Inovation of education in hippotherapy – increasing competences of tutors Erasmus Project

Project Title

Inovation of education in hippotherapy – increasing competences of tutors

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Pedagogy and didactics

Project Summary

Western civilisation is already proving to be damaged in health and well-being due to expelling the living world from the sterile, artificial screens’ environment. It is not possible to return to the original nature because it no longer exists. But there is a possible relationship and emotional return to living beings. For example, equines can improve life comfort due to their genuine and irreplaceable authenticity. People are still aware animal bonding relationships are helping; it is necessary to support it; Equine Facilitated Therapy (EFT, formally Hippotherapy) is one of them and certainly not the most negligible.

EFT is part of Animal Facilitated Therapies. It represents a long-term way to work with an equine for people with special needs. The proper implementation has to be done by experts; otherwise, an EFT treatment session carried out by a layperson can trigger pathology patterns in the client’s health. Experts’ training is in the competency of participating organisations. The lecturers’ knowledge and skills were profounded to implement innovative EFT methods within the project successfully. The learning process is more straightforward due to the modern learning environment. Higher-quality education is being developed in the field as a whole. This result has been reflected in organisations’ practice – providing better end-user services – for individuals with special needs.

The project aimed to increase EFT lecturers’ professional potential and share and acquire the new knowledge and skills needed to implement innovative EFT methods successfully. Thus the continuous improvement of the quality and effectiveness of this method has been ensured. This aim was achieved by establishing a long-term sustainable cooperation and experience exchange by creating a knowledge-based community whose activities has far exceeded the project’s duration. This newly acquired knowledge and skills were implemented into innovative educational programs with accessibility to a broad professional community across the EU. The target group was current and future lecturers of EFT courses from partners’ organisations. The project involved three organisations, including 24 EFT lecturers.

The partners’ organisations represented the different equestrian traditions within the EU, the various EFT status as a therapy approach or a service for people with special needs. It depended on the different concepts of health and social services in partners’ countries. A problem during the international sharing of professional information was inconsistent terminology. This project significantly contributed to overcoming this obstacle; the participants have agreed to apply the HETI terminology (Horse in Education and Therapy International). There has been a vast scope for mutual inspiration and enrichment to work together because each partner comes from different traditions, health care and social services systems, and equestrian culture. The project provided an opportunity to gain a different perspective on the subject to allow for the expansion and development of professional competencies with subsequently transferring in their countries. This conclusion has been based on the experience and good practice sharing in countries with a different equine-riding culture, other EFT methodical guidance for various clients. The goal was achieved through four workshops for EFT lecturers in the partners’ organisations.

The realisation of three workshops was in the form of meetings focusing on specific learning areas with a guarantee of gaining complete information and the possibility of sharing experience. Part of the program was always several workshops and lectures organised by the host. Lecturers from partners’ organisations participated there. The program consisted of theoretical and practical parts with best practice examples based on the traditional concept of EFT in the host country. All activities were evaluated to focus on further assignments, contents of EFT methodology and the e-learning course. This has enabled the lecturers to apply innovative EFT methods in their practice. The fourth meeting was devoted to creating together project results – “Introducing the EFT methodology” and the e-learning course.

The planned conference was postponed to September 2021 in Prague.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 87146 Eur

Project Coordinator

Ceska hiporehabilitacni spolecnost, z.s. & Country: CZ

Project Partners

• NEVSEHIR HACI BEKTAS VELI UNIVERSITY
• Horse Therapy Association