“Hold Your Horses!”
– Impact of a Virtual Learning Module in Horse Handling and Safety
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56103/nactaj.v69i1.246Keywords:
workplace safety, therapeutic riding, horse behavior, ethology, multimediaAbstract
Effective worker training is essential for ensuring safety around horses in various contexts, including animal science courses and horse handling safety trainings. Research indicates a growing demand for digital training specifically in horse handling courses. Digital and online resources are improving access to information, opportunities to practice, and learners’ engagement. However, further research is needed to measure the impact of this technology in the context of horse safety education. This research evaluates learning outcomes of 76 college students, therapeutic riding volunteers, and community members after engaging with the Stay Safe Working With Horses interactive digital module. Using a mixed-method approach, the research combines qualitative (formative data from development) and quantitative data (retrospective pre and post) to assess the educational module's learning outcomes and the participants' experiences and interactions with the module. The results show that participants enjoyed the interactive experience module, finding it easy to navigate. Participants' perception of knowledge significantly increased after using the module for key concepts putting on the halter properly, positioning myself safely relative to the horse, making sure other horses don’t escape, keeping my horse calm, and interpreting horse behavior. Furthermore, open-ended responses indicated that visual graphics, such as illustrations and multimedia elements, crucially helped participants to better grasp concepts and procedures through examples, engaging visual cues, and content summaries.
Downloads
References
American Horse Council. (2022). US Horse Population – Statistics. https://horsecouncil.org/press-releases/us-horse-population-statistics
Beck, C. H., Rayfield, J., Flowers, J., & Jones, D. (2010). Ground safety skills among North Carolina 4-H horse program participants. Journal of Extension, 48(3).
Bing, J., Pratt-Phillips, S., Gillen, L. A., & Farin, C. E. (2011). Undergraduate performance in a domestic animal laboratory taught via distance education. Journal of Animal Science, 89(1), 297-301. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3114
Berger, A. M., Nginya, E. S., & Ivey, J. Z. (2023). Assessment of implementation, needs, and challenges of equine Extension programs. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 124, 104509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104509
Birke, L., & Hockenhull, J. (2015). Journeys Together: Horses and Humans in Partnership. Society & Animals, 23(1), 81-100. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341361
Browning, B., VanGilder, S., & Petitto, C. (2021). Comparing training methods to improve volunteer skills during therapeutic horseback riding: A randomized control trial. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(3), 1157–1174. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.823
Cezarotto, M., & Chamberlin, B. A. (2021). Towards Accessibility in Educational Games: A Framework for The Design Team. InfoDesign, 18(3), 102-113. https://doi.org/10.51358/id.v18i2.931
Chakales, P. A., Locklear, J., & Wharton, T. (2020, February 05). Medicine and Horsemanship: The Effects of Equine-assisted Activities and Therapies on Stress and Depression in Medical Students. Cureus, 12(2), e6896. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.6896
Clark, R. C., & Lyons, C. (2011). Graphics for learning: Proven guidelines for planning, designing, and evaluating visuals in training materials. John Wiley & Sons.
Dashper, K. (2012). Together, yet still not equal? Sex integration in equestrian sport. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport and Physical Education, 3(3), 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1080/18377122.2012.721727
de Bie, M. H., & Lipman, L. J. A. (2012). Simulation as a Teaching Aid: The Use of Digital Games and Simulators in Veterinary Education—An Overview with Examples. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 39(1), 13-20. https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0511.055R
Earles, J. L., Vernon, L. L., & Yetz, J. P. (2015). Equine-Assisted Therapy for Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 28, 149-152. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.21990
Finkel, R., & Danby, P. (2019). Legitimizing leisure experiences as emotional work: A post-humanist approach to gendered equine encounters. Gender, Work & Organization, 26, 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12268
Gronqvist, G., Rogers, C., Gee, E., Bolwell, C., & Gordon, S. (2016). The Challenges of Using Horses for Practical Teaching Purposes in Veterinary Programmes. Animals, 6(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6110069
Gadd, M., Hiney, K., & Robinson, J. S. (2018). The Technical Skills that Need to be Included in a Collegiate Equine Handling Course According to Equine Industry Experts. NACTA Journal, 62(4), 346–352. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26769587
Greene, E. A., Hein, W., Wickens, C. L., & Smarsh, D. N. (2020). Extension Horses, Inc. experts act fast to create online resources to assist the horse industry during COVID-19. Translational Animal Science, 4(3), txaa085. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa085
Hegerfeld-Baker, J. (2013). Influence of STEM education and technology in selecting food and agriculture careers (Electronic Theses and Dissertations No. 1419). South Dakota State University. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1419
Howard, G. S. (1980). Response-shift bias: A problem in evaluating interventions with pre/post self-reports. Evaluation Review, 4(1), 93-106.
IBM Corp. (2023). IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 29.0.0.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.
Keaveney, S. M. (2008). Equines and their human companions. Journal of Business Research, 61(5), 444–454.
Keeling, L. J., Jonare, L., & Lannneborn, L. (2009). Investigating Horse–Human Interactions: The Effect of a Nervous Human. The Veterinary Journal, 181(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/jvj1.2009.03.013
Leboeuf, C. (2019). Anatomy of the thigh gap. Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.5206/fpq/2019.1.7312
Mayer, R. E. (2021). Multimedia learning (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Marchand, W. R., Smith, J., Hoopes, K. H., Osborne, M., Andersen, S. J., Bell, K., ... & Joubert, K. (2023). A pilot observational study of horsemanship skills training for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 72, 102910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102910
Martinson, K. L., Hathaway, M., Wilson, J. H., Gilkerson, B., Peterson, P. R., & Vecchio, R. (2006). University of Minnesota horse owner survey: Building an equine extension program. Journal of Extension, 44(6), article 6RIB4.
Martinson, K. L., Bartholomay, T., Anderson, K. P., Skelly, C., & Greene, E. (2012). Effective evaluation of equine extension programs. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 32(10), 616-619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.02.006
Saunders-Ferguson, K., Barnett, R. V., Culen, G., & TenBroeck, S. (2008). Self-Esteem Assessment of Adolescents Involved in Horsemanship Activities. Journal of Extension, 46(2), Article 8.
Savvides, N. (2011). ‘Loving-Knowing’ Women and Horses: Symbolic Connections, Real Life Conflicts, and ‘Natural Horsemanship’. Humanimalia: A Journal of Human/Animal Interface Studies, 3(1), 60–76.
Smyth, G., & Dagley, K. (2015). Demographics of Australian horse owners: Results from an internet-based survey. Australian Veterinary Journal, 93, 433–438. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12390
Stergiou, A., Tzoufi, M., Ntzani, E., Varvarousis, D., Beris, A., & Ploumis, A. (2017). Therapeutic effects of horseback riding interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 96(10), 717-725. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000726
Swinker, A., Tozer, P., Shields, M., & Landis, E. (2003). Pennsylvania’s equine industry inventory, basic economic and demographic characteristics.
Thomas, K. E., Annest, J. L., Gilchrist, J., & Bixby-Hammett, D. M. (2006). Non-fatal horse related injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States, 2001–2003. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 40(7), 619–626.
Thompson, P. (2014, March 31). Thigh gaps: A dangerous obsession. UWIRE Text, 1. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A633167799/AONE?u=albu16399&sid=googleScholar&xid=f6406c9b
