7e0224ae3a3b53d26f1055b8d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:02:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-630f5ac7e0224ae3a3b53d26f1055b8d2023-11-30T06:49:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-11-011010.3389/fvets.2023.13039911303991The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey studyMoriah R. Hanson0Kathy Alm1Beth Fields2Robin Gabriels3Arlene A. Schmid4Lorann Stallones5B. Caitlin Peters6B. Caitlin Peters7Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesProfessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, Denver, CO, United StatesDepartment of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesAnschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, One Health Institute, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesDepartment of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesTemple Grandin Equine Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United StatesAdaptive or therapeutic riding (A/TR) is a recreational activity which provides mounted and ground-based horsemanship opportunities adapted to the abilities of the participants. A/TR provides physical and psychological benefits to participants with diverse disabilities, including physical, developmental, cognitive, and age-related disabilities, promoting higher quality of life. A/TR professionals may be limited in their capacity to implement outcome assessments and report the benefits of their community-based A/TR services to a broad audience. The purpose of this study was to identify whether and how A/TR professionals currently measure participant outcomes; benefits and barriers to implementing standardized assessments in A/TR; and characteristics which would make assessments useful in the community-based A/TR environment. To address this purpose, we conducted a survey among A/TR professionals. We found that while A/TR professionals measure outcomes among their participants, they typically do not use standardized assessments. Survey respondents believed benefits of implementing standardized assessments included bolstering the A/TR profession, acquiring funding, and communicating about A/TR services to a broad audience. Respondents also identified several barriers to implementing standardized assessments including time, systemic, and expertise constraints. Respondents reported that useful standardized assessments would be relevant to all age groups and populations who receive A/TR services. Finally, respondents shared that for standardized assessments to be useful, they would need to be low-cost, require less than 10–20 min, and available in either paper or computer format. This study revealed that standardized assessments may be a strong support to the A/TR profession; however, assessments must meet the unique needs of A/TR professionals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1303991/fulltherapeutic ridingadaptive ridingequine-assisted servicesadaptive recreationstandardized assessment |
| spellingShingle | Moriah R. Hanson Kathy Alm Beth Fields Robin Gabriels Arlene A. Schmid Lorann Stallones B. Caitlin Peters B. Caitlin Peters The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study Frontiers in Veterinary Science therapeutic riding adaptive riding equine-assisted services adaptive recreation standardized assessment |
| title | The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study |
| title_full | The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study |
| title_fullStr | The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study |
| title_short | The potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive/therapeutic horseback riding: a survey study |
| title_sort | potential usefulness of standardized assessments to measure participant outcomes of adaptive therapeutic horseback riding a survey study |
| topic | therapeutic riding adaptive riding equine-assisted services adaptive recreation standardized assessment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1303991/full |
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