STUDENT. The students Erica Wikunge and Kristina Ukalovic, both studying their last semester at the occupational therapy program at the Sahlgrenska Academy, are highlighted in the latest issue of the magazine Ridsport (“Ride Sport”). The two students are currently working on their thesis about the health effects of horse riding, which they think should be counted as a wellness benefit activity.
“Horses are a way to release the stress of everyday life. What is that if not wellness?” the students ask themselves in the magazine article, as a comment on a petition that the magazine started on the issue.
If horse riding would be included in the activities that count as wellness, the employer could pay compensation to employees who want to ride.
Erica Wikunge and Kristina Ukalovic studies their last semester of the occupational therapy program at the University of Gothenburg, and is currently doing their thesis on women and horse back ridning.
“We want to investigate how healthy women between 25 and 40 years with at least one child experience riding as a recreational activity” Erica states in the magazine.
Erica herself is a horse girl, but not her classmate Kristina, who has no previous experience with horses.
Together, the students have interviewed women who tend with horses and rides in their leissure time.
“They are in a complex time of life, and we want to know why they choose such a time-consuming activity”, says Kristina, according to the magazine.
The results are not yet completely ready, but a few strokes emerges already in their materials. The women in the study describe that they feel a serenity in the stable, they can release everyday stress and get some relaxing time on their own.
Here you can read the full article in the magazine Equestrian (in Swedish).
