Boyd Lauren, le Roux Marieanna
Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Afr J Disabil. 2017 Jul 26;6:307. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v6i0.307. eCollection 2017.
There is limited global and South African research on parents' perceptions of therapeutic horseback riding (THR), as well as their perceptions of the effect of the activity on their children with disabilities.
To explore and describe parents' perceptions and experiences of THR as an activity for their children with disabilities.
Twelve parents whose children attend THR lessons at the South African Riding for the Disabled Association in Cape Town were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview. The qualitative data obtained from the interviews were first transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis to establish parents' perceptions of the THR activity.
The main themes that emerged included parental perceived effects of THR on children, parents' personal experiences of the services, and parents' perceived reasons for improvements in the children. The participating parents indicated that THR had had a positive psychological, social and physical effect both on the children participating in the riding, as well as on the parents themselves.
According to parents, THR plays an important role in the lives of children with various disabilities and in the lives of their parents. The results of the study address the gap in the literature regarding parents' perceptions of THR.
关于全球及南非家长对治疗性骑马（THR）的看法，以及他们对该活动对残疾子女影响的看法，相关研究有限。
探讨并描述家长对THR作为其残疾子女一项活动的看法和体验。
邀请12位孩子在开普敦的南非残疾人骑马协会参加THR课程的家长参与半结构化访谈。访谈获得的定性数据首先进行转录，然后采用主题分析法进行分析，以确定家长对THR活动的看法。
出现的主要主题包括家长认为THR对孩子的影响、家长对服务的个人体验，以及家长认为孩子有所改善的原因。参与访谈的家长表示，THR对参与骑马的孩子以及家长自身都产生了积极的心理、社交和身体影响。
家长认为，THR在各类残疾儿童及其家长的生活中发挥着重要作用。该研究结果填补了文献中关于家长对THR看法的空白。
