Welcome to the research wiki for a collaborative community to explore the woman-horse relationship

The researcher Ruth Billany (bio) , a Psychology Lecturer at Charles Darwin University, is investigating ‘why horses are important to women’s lives in general and their wellbeing in particular’   Background and Methodology Psychology Disciplines   Recent Thesis Research, Journal Articles,  Texts  and Conferences et al.

In the last thirty years there has been an increase in academic research on the human-animal relationship in relation to wellness.

Evidence shows the value of dogs for promoting physical health in groups such as, autistic children and the elderly.

However, there is limited research on the beneficial social and psychological effects of animals on their human companions.

There is anecdotal evidence to show that horses add to the social support for women in particular and that there is a special bond

between a woman and a horse.

The purpose of the project is to explore the positive effects that horses have on the wellbeing of women. It will bring this to the

attention of academia and may stimulate future research to investigate the woman:horse relationship.

Evidence from such studies might then inform future health policy to include recognition that animals (including horses) have an

important part to play in a nation’s health.

Ruth is collecting stories from women about how important horses are in their lives.

Lifestyle Choice, Early Horse Memories, The Gender Effect, Physical Wellbeing with Horses

Horse to Nurture, Horses Protect us, Horses Challenge us, Horses allow Fun,

Connection to Nature,  Connection to Others, Authentic Self,  One-ness

Horse as a Companion, Horse as a Friend, Horse as Therapist

Grief at Loss of Horse

After some initial analyses summaries (and excerpts - with permission) will be uploaded onto the wiki.

You are invited to read the progress of the research.

Who can take part in the wiki?

Women over 18 years of age who identify that horses are important in their lives may request registration to be able to edit

some pages and add more information. If you are interested in becoming an active participant please contact the researcher,

Ruth Billany ruth.billany@cdu.edu.au to request editor rights for some web pages of this wiki.

The researcher would greatly appreciate your assistance by agreeing to take part in this collaborative endeavour.

Your participation is completely voluntary and you may stop your involvement at any time.

Data storage

The digital information in the wiki will be available on the internet until March 2011 and at that point will be downloaded

onto a CD or DVD and kept secure in a filing cabinet in a locked room at the University.

All records will be destroyed after a period of five years.

Contact details

If you have any further queries, regarding this research, please feel free to contact Ruth Billany who will be happy to answer these questions.

The Charles Darwin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) approved this research (H08086) on 24 March 2009. If, during the course of the project, you have any concerns about the project or the researcher, you may contact the Executive Officer of the Charles Darwin University Human Research Ethics Committee, who is not connected with this project and who can pass on your concerns to appropriate officers within the University. The Executive Officer can be contacted on 08 8946 6498 or by email: cdu-ethics@cdu.edu.au

Other options for further participation in the study

I would be grateful if you would also choose to participate in one or more of the follow-up options. You need not decide that now and, of course, will have the option to withdraw at any time.

Option 1: The researcher is collecting stories from women (over 18 years) which describe how important horses have been in their lives. If you wish to contribute a story please send it to Ruth Billany ruth.billany@cdu.edu.au Anonymity and confidentiality will be assured.

Option 2: Visit the online anonymous survey. It consists of a demographic section asking questions about you and then is followed by a number of sections designed to determine your level of attachment to horses and your wellbeing. It is expected that the survey will take 20 minutes to complete (without adding text comments). The survey was closed on 27 July 2009. Over 1500 participants responded from 27 countries. So thank all who took the time to take part. I will upload aggregated data and de-indentified comments over the next months.

Option 3: It is rare that participants in research are followed up to determine the impact, if any, of being researched. So, toward the end of 2009 the researcher would like to ask you to give your perceptions of being a participant in this research. This will assist researchers in the design and methods used in future similar research. Please contact the researcher, Ruth Billany ruth.billany@cdu.edu.au to register for this phase. Anonymity and confidentiality will be assured.

Whatever your decision on this matter, I appreciate that you have devoted some time to reading this home page, and considering its contents.

Thank you and go well.