Ungdomars uppfattning kring motivation och individualiserad ridundervisning

Abstract: One of the Swedish Equestrian Federations visions are to make the equestrian sport to embrace everyone. On the other hand, a reduction in the number of practitioners aged 17-20 years is observed. The reason for this reduction is a mixture of many different factors. The riding school is developed from the army and usually uses a straightforward one-way communication. Todays society focus more on an individualized education aimed at the individual student. The idea of individualized education is to increase the student's motivation to learn. Motivation has a strong connection with the individual's goals. An individualized education could raise the pupil’s motivation. If the pupils are motivated to ride, the pupils may consider staying at the riding school even if the individual's life situation changes. The purpose of this study is to explore whether motivation, to stay at the riding school, can be increased in young people by individualize the riding lessons. This study is based on five focus group interviews which four of them was at riding schools and one was at a high school with riding as a major subject. The age of the young riders was between 12-25 years old. The study uses a qualitative method, where pupil’s perceptions are studied. Through qualitative studies, a smaller number of people are used but with a deeper survey instead. The riding pupils who participated have been treated confidentially. The pupils showed great emphasis on the fact that the riding instructor would be honest. What the instructor said and what the pupils felt needed be consistent to be trustworthy. The riding instructor competence was questioned if the pupils did not think the instruction matched with their feeling on the horse. It was important for the pupils to get feedback when it felt well and that the riding instructor was not afraid to say when it was not good enough. It was also important that the pupils understood what was good or less good. To hear, see and feel, was the most popular way to learn according to this study. The feeling was extremely important for the pupils. The feeling would then be confirmed by either looking in the mirrors or by the response from the riding instructor. The pupils wanted more freedom during the lessons. The pupils considered that the horse material was important for their development. The result shows that an individualized education contributes to increase motivation, especially when the pupils and the pupils together work with the individual's goals. The pupils felt like they could benefit from their development. Developmental discussions between the riding instructor and pupil are a suggestion, the riding pupils thought it would increase the motivation and stimulate their development.