**7. Ethical considerations**

The star chart tool and further assessment tool was completed electronically by the referrer. The scores were then stored on an excel spread sheet by charity staff with each participant being allocated a code number so the researcher could not identify the person or the referrer, ethical permission was gained from the researchers employing universities ethics panel. This registered charity undertakes risk assessments for all participants who are never left unsupervised with the horses.


#### **Table 1.**

*Reasons for referral.*

The horses are all observed for possible stress/distress continuously throughout the course activities informed by the ethogram of horse behaviour [40] activities would cease immediately if any observations of this were made.

The sample constitutes a convenience sample of 7–68 year olds (mean age 20) accessing the course over a three year period for whom full data were obtained female = 193 male = 133. The reasons for referral are shown below in **Table 1**.

#### **8. The star chart**

The star chart (**Figure 1**) used has been developed for this EAI program. The referrer rates the young person from 0 (stuck) to 4 (independently using the skills being assessed).

Pre-test scores were analysed using cronbach's alpha in order to assess the tools internal reliability the score was 0.9 indicating the tool has high internal reliability.

Data was analysed using SPSS and a non-parametric related sample sign test which showed statistically significant improvements between the pre and post-test scores for all eight outcomes with a significance level of p.000. Included here in **Table 2** are the numbers of positive, negative and no change scores for the sample.

Overall scores for all eight outcomes on the star chart improved for 293 of the participants with 33 experiencing a worsening of their overall score two months after completing the course. On examination of each of these individuals there was no consistent area which worsened across this group. All of the 33 did have some dimensions where they had improved their score or remained at the same score pre and post the intervention.


#### **Table 2.**

*p.000. Numbers of positive negative and no change scores.*

*The Embodied Nature of Horse Human Communication: A Feasibility Study of an Equine… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98848*
