A.S.D. AIA SPORT ONLUS

With the patronage of Marchesini Group, the AIA Sport non-profit organisation was able to pursue, also in the 2018-2019 sports season, the introductory horseback riding project “In sella alla vita” (in the saddle towards life) addressed to people with acquired motor disabilities, assisted by the MS Centre of the Bellaria hospital in Bologna to patients at the Montecatone rehabilitation facility. The organisation has received multiple awards and praise from all the partners involved (both from patients and from the two reference rehabilitation teams), highlighting enormous significance and positive nature of the proposed experience. In fact, the MS Centre team confirmed the importance that horseback riding has for these individuals, both in terms of rehabilitation, with the associated improvements in balance, core strength, arms coordination and especially mood improvement and increased propensity to open up and socialise. To prove these claims a trial was set up with the University of Bologna to evaluate the benefits that horseback riding can produce, also in terms of improving sleep patterns for MS sufferers.