Ryan O'Brian Meadow Ponies
Therapeutic books for children by Dr Kathleen Mary Bokey
WHAT ARE THE BOOKS ABOUT?
The Ryan O’Brien books are about a beautiful little black Shetland pony called Ryan O’Brien. He tells of his quest for identity and friendship, his struggle to solve problems of low self-esteem, loneliness, jealousy, sadness, bullying and being different in some way; the day-to-day problems he encounters in his life on the Meadow. These stories are real. I have cared for Ryan O’ Brien now for almost twenty years and can assure you that he, like all horses, has important friendships, can suffer loss, can be frightened, bullied and traumatized.
In the bibliotherapy model – therapy through literature – Ryan O’ Brien’s story is also the story of childhood. Like little ponies, children need to be nourished, sheltered, loved, valued and they need to feel safe. Children also need to know how to ask for help when the problem is too big for them to handle and, most importantly, they need to know how to tell their own story. Like Mimi La Boom, the sad little pony of Book Four, children need to find their “whinny” – their voice.
The role of bibliotherapy is well established as part of the broader model of narrative therapy. The rationale behind the use of books in child therapy is that it facilitates discussion about a child’s problem by introducing themes in a non-threatening way, allowing the child to escape into the safe, accessible world of the story. Even the most shameful problems can be confronted in this way.
Ryan O’ Brien
Mousey
Clarissa
Pippy
34 Love Thy Horse Magazine