Horseback riding training practice for people with disabilities

At Rakuno Gakuen University Department of Veterinary Medicine, as part of the clinical rotation equine medical course, students have the opportunity to participate in horseback riding for people with disabilities at the Hokkaido Horseback Riding Center for People with Disabilities in Bankei.
Horseback riding for people with disabilities is an animal-assisted activity, and is known to have positive psychological and physical effects on the rider (the person who rides the horse). The purpose of this center is to improve the quality of life of horse riders by giving them lessons so that they can ride horses independently.
In our university’s practical training, students experience the role of a side walker. Side walkers assist the rider during lessons by walking alongside the rider on either side. It is a good experience for students to carefully observe the posture and facial expressions of horse riders and communicate with them while paying attention to safety. Teachers work together to provide better support by teaching students how to use side walkers and accompanying and supervising students during actual lessons.
After each lesson, teachers and students measure the horses’ vital signs to check for any abnormalities as part of their health management. In 2024, a cumulative total of 163 students have participated in this training.
Feedback from students who participated in the practical training included comments such as “I previously thought that horses were scary, but they turned out to be cute,” and “It was great to be able to see for myself the effects of horseback riding for people with disabilities.”
We have received comments from users and staff, such as “Having the students participate in the lessons has made the lessons fun, with the riders at the center of the smiles” and “The students have given me energy.”
The supervisors are able to get the best feel for the effects of horseback riding for people with disabilities by participating the practice weekly. In lessons, instead of focusing on what a rider can’t do, I watch them focus on what they can do and develop their individuality, and I feel the importance of getting recognition from a third party.
Currently, there are very few horse riding clubs in Japan that mainly cater to people with disabilities. Challenges include creating horses that are gentle enough to be ridden by any rider, training the people involved in lessons, and the rising cost of horse management. We hope that by letting the students who participated in the training learn about this activity, it will help continue the activities that provide horseback riding for people with disabilities in Japan.