CHARITABLE TRUST • Stephanie Lavington
Equine therapy brings benefits to students with learning difficulties Stephanie Lavington of Bishop Burton College, East Yorkshire, used a Farmers Club Charitable Trust Scholarship to visit the University of Ohio, USA, to further her knowledge of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT), for use in particular with students who have learning difficulties, behavioural problems and disabilities. Here is a prĂŠcis of her report.
BISHOP BURTON College (BBC) is recognised, worldwide, for the quality of its students and its excellence of training up to degree level. My job, at BBC, is as a lecturer, training system designer and course manager, within the Equine Department. The courses for which I am responsible are for young people with learning and behavioural difficulties. The methods I have developed, using horses, as well as for training my support staff are unique in the UK, and the results have been remarkable in turning out successful youngsters with a chance to do well as viable adults. The positive results achieved by this innovative form of Further Education, is proof of its effectiveness.
Successful courses Following the success of my courses, using established college facilities, senior management has backed my ideas to expand the scope of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) by allocating partial funding for a dedicated training yard and learning facilities.
As the line manager, who has successfully argued for further investment in new EAT facilities, I needed to know as much as possible about the subject. There is no other comparable institution in UK doing similar work. However, equine departments at BBC and the University of Ohio exchange visits, bursaries and expertise from time to time, and it was therefore appropriate that I should visit Ohio to research what they do in regard to EAT. Consequently, I applied to The Farmers’ Club Charitable Trust for a Bursary, in March 2002, to fund a visit to Ohio State University to study Equine Assisted Therapy. After due consideration, the Trustees and Selection Panel decided that my study only partially fitted the Trusts’ Farming Criteria, but members of the Panel were sufficiently impressed with my aims to make a one-off exception. I was, therefore, awarded a Travelling Scholarship of £2,000. My employers, Bishop Burton College, were delighted to accept, as they appreciate the benefits of the work, and agreed to supplement the award. An article and photograph about my scholarship were published in the Hull Daily Mail.
Stimulating experience My visit to Ohio took place in late August 2002, when I flew from Gatwick to Cincinnati. The next day I collected a hire car to orientate myself to my surroundings and enable me to be independent. Driving alone in a country that I had never visited before, and on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, was a stimulating experiences for which I am grateful. On a daily basis, I commuted between my hotel and the University. Visits to equine events and facilities in Kentucky and West Virginia made me aware of the vastness of the United States. At the end of the project, I had driven 700 miles and was confident enough to drive myself back to the airport on busy highways. My Ohio colleague, Kelly Davidson, had similar interests, both professionally and personally, and we established an instant friendship. Interestingly, she ran her own
equine therapy programme at home, using her own horses, in beautiful rural surroundings, as well as teaching in the Ohio University Equine Department. The objectives of my visit were to see the horses, specialised facilities and training systems used for the purpose of equine therapy. My intention was to supplement my existing knowledge to the benefit of the young people I teach with learning difficulties, behavioural problems and those lacking in confidence, to enable them to establish worthwhile and viable lives, independence and income.
Special relationship People who work with animals will have observed the special relationships that develop between individual animals and those that care for them. For instance, I have often observed especially sensitive partnerships between individual horses and young people who have both been badly treated. With professional supervision and guidance, these relationships result in young people accepting responsibility for the welfare of the horse, which is a major step forward. The process of taking on responsibilities for the horse helps develop an ability to care, a sense of accountability and self respect in other areas of their lives. With properly trained, dedicated staff and facilities, it is possible to bring about significant change within one academic year. Nothing quite succeeds like success and the students often go on to Further Education within the college. My first two days were spent helping at The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Show. This organisation is the US equivalent of the UK’s Riding for the Disabled. The following three days, being public holidays, were spent at Kelly’s facilities with her horses, studying EAT videos and exchanging training ideas on EAT. My conclusion was that EAT is similarly effective in whatever national context, and that my plans for BBC courses and facilities were on the right lines.
The Tuesday following the public holiday was spent visiting the Dean of another Campus, within the University of Ohio, to discuss the possibilities of running an EAT course at his site. The interview, at senior level, was extremely useful to me as it gave me an in-depth picture of the whole programme. The exchange of ideas also helped me to formulate my strategic plan. The following weekend involved attending an EAT training course run for volunteers. This weekend was not as structured as I would have hoped, but very informative nonetheless. The remainder of my time in Ohio was spent at Kentucky Horse Park, a wonderful experience for any horsey person and another opportunity to observe training for those with disabilities and learning difficulties.
Returning home I returned from my two weeks in the US with armfuls of information, training programmes and references for further study. I had purchased a digital camera, especially for the trip, and brought back many images of the horses, people and facilities I visited. You will see for instance the superb stabling and menages. Since returning to the UK, I have had time to consider my objectives, in the light of my visit to a prestigious American university that has specialists in this area and access to first class facilities‌ even though America and Britain have a different structure to the funding of education. Following my visit, I designed an equine yard specially equipped for the purpose of developing equine assisted therapy at Bishop Burton College. This project has now been short-listed for funding in the near future.
In the meantime, I have defined the objectives for future professional qualifications for the training of EAT staff nationwide. We hope that BBC will be the national centre of excellence from which similar, related facilities will be established nationally and internationally. I intend that a Higher Education qualification will be developed, incorporating all the necessary skills, including the teaching of equitation, stable management and psychology, alongside an understanding of students with learning difficulties, behavioural problems and disabilities. Least you think this is rocket science, or mumbo jumbo, my new yard will look at first glance like any other yard‌ and so it should be, to encourage the integration of all students. The difference is in the experience I have gained from six years of working with young people, sometimes with severe disabilities, who cannot safely cope with standard facilities. For instance, all saddle racks will be at wheelchair height. I am sure Journal readers will be able to envisage other instances whereby access and safety will be improved. This yard will not only further equine assisted therapy but will enhance our Riding for the Disabled facilities at the College.
Special programme My visit to Ohio was a two-way exchange of experience and expertise. For instance, I am the only person in the UK who has developed and run a programme specially designed for students with learning difficulties, disabilities and behavioural problems. Realising that my course is portable and marketable, I published an accredited course for ASET (awarding body) which is deliverable from equine establishments that have the necessary expertise and equipment. I discovered, to my surprise, that there is no equivalent course in the US for the provision of specialised education for those with learning difficulties and disabilities in full-time education.
In conclusion, I can safely say that my visit to Ohio has resulted in reinforcement of a very special relationship with the two institutions to the potential betterment of education for young people. The experience has helped me, both personally and professionally, to develop a strategic plan, armed with the knowledge and confidence that I have been working with the right aims and objectives. To further my ambitions, all I need now are the facilities and the opportunity to put my project into practice. I am most grateful to The Farmers’ Club Charitable Trust for its confidence in me. Without the award, I would have been unable to develop my work further. •
Stephanie Lavington can be contacted at Bishop Burton College, Bishop Burton, Beverley, East Yorkshire HU17 8QG. Her direct line telephone number is 01964 553074.