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| Horses calm troublesome teenagers | Horses calm troublesome teenagers |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Problem teenagers at a school in Fife have been taught horse riding in an attempt to calm them in class. | |
| About a dozen teens from Glenrothes High School have been taking part in a 10 week course at a local stables. | About a dozen teens from Glenrothes High School have been taking part in a 10 week course at a local stables. |
| Experts have said working with the animals has forced the pupils to modify their behaviour to build up a bond of trust with the horses. | Experts have said working with the animals has forced the pupils to modify their behaviour to build up a bond of trust with the horses. |
| The project has been supported by Fife Constabulary. Officers said they had seen a change in the youngsters. | The project has been supported by Fife Constabulary. Officers said they had seen a change in the youngsters. |
| PC John Robertson told the BBC Scotland news website: "I know these kids and I think it's excellent. | |
| "I've seen a whole new side to them. They're listening to what's happening, they're taking an interest and they're learning responsibilities." | "I've seen a whole new side to them. They're listening to what's happening, they're taking an interest and they're learning responsibilities." |
| The idea to use animals came from the school's behaviour support teacher Carol Wilson. | The idea to use animals came from the school's behaviour support teacher Carol Wilson. |
| The behaviour of teenagers taking part has already improved. | The behaviour of teenagers taking part has already improved. |
| She said: "It does modify your behaviour when you're working with a big noble beast like a horse. | She said: "It does modify your behaviour when you're working with a big noble beast like a horse. |
| "If you want a positive outcome, you have to find something else in yourself. Not aggression but to be calm and assertive." | "If you want a positive outcome, you have to find something else in yourself. Not aggression but to be calm and assertive." |
| The youngsters have been taken once a week by bus to the riding stables near Leuchars in Fife. | The youngsters have been taken once a week by bus to the riding stables near Leuchars in Fife. |
| Before each lesson begins, they have had to work as a team to clean out the horses' stables. | Before each lesson begins, they have had to work as a team to clean out the horses' stables. |
| The pilot projects lasts 10 weeks but the school is hoping some of the pupils will continue the lessons in their own time. | The pilot projects lasts 10 weeks but the school is hoping some of the pupils will continue the lessons in their own time. |