children and adolescents in “sport for all”, as a right of all citizens regardless of age, background, or the challenges they face, putting the person, rather than performance, at the center.

Specific objectives:
The relationship between child and horse is an important experience involving movement, emotions, relationships, and communication.
• Help the child with disabilities improve their ability to adapt; learn to approach new situations positively; improve and refine practical and motor skills; and
develop independenceby starting with specific equestrian situations and gradually learning to apply these skills more broadly and transfer them to everyday life, as well as increase self-esteem.
• In terms of motor development, activities will focus on acquiring new movement patterns
and developing coordination, balance, dexterity, and related skills in harmony with the rhythm and sequence of the horse’s movements.
• In emotional and relational terms, horses will be involved to help children face their fears and aggressive feelingsby directly experiencing the rules governing interactions with horses and the group, and learning to internalize and respect them.
• Particular emphasis is placed on caring for and grooming horses to help children learn to solve problems and develop independence.
• Developing a sense of responsibility and the ability to care for “their” horse can be a first step toward greater empathy, with the aim of applying these skills to caring for themselves and their belongings.

PARTICIPANTS
The project is intended for 10 children with disabilities from the province of Bologna aged 10–15
yearswho already attend AIASPORT ONLUS equine-assisted rehabilitation during the year, either privately or through an agreement with the Bologna Local Health Authority.

PROJECT STRUCTURE
The summer camp will take place after the school term ends (in late June or early September, depending on participating families’ needs), Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will also offer the option of a night in a tent at no additional cost.

During the week, activities will be divided into two periods:
– In the morning, there will be numerous and varied activities with horses (grooming and preparing horses, games and exercises in the arena, rides along nature trails at GESE, untacking, caring for, tending, and feeding the horses).
– In the afternoons there will be various educational and recreational activities, workshops, and sensory, psychomotor, and relationship-building activities. Some will take place in the GESE grounds, while others will involve discovering new places to explore together.
All activities will take place in a playful, enjoyable atmosphere, which is essential to engage the children and sustain their motivation and enthusiasm for participating.

STAFF:
To provide meaningful, effective rehabilitation and educational activities, the AIASPORT ONLUS team maintains a high standard of quality and professionalism, with a ratio of
1 educator to every 2 children with disabilities, plus 1 volunteer for every 3 children.
All instructors and educators involved in delivering the project have
proven specialist expertise and extensive experience of at least 4 years in equestrian activities for people with disabilities.

EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES:
1) 8 HORSES selected for their particularly gentle temperaments and suitability for this work, as well as their appropriate size for mounting riders with disabilities.
2) 2 LOCATIONS
– At GESE, where AIASPORT has 1 indoor riding arenaand a large, protected outdoor area closed to cars, with accessible paths and trails in natural surroundings.
– At Podere Ca’ Fiume, 8 km from GESE, which in addition to having 1 riding arena and 1 round pen
outdoors and numerous horses, is also a farm with various farmyard animals; it also has abeautiful vegetable garden
grown organically, as well as a large TEPEEand provides access to walking trails along the Idice River Park.
3) VARIOUS TYPES OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT adapted and accessible to people with different types ofdisabilities.

PROJECT COST *
The total project cost is €5,640.00
(Services are exempt from VAT under Article 10, paragraph 27-ter, of Presidential Decree 633/72.)

AIASPORT ONLUS can cover 50% of the total project cost (€2,820.00), by requesting a participation contribution from the families of participating children with disabilities and through various fundraising initiatives.

A contribution is requested from Fondazione Irma Romagnoli Onlus to cover the remaining 50%
of the costs of delivering this ambitious initiative, amounting to €2,820.00.

CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Dr. Maria Laura Tabacchi (AIASPORT ONLUS Coordinator)
Tel. 335.6583608 Fax 051/929351 Email: aiasport2@gmail.com or info@aiasport.it

* For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see the full project document