A PROJECT SUPPORTED BY MASAF USES HORSES TO PREVENT DIGITAL ADDICTION IN CHILDREN

Masaf is close to the world of young people, supporting a project that was the brainchild of Emanuela Modestino, a riding instructor from the Unio Association, and her meeting with Dr Cristina Galassi, psychotherapist and head of the medical team at IEUD, the European Institute for Addictions in Milan. The kids have lost their practical approach to life - says Emanuela - and are experiencing a state of growing unease.

Emanuela, how much do social networks play a part in this unease?

The digital world is completely natural for our kids and it makes no sense to demonise it. I've been working with young people for many years and sometimes I've come across the profiles of some of my students and realised that since they started attending the horse riding courses their content had changed for the better. Before they were totally self-referential but then I saw that they were telling stories. Being around horses develops creativity; it's a passion that totally involves them.
 

Are horses therapeutic?

Also from a prevention point of view, not necessarily in the presence of pathologies, but interaction with the horse distracts teenagers from excessive and harmful use of electronic devices. We organised a day on the subject at our horse racing centre in Vicchio del Mugello, where we invited a psychotherapist from the IEUD (European Institute of Addictions in Milan) to meet with children, parents and other collaborators to talk about adolescence, behavioural addictions starting with digital addiction and the benefits of a relationship with horses in preventing this type of disorder.
 

The age of the children?

From 9 to 14 years old. But the age of children who are addicted to their mobile phones is getting lower and lower. They belong to a generation that was born with these tools. They live very much in the digital dimension and often neglect the physical, real one. The normality of spending a day with horses forces them to be present. The relationship with these animals, also due to their size and sensitivity, forces the children to pay attention, to observe and leads them to be more aware and present to themselves.

Has the project been successful?

Yes, in fact we are talking about developing it with the General Management of horse racing to organise days on the subject, first at the Cesare Meli racecourse in Florence, and then to make it a national initiative. The day will be repeated on the occasion of the G.P Arno in Florence on 25 April 2025.

How was the IEUD addiction centre involved?

It was by chance: the father of one of my students is the founding member, Dr Federico Seghi Recli.

Dr Federico, what are our young people going through at the moment?

The latest data from the Ministry of Health and the Higher Institute of Health tell us that young people are experiencing a growing sense of unease that manifests itself in an ever-increasing consumption of alcohol, substances and other behavioural addictions including that of smartphones. We adults are also responsible for this, as we often make excessive use of our laptop and pay more attention to our mobile phone than to children, even at a young age.

Can horses help young people achieve a better emotional balance?

Certainly, because focusing on caring for the horse, getting on the saddle, favours the development of a deep emotional relationship and the development of emotional skills that allow the child to live the digital dimension in a peaceful and conscious way, avoiding psychological problems.

What does your intervention consist of?

I facilitated a meeting between Emanuela and Dr Cristina Galassi, head of the medical team at IEUD, who, in addition to having an in-depth knowledge of behavioural and substance addictions, has also been a consultant for the animal biomedical committee of the City of Turin. As IEUD, we will try to provide informative and scientific support.

Has Masaf shown any interest in the project?

Yes, in the person of the General Manager Dr Chiodi and his colleagues who liked the project and have taken steps to give it a national character. It's an idea that they found very interesting and we are at their complete disposal and support.