Traveller Visibility Group

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Research Study of

Traveller Horse Owners

The Influence of Family Horse Ownership in Young Travellers’ Lives

Researched by Dermot O Regan

NCVA Level 2 Social Studies Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa

2001

Table of Contents

Introduction and aim of Study

Methods used in Study

Research Findings

Conclusions

Recommendations

Bibliography

Introduction and Aim of Study

The report of The Task Force on the Travelling Community (1995) estimates that one quarter of Travelling families own horses. Not only are horses of economic value to the Traveller, but also of immense cultural importance to them. Since the Control of Horses Act was introduced in 1996, it has become increasingly difficult for Travellers to carry on the tradition of breeding, buying and selling horses. Travellers live in constant fear of having their horses impounded at a cost of over one hundred pounds per day. Also an earlier report compiled by Philipp Fritzsche (2000) detailed the difficulty experienced by Travellers in locating land to rent for horse rearing. These pressures have resulted in a decline in the number of Travelling families who keep horses.

The Traveller Visibility Group (T.V.G.) based in the Glen in Cork City has formulated a plan to set up a project that will enable Travellers to carry on their tradition of keeping horses. Fritzsche’s research revealed some of the difficulties facing Travellers in accessing land and indeed concluded that their chances of locating appropriate land are remote. The T.V.G. are hoping to acquire land with the support of local government to develop the Horse Project.

Lack of commitment to the project to date suggests that the Local Authorities are blind to the advantages of Traveller horse ownership.

Apart from the cultural importance of horse ownership, anecdotal evidence suggests that the adolescent children of Travelling families who own horses are less likely to be involved in crime and drugs. The aim of this study is to discover to what extent this is actually the case. If it is concluded that this is indeed the case; that spending time with their horses significantly reduces the incidence of adolescent Traveller crime, then what are the policy lessons that can be learned from this research?

According to Gilligan (2000) in his research into the importance of hobbies for marginalised children, hobbies provide an enhancement of children’s lives, by offering them new ways of learning responsibility and self-reliance and are a major preventative factor in deterring children from becoming involved in juvenile crime, drug-taking etc.

"While their importance may seem obvious they may also be easily forgotten, so it is probably worth rehearsing how spare time activities and interests may enhance resilience. Involvement in cultural and leisure activities serve many valuable preventative functions. These activities can embrace sport, cultural pursuits, the care of animals, volunteering to benefit the community and even part time work" (Gilligan, p116).

About the Researcher

Dermot O’Regan is a NCVA Level 2 student of Social Studies at Colaiste Stiofain Naofa, Cork. He is originally from West Cork and hopes to carry on to third level education to study Social Science. As part of his present course Dermot has worked with the T.V.G. which enabled him to carry out this research.

Methods used in Study

The methods used in the study were qualitative and quantitative: structured interviews using a questionnaire, carried out both in person and by telephone.

Interviews with Fathers in fourteen Traveller families using the following questionnaire:

Question 1: How many horses do you own? 1-5, 6-10, More than 10, (circle the right answer)

Question 2: How much time does each of your children spend with your horses if you include feeding, exercising, watching over them, training them and travelling to and from where the horses are kept?

Child Age Number of hours per week

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Question 3: What other activities do your children get involved in either with you or in the home with their mother?

Question 4: If your children did not have horses or other activities in the home, what else is there for them to do with their time?

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Question 5: What are the problems facing kids and teenagers today?

Question 6: What does having a horse mean to a Traveller child?

Question 7: In Traveller families who own horses, children are less likely to get involved in crime or drugs. Do you agree with this statement?

Agree100%, Yes to a certain degree, You are not sure, You are not inclined to agree, Definitely not.

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What are your reasons for saying this?

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Interviews with eleven professionals using questionnaire.

In Traveller families who own horses, children are less likely to get involved in crime or drugs. Do you agree with this statement?

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Agree 100%, Yes to a certain degree, You are not sure, You are not inclined to agree,

Definitely not.

What are your reasons for saying this?

Correspondence with Probation and Welfare Services.

The Probation and Welfare Service was asked to state the number young Travellers from horse owning families who were involved with the service in the year 2000.
The service was also asked to comment on the theme of the study.

They were asked to indicate the number of Traveller children in 2000 who come from horse owning families.

Continue to Part Two of this report >>

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