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A review of Animal-Assisted Therapy and related terms such as "Animal-Assisted Activities" is presented as an introduction to the exploration of additional equine applications with children. Animal-Assisted Therapy has been studied, but Animal-Assisted Activities with children facing normal developmental struggles has not received much attention. Definitions and research for various animal activities and therapies are reviewed. Subsequent focus will be on equines helping children via Animal-Assisted Activities to meet normal developmental challenges. Creating parallels using a horse is an avenue to working with children, aiding them in the process of introspection, self-monitoring, self-efficacy, self-esteem, metacognitions, and overcoming angst associated with normal development hurdles. Horses can give accurate and unbiased feedback via their reactions to a child's behavior, thus increasing self-awareness of the impact of behavior on others. There are many different modalities utilizing equines, all of which have positive impacts on the individual.

Organizational effectiveness is a term without a single definition about the nonprofit community; it is difficult to define, much less measure, due to the wide disparity in that community. Inconsistency in the sector leads to an array of hypotheses in the literature addressing organizational effectiveness. Through a comprehensive examination of a single nonprofit organization, this qualitative case study examines the gap between the expectations of board performance by the nonprofit organization's senior leadership and the board members' self-perception of their governance role. The dominant self-perception of the board of directors is that their value as a governing entity is in their willingness to work hands-on in whatever volunteer roles are necessary to sustain the organization. Organizational governance is secondary to this self-characterization as a working board. This lack of focus on formal governance has resulted in a governing structure with minimal development, even as the organization itself continues to enjoy success. The case study of a single nonprofit entity suggests some recommendations for the practice of nonprofit governance in general as well as future research in the domain of nonprofit organizations that are either embryonic or have limited means available for the professional development of the board.

Learning takes place both inside and outside of the classroom. While there are a few studies that focus on the professional, developmental, and learning outcomes of participation in student organizations, there has been insufficient research on these outcomes in sport clubs. The paper reports on the results of an online, primarily qualitative questionnaire study conducted with members of collegiate student Equestrian sport clubs. Data come from 50 club members participating in such organizations at 15 institutions in the U.S. The respondents completed a survey in which they were asked about their motivation for joining the organization and what they believed they learned as a result of their participation. The respondents reported equestrian and interpersonal reasons for joining, and that participation increased their development in a number of academic and professional areas, especially in terms of work ethic or time management or balance, collaboration or communication or teamwork, and leadership.

Life skill development is essential for social empowerment and civic engagement, which are universally desirable learning outcomes. A longitudinal study using both a BRIDGE process and activity scaffolding was completed. The following hypothesis was evaluated: Structured equine experiences will result in increased third-party perception of life skill development. Multiple measures were used to assess life skills including third-party surveys, student-reflections, scholastic reports, and researcher reflections on participant experiences. A case study was conducted August 2011-March 2013, with a student participant (age = 9yr). Four phases (0, I, II, III) of activities consisting of no interactions and structured interactions were completed. During each phase repeated measures of survey respondents (N=9) were used to assess life skill development. Weekly reflection journals by student and researcher were qualitative and student scholastic reports (grades) were quantitative measures. Third-party perception showed an increase in perceived life skill development using the BRIDGE process. Scholastic improvement occurred while the student was actively participating; however, scholastic improvement was not persistent following termination of activities. This study illustrates that using a structured flexibility scaffold grounded in the BRIDGE process enhanced life skill development and highlighted the importance of mentorship in applied learning.

Providing healing support for everyone from an autistic child to a wounded veteran is just the latest addition to the horse's 5,000-year-old résumé. No animal has played a greater role in human history. Horses have carried us into war, pulled our loads, plowed our fields, and transported us over all kinds of terrain. Freed of such drudgery by motorized devices, horses now provide companionship and entertainment. This feature article traces the history of horses in North America, highlights American horse breeds, and describes the many ways Americans interact with horses including trail rides, horse shows, and equine therapy. The traditions of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) and the role of horses in popular culture are also discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of therapeutic horseback riding on social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants were 6 children with autism spectrum disorder in a special education center for autistic children in Shiraz, Iran. The hypothesis of the study was that participants would demonstrate significant improvement in social skills following a 4-week horseback riding intervention. Using a One Group Pre and Post Test design, the Stone's social skills Scale was administered to assess the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder as pretest. Then the subjects participated in a 4-week therapeutic horseback riding program consisting of two 45 minute session of riding per week. After completion of the 4-week intervention the post-test was administered. Paired-samples "t-test" was utilized to analyze the data. The results indicated that therapeutic horseback riding improves affective understanding and perspective taking, initiating interactions and maintaining interactions significantly. It can be concluded that therapeutic horseback riding has a positive effect on social skills improvement.

This review summarizes the 6 studies with nonhuman animal subjects that have appeared in the "Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis" and offers suggestions for future research in this area. Two of the reviewed articles described translational research in which pigeons were used to illustrate and examine behavioral phenomena of applied significance (say-do correspondence and fluency), 3 described interventions that changed animals' behavior (self-injury by a baboon, feces throwing and spitting by a chimpanzee, and unsafe trailer entry by horses) in ways that benefited the animals and the people in charge of them, and 1 described the use of trained rats that performed a service to humans (land-mine detection). We suggest that each of these general research areas merits further attention and that the "Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis" is an appropriate outlet for some of these publications.

This research explored parents' perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of their children's experience of receiving equine-assisted interventions (EAI). Participants were the parents of six children (aged 3-14) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcript data was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis: (1) child's improved self-concept and enhanced emotional well-being, (2) child's improved self-regulatory ability, (3) social benefits for the child, and (4) unexpected outcomes. EAI was perceived by the parents as having several levels of psychosocial benefits for their children. These benefits may also extend to parents and family through ecopsychological and "flow on" effects associated with the children's involvement in EAI programs.

Limited research exists to address Native American college student experiences and culturally appropriate ways of integrating student affairs practices (Shotton, Lowe, & Waterman, 2013). In fact, the dominant society's culture in institutions of higher education is often contradictory to, and even discriminatory toward, American Indian student populations and cultural beliefs (Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010). Because of this, Native professionals in higher education have dedicated time to develop materials to educate non-Natives about culturally appropriate ways to implement programming and to better understand American Indian student experiences on predominantly White campuses (Shotton et al., 2013). Culture and cultural teachings among Indigenous communities vary greatly, and incorporating Indigenous cultures into cocurricular programs is important and requires great care and consideration (Shotten et al., 2013). Culturally appropriate programming honors, respects, and celebrates the cultural autonomy of student participants. This is particularly important on a campus with approximately 2% self-identified Native students within a state comprised of approximately 9% Native peoples (United States Census Bureau, 2016). This article describes the development of the Sunka Wakan program at South Dakota State University (SDSU), a collaboration between the American Indian Student Center (AISC) and the Equine Science program.

This qualitative study addressed this primary question: How does talent develop among four Nebraska youth? Four highly talented Nebraska youth in the domains of baton twirling, swimming, rodeo, and both softball and music were interviewed along with their parents and coaches. Results revealed unique talent stories and commonalities among those stories. The stories described a "twirling talent trilogy" that involved coordinated efforts among student, parent, and coach; a "swimmer with all hands on deck" that involved supportive family, strong coaching, and center of excellence; a "one-horse talent hotbed" with a talent-equipped ranch and rodeo coaching parents; and a "father-influenced music and softball double play" where a father led the way to dual talents. The commonalities among stories included hard work, focus on fundamentals, prior family links to the talent domain, extraordinary parent involvement, and a parent-engineered environment for talent development. The limited roles schools play in fostering talent and parenting implications were also addressed.

This systematic mapping review mapped current knowledge of equine-assisted interventions for people with autism to help guide future practice and research. Thirty-three studies including children and adolescents with autism, 3 of which confirmed diagnoses, were reviewed. Five types of equine-assisted activities were identified across 25 studies, with reported improvements in behavior, social interaction, and communication. Four types of equine-assisted therapies were identified across 8 studies, with reported improvements in motor control and self-care. Different approaches to therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, the most studied interventions, were evident. While this literature reflected early scientific development, it offered broad proof of concept that equine-assisted interventions can benefit children and adolescents with autism. Promising outcomes support continued investigation focused on standardization, appropriateness, and efficacy.

As 4-H evolves to include a wide breadth of youths' modern interests, innovative educational opportunities and evaluation practices become necessary. Horsemanship and safety-based horse camps were created in response to a statewide challenge to develop competitive 4-H members and retain those members as they approach adolescence. This article addresses the development, implementation, and review of Arkansas's horse 4-H camps. The article content includes a practical example of Kirkpatrick's evaluation model and a description of how a goal-based evaluation led to planned program modifications.

Student motivation is a universal teaching challenge. A holistic approach to assessment was developed for cognitive and psychomotor tasks in equine studies. First-year students (n=55) were either randomly provided (PR) or not provided (NP) a rubric 3 weeks prior to skills testing. The PR students earned lower total scores (p < 0.05) than NP students (12.8 and 17.1 ± 5.3, respectively). In individual categories, PR and NP students had similar (p > 0.05) pass superior scores. Third-year students (n = 7) self-rated task performance using an affective rubric and reflection exercises. Although the original goal was to promote standardization of hands-on skills, these data indicate that students are more goal-oriented than process-oriented; furthermore, use of affective rubrics for self-assessment promoted a learner-centered approach to motivation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize pelvic displacement and cardiorespiratory responses to simulated horseback riding and walking in youth with cerebral palsy and to compare responses to youth without cerebral palsy before and after 8 weeks of hippotherapy. Method: Eight youth with cerebral palsy (M[subscript age] = 10 ± 4 years; M[subscript height] = 137 ± 24 cm; M[subscript weight] = 32 ± 16 kg) and 8 youth without cerebral palsy (M[subscript age] = 11 ± 2 years; M[subscript height] = 149 ± 14 cm; M[subscript weight] = 48 ± 15 kg) underwent a hippotherapy intervention. Participants completed simulated horseback riding at an intensity approximating a fast walk (0.65 Hz) and walked on a treadmill (1 mph, 0% grade) before and after hippotherapy. Pelvic displacement along the anterior-posterior, vertical, and medial-lateral axes, heart rate, oxygen consumption, ventilation, and blood pressure were measured at rest and during steady-state exercise in both exercise modes. Results: Kinematics and cardiorespiratory responses were similar between the 2 groups during simulated horseback riding (p > 0.05 for all) before the intervention. Significantly greater cardiorespiratory responses were observed in the youth with cerebral palsy compared with the group without cerebral palsy while walking before and after the intervention (p < 0.05, effect sizes 26% to 237% greater). Eight weeks of hippotherapy did not alter responses, but anecdotal improvements in gait, balance, posture, and range of motion were observed in those with cerebral palsy. Conclusion: These results contribute to our understanding regarding the efficacy of hippotherapy as an intervention to improve functional abilities in those with cerebral palsy.

To systematically review experimental evidence regarding animal-assisted therapies (AAT) for children or adolescents with or at risk for mental health conditions, we reviewed all experimental AAT studies published between 2000-2015, and compared studies by animal type, intervention, and outcomes. Studies were included if used therapeutically for children and adolescents (=21 years) with or at risk for a mental health problem; used random assignment or a waitlist comparison/control group; and included child-specific outcome data. Of 1,535 studies, 24 met inclusion criteria. Of 24 studies identified, almost half were randomized controlled trials, with 9 of 11 published in the past two years. The largest group addresses equine therapies for autism. Findings are generally promising for positive effects associated with equine therapies for autism and canine therapies for childhood trauma. The AAT research base is slim; a more focused research agenda is outlined.

This study examined whether a three-month equine-assisted learning program improved measures of character skills in two independent cohorts of Year 1 youths, in a specialized secondary school for youths with difficulties coping with mainstream curriculum. In 2013, 75 students underwent intervention while 82 students did not. In 2014, 58 students underwent intervention and 59 students were waitlisted in semester 1; cross-over was performed in semester 2. The students were rated a week before, mid-way and a week post-intervention. Results from multi-level modeling indicated that the intervention led to progressive improvements in character skills over the school semester, in the majority of the constructs measured in both the 2013 and 2014 cohorts. The rate of change in measures of character skills over the semester correlated with the grade point average of the students at semester-end. Implications and limitations of the findings are discussed.

Mollison Ryan served as the undergraduate intern for "About Campus" during the 2016-2017 academic year. She graduated from Virginia Tech in 2017 as a member of Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Creative Writing and Professional and Technical Writing. She also holds a 2016 United States Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year title and is a United States Dressage Federation bronze medalist. Here she reflects upon her experiences as a dressage competitor, describing it as a life rhythm that is inherent to her daily experience and her education. Ryan also discusses how her dedication to horses, being a riding instructor, and her passion for writing intersect as she moves ahead after graduation into the role of a full time professional writer.

Equine-assisted activities and therapies are increasing in popularity for treatment of ASD symptoms. This research evaluated effects of a 5-week programme of therapeutic riding on social functioning of children/adolescents (N = 15) with ASD. The effectiveness of the programme was evaluated using the autism spectrum quotient, the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale and the empathising and systemising quotient. Results established that the TR intervention increased empathising and reduced maladaptive behaviours. The findings also indicated that specific adaptive behaviours like socialization and communication were not affected by the intervention. Thus, a complex picture of the effects of this intervention emerges: while TR does not change all of the child's behaviour, it can improve specific aspects of social functioning and also reduce maladaptive ASD traits.

The judging of a market animal at a fair is the highlight of a youth-owned livestock project. Livestock judges are hired to evaluate youth projects at fairs. They are critical ambassadors for agriculture and influence countless youths and adults. Judges must be knowledgeable about current animal evaluation methods that support youth development. The circle of knowledgeable individuals qualified to evaluate animal projects is limited in the Intermountain West, making it difficult to find skilled judges. This necessitates hiring unqualified or untrained judges, limiting the educational experiences for participating youths. The Intermountain Livestock Judges Training was developed to train and update youth livestock judges.

The occurrence of equine abuse/neglect cases is an ongoing issue. However, officials responding to equine cases are rarely experienced in handling horses. Therefore, workshops teaching basic horse husbandry were offered to better equip and prepare officials to respond to equine cases. Trainings consisted of both classroom and hands-on sessions. Responses to a survey conducted 4 to 6 months postworkshop indicated that the training had been very beneficial during subsequent equine investigations (80%) and that officials were more prepared to assess horses (85%). Thus, Extension faculty presented basic, factual information that was relevant to the needs of officials responding to equine cases.

This study used video feedback to improve the horseback-riding skills of advanced beginning riders. We focused on 3 skill sets: those used in jumping over obstacles, dressage riding on the flat, and jumping position riding on the flat. Baseline consisted of standard lesson procedures. Intervention consisted of video feedback in which a recorded attempt at the target behavior was immediately shown to the rider and the instructor. The rider and instructor reviewed the video while the instructor delivered feedback. After the lesson, experimenters scored riding position according to checklists that corresponded to each skill. For all participants, video feedback increased their correct riding skills.

This paper explores the process of becoming within the relation between a human and a horse, and seeks to reimagine pedagogy as a relational process of "becoming-animal." In order to emphasise the relational space between a horse and a human, I begin with an experimental style of writing that traces specific moments between an actual relation between a horse and myself. Considering the relation as a singularity in this way acts as a method through which the pedagogical relation can be explored and new pedagogical images can be suggested. I then move onto to discuss Rosi Braidotti's post-humanist ideas on becoming and link these to the ideas of the "event" and of "beginnings" within the educational theory of Gert Biesta, drawing out two lines of thought. One line follows Braidotti's work on becoming-animal, and the other Paul Patton's work on the nuances of power relations between humans and horses. In conclusion, I discuss how this figuration of a halter and a lead rope in the human-horse relation helps to think pedagogy as rooted in becoming-animal and how this contributes to the development of new imaginaries of becoming.

In this study the effectiveness of an equine-assisted therapy (EAT) in improving adaptive and executive functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was examined (children attending EAT, n = 15, control group n = 13; inclusion criteria: IQ > 70). Therapeutic sessions consisted in structured activities involving horses and included both work on the ground and riding. Results indicate an improvement in social functioning in the group attending EAT (compared to the control group) and a milder effect on motor abilities. Improved executive functioning was also observed (i.e. reduced planning time in a problem-solving task) at the end of the EAT program. Our findings provide further support for the use of animal-assisted intervention programs as complementary intervention strategies for children with ASD.

Responding to calls about the need to "give voice" to groups previously marginalized in research and to challenge meta-narratives about men in sports, this paper explores the use of a narrative approach to illuminate men's experiences--and the doing of gender--within equestrian sports, a sport dominated by women in Sweden. Adopting the position of a storyteller three literary short-stories were constructed from interviews with men active in equestrianism. (Re)presenting research findings in this way evoke a lot of questions in academic circles. We have often been asked "how" the stories were constructed and how one judges whether they are representative and trustworthy. These are legitimate questions, no doubt, but questions that are of importance to all qualitative research. It is as if the writing of stories is some kind of mysterious abracadabra activity and not a deliberate and theoretically informed creative process. While reading critique of narrative ways to (re)present research findings, where some researchers suggest that narrative inquiry is a retreat from the difficult academic work of generating new and important ideas, our assumption is that it stems from this misunderstanding about story writing. And maybe the construction of stories has not been given enough attention in narrative research. The purpose of this article is therefore to illustrate the difficult but inspiring activity of transforming 19 interviews into literary short-stories and to highlight methodological concerns relating to presenting these stories. We also demonstrate that creative analytical writing is not just a way of presenting research findings but also a method of inquiry.

One major emphasis of reform initiatives in science education is the importance of extended inquiry experiences for students through authentic collaborations with scientists. As such, unique partnerships have started to emerge between science and education in an ongoing effort to capture the interest and imaginations of students as they make sense of the world around them. One such partnership is called the student-teacher-scientist partnership, in which teachers and their students participate in and contribute to the research of scientists. This article explores a partnership between a 10th-grade biology teacher, her students, and practicing scientists who collaborated in the design, implementation and evaluation of a horse evolution unit. The primary goal of the collaborative activity was to involve teachers and students in a process of conceptual change as a means of eliminating common misconceptions implicit in horse evolution displays in museums in various parts of the country. The evidence-based lessons developed enhanced students' understanding of concepts in macroevolution but also connected the science classroom with a community of scientists whose personalization of the horse evolution unit situated biological concepts and the learning experience within the context of real-world issues.

This article describes the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association's (EAGALA) experiential model called "Equine Assisted Psychotherapy" (EAP). EAGALA's model is based on the Association for Experiential Education's (AEE) tenets and is focused on the learner's experience with horses. Drawing on the historical use of equines in the healing arts, we argue that EAP is distinct from other modalities that incorporate horses because it does not promote horseback riding or horsemanship skills. We outline the EAP model, drawing connections to the AEE's principles of practice. Current research does not consistently include a common language when describing the program being investigated (sometimes not even referring to EAP or EAGALA). Therefore, this outline is needed to distinguish EAP from other models. Recommendations for future areas of inquiry include determining the degree to which EAP is effective and considering the specific variables central to its efficacy--including the characteristics of horses.

The Nebraska Equine Advancement Level Leader Certification Program is an online learning tool that clarifies principles of the Nebraska 4-H Equine Advancement Programs. Through an online Moodle course through eXtension.org, 4-H leaders and Extension educators are able to fulfill the certification requirement from any location before allowing youth to progress through the Equine Advancement Levels. Participants of the course must read required materials, watch informational videos, and complete short assessments prior to being awarded certification. Participant survey results of the online course verify the course's accessibility and feasibility and its ability to train equine leaders and educators at a distance.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of cardiorespiratory and pelvic kinematic responses to simulated horseback riding (SHBR) and to characterize responses to SHBR relative to walking in apparently healthy children. Method: Fifteen healthy children (Mage = 9.5 ± 2.6 years) completed SHBR on a commercially available simulator at low intensity (0.27 Hz) and high intensity (0.65 Hz) during 3 sessions on different occasions. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and respiratory gases were measured at rest and during steady-state exercise at both intensities. Pelvic displacement was measured during steady-state exercise. Rate of energy expenditure, mean arterial pressure, and rate pressure product (RPP) were calculated. Participants also walked on a treadmill for 26.8 m/min to 80.5 m/min in 13.4-m/min increments at 0% grade during 1 session to compare cardiorespiratory responses with those of SHBR. Results: Physiological variables across all 3 SHBR sessions were similar at both intensities (p>0.05 for all). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficients of variation indicate good to modest reliability of cardiorespiratory measures during SHBR (ICCs = 0.542-0.996 for oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, and RPP). Cardiorespiratory variables, except for HR, were 2% to 19% greater, and pelvic displacement was up to 37% greater with high-intensity riding. Treadmill walking at all speeds elicited greater physiological responses compared with SHBR (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Cardiorespiratory responses and pelvic kinematics are reproducible with SHBR in young children, and these responses were lower than those elicited by slow treadmill walking.

Early interventions aim at promoting a good mother-child relationship as basis for a good socio-emotional development, especially in high-risk populations, and at correcting already unfavorable patterns of interaction and are common today. Insecure attachment, both of the child and of the mother, has been identified as a risk factor for early regulation disorders and further child development. Based on accumulating evidence of effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions, we implemented an Equine-Assisted Intervention (EAI) as an early intervention approach for mother-child-dyads and investigated its effects in comparison to a conventional play-based early intervention (PBI) in a randomized controlled trial. Both interventions took place once a week for 45 minutes over a period of 8 weeks and aimed at improving maternal caregiving and security in the mother-child relationship. Twenty mother-child dyads (children aged 12 to 24 months) from a high-risk background, in some of which the child already displayed dysregulation symptoms, were investigated. Attachment of mother and child, maternal caregiving, and interaction within the dyad were assessed before and after the intervention. There was not statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between intervention groups with regard to changes from insecure to secure attachment or from disorganized to organized attachment, assessed via the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test. The only significant group-difference with regard to self-reported caregiving, was found for proximity maintenance in mothers without previous therapy experience (n = 8), those in the EAI reaching higher scores (p = 0.064). Play interaction, assessed via the CARE-Index, showed that mothers and children in PBI improved significantly more in their interaction behavior on several scales, while child's difficultness only significantly improved in EAI.

Quality of life assessments were used in this study to determine the behavioral changes of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in equine assisted activities. Behavioral changes of children with ASD participating in 9 weeks of equines assisted activities (EAA) (N = 10) were compared to behavioral changes of children who participated in a non-equine intervention (N = 8). Parents noted significant improvements in their child's physical, emotional and social functioning following the first 6 weeks of EAA. The children participating in the non-equine program also demonstrated improvement in behavior, but to a lesser degree. The favorable outcome of this study lends support for continuation of programs utilizing EAA in the treatment of children with ASD.

Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were used to examine the influence of riding on the identity construction of people with disabilities. The 15 participants, three men and 12 women, were between 15 and 65 years old and have various physical disabilities. The data analysis derives from identity theory, a social-psychological theory that understands identity as an interaction between the individual and society. The findings show that: the informants either acquire a new identity as a rider or they resume with the rider identity they had before their illness or accident; riding offers a link to their previous lives; and riding helps to focus on what the informants can do, and not, as this group is often viewed by society, on what they cannot do. The findings thus show that riding can influence the identity construction of people with disabilities.

This paper presents a summary of preliminary findings regarding the perceptions of the legitimacy and quality of the higher education (HE) student experience through the lens of those studying animal/equine studies foundation degrees and BSc degrees within a small, ostensibly further education (FE) land-based college setting. As part of a PhD study, research data was collected using two student focus groups. Empirical student perception data from animal/equine studies students gathered whilst discharging external examiner duties at six English FE land-based colleges from 2007 to 2013 was also included. Despite FE college claims regarding the "supportive environment" and "small classes" being the unique selling point for those studying HE in FE (as opposed to HE within the university sector), responses from animal/equine studies students reported dissatisfaction with regard to the predominating FE culture, as well as concerns surrounding their HE status and the perception of others, as being bona fide HE students. Drawing on Bourdieu's conceptual framework of habitus and field and notions of an institutional habitus, the HE in FE student experience is contextualised, together with recommendations for enriching HE in FE from the student perspective.

The paper works with queer and feminist post-human materialist scholarship to understand the way young teen valleys' girls experienced ubiquitous feelings of fear, risk, vulnerability and violence. Longitudinal ethnographic research of girls (aged 12-15) living in an ex-mining semi-rural community suggests how girls are negotiating complex gendered and sexual mores of valleys' life. We draw on Deleuze and Guatarri's concept of "becomings" emerging in social-material-historical "assemblages" to map how the gendered and queer legacies of the community's equine past surfaces affectively in girls' talk about horses. Our cartography traces a range of "transversal flashes" in which girls' lives and their activities with horses resonate with a local history coloured by the harsh conditions of mining as well as liberatory moments of "pure desire". We creatively explore Deleuze and Guatarri's provocation to return desire to its polymorphous revolutionary force. Instead of viewing girls as needing to be empowered, transformed or rerouted, we emphasise the potential of what girls already do and feel and the more-than-human assemblages which enable these desires.

This study investigated the association between therapeutic riding (TR) and the social communication and sensory processing skills of 21 elementary students with autism attending TR as part of a school group. An interrupted treatment design was employed to determine whether children were able to maintain treatment effects following the removal of TR. Teacher ratings indicated that participating children with autism significantly increased their social interaction, improved their sensory processing, and decreased the severity of symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders following TR. Gains were not maintained consistently after two 6-week breaks from TR, but were recovered once TR was reinstated. Potential explanations regarding the benefits of TR are discussed, and suggestions for future research provided.

The current study experimentally evaluated the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on the behavior of children with autism using a multiple baseline across participants design and a waitlist control group for comparison purposes. Participants were observed weekly in an after-school program during four center-based activities and during therapeutic horseback riding lessons. We also conducted intermittent probes of behavior at home. Therapeutic horseback riding did not produce systematic changes in affect, responding to others' initiations, spontaneous initiations, off-task behavior, compliance, problem behavior, or performance on two standardized measures. Three of four participants' posture improved during therapeutic horseback riding. (Contains 5 tables and 11 figures.)

To explore the efficacy of equine programming to support positive behavioral development of horse-novice youth, researchers examined trajectories of behavioral change of 5-8th grade students as they participate in an equine facilitated learning program. Behaviors were rated and analyzed to examine group trajectories of change. Results indicated significant increases and decreases in mean levels of participants' positive and negative behaviors respectively (M[subscript pos] = 17.13, p = 0.000; M[subscript neg] = 4.76 ; p = 0.005). Additionally, researchers describe how program principles can be incorporated into 4-H curricula, expanding positive youth development opportunities for horse-novice and horse-experienced youth.

The social, emotional, psychological and mental health needs of young people are highlighted in the social agendas of many Western countries. While a range of youth programs have been developed, there are pervasive difficulties achieving young peoples' sustained attention and positive participation in these programs (Santisteban et al. 1996; Slesnick et al. 2000; Stanton 2004; Szapocznick et al. 1988; Tanner et al. 2012). This research analysed some of the ways in which an innovative program using horses engaged marginalised young people in its first session. A total of 49 participants and significant others were interviewed about their experience of the program. Key themes were identified, namely the power of the horse, non-verbal relationships and non-judgmental relationships, which have been found in other studies (Burgon 2011; Frewin & Gardiner 2005; Karol 2007; Schultz, Remick-Barlow & Robbins 2007). Here, these three themes were observed to be associated with engaging young people in the initial stage of this program. This study implies that horses can be effective in efficiently engaging young clients during the initial stages of a program.