Venue: Società Ippica Bolognese equestrian center, via Lelli 3, Rastignano, Bologna

Schedule: Saturday mornings, 9 a.m.–12 noon

Activity period:
Twenty-two sessions are planned, divided into two terms (April 5–June 14 and September 13–November 29), as follows:
April: 5 – 12 – 26
May: 3 – 10 – 17 – 24 – 31
June: 7 – 15
September: 13 – 20 – 27
October: 4 – 11 – 18 – 25
November: 1 – 8 – 15 – 22 – 29

Eleven children will participate, divided into three groups according to age and the proposed activities, currently considered suitable for their individual characteristics but subject to adjustment over time.

9 a.m.: E. R, L. B., M. S., M. B., V. T.
The children in this group, aged 8–11, primarily have mild-to-moderate cognitive delays associated with attention difficulties, motor restlessness, and difficulties relating to peers.
The group will take part in groundwork—grooming, leading the horse, and movement games—and basic exercises with two horses, one fitted with a surcingle and the other with a saddle. At times the children will work together as one group, and at other times in two smaller groups.
Each session will also introduce a specific topic, such as the shape of the riding arena, parts of the horse’s body, or equestrian terminology. This will be explored through practical experience followed by a worksheet designed to record the knowledge gained. At the end of the program, each child will receive their worksheets collected in a booklet.
These activities aim to increase attention span, improve purposeful movement and spatial and temporal organization, develop the ability to wait one’s turn and coordinate movements with others, and improve interaction and communication with peers and staff. They also aim to consolidate learning and develop the ability to relate to, observe, and communicate with the horse, understanding the animal’s behavior and reactions in relation to one’s own gestures and behavior.

10 a.m.: F. R., F. O., M. C.  
The young people in this group, aged 12–15, have psychological disorders involving significant relationship difficulties in social settings, particularly at school, a tendency to withdraw, and impulsive acting out when experiencing intense emotional distress.
Following shared groundwork involving grooming, preparing the horse, and leading it, activities will be differentiated during the first sessions to help each participant adjust to the new setting. The group will then move on to shared activities, both on the ground and in the saddle.
The primary goals will therefore be social interaction and communication, both with other people and with the horse, overcoming fears, and increasing confidence in the ability to face new situations and tasks.

11 a.m.: A. T., A. M., M. P.
The children in this group are younger, aged 4–6, and have three different disabilities: hemiparesis, cognitive and language delay, and autism. The first two children both need encouragement to listen and interact; the child with autism may benefit greatly from interacting with the other two through shared play.
During the first sessions, the children will work individually. Later, the two children with stronger social interaction skills will work together on more structured activities, including worksheets. The child with autism will join some play activities and receive individual support through activities designed to encourage participation. We expect to spend considerable time helping this child approach and make contact with the horse and recognize it as another living being with its own characteristics and ways of communicating. Supported co-riding will be offered, with the child riding together with the equine-assisted rehabilitation practitioner, to experience the horse’s movement through bodily and movement sensations.
The medium-term goal is for the children to share a 45-minute session, encouraging reciprocal communication through movement games both on the ground and with the horse.

This year, equine-assisted rehabilitation will again be provided in partnership with the Passo Passo Association. Its volunteer Stefania, who made a valuable contribution last year, will assist in the arena. The Association will also cover horse hire costs through a fund dedicated to this type of intervention, established with a donation from Fondazione Irma Romagnoli. The Local Health Authority will provide the professional expertise of Dr. Mazzotta, Child Neuropsychiatrist and Technical Coordinator for Equine-Assisted Rehabilitation, and Dr. Nanni, Psychologist and specialist in animal-assisted activities, as well as support from an educator from Cooperativa Libertas.
At the end of the program, a final report will be prepared and a video compiled from recordings made regularly in the arena to document the changes observed.

Dr. Giovanna Mazzotta
Child Neuropsychiatrist
Technical Coordinator for Equine-Assisted Rehabilitation