From giving orders to engaging in dialogue

Military norms being challenged at the Swedish riding school

Bibliographic Data

ID2378427
AuthorsGabriella Thorell (University of Gothenburg, Sweden; Swedish Equestrian Center of Sport, Education and Research, Sweden; Ridskolan Strömsholm, Sweden, corresponding author), Susanna Hedenborg (0000-0002-4802-9932, Malmö University), Owe Stråhlman (0000-0003-4940-9491, Karlstad University), Karin Morgan (0000-0003-1358-5709, Swedish Equestrian Center of Sport, Education and Research, Sweden; Ridskolan Strömsholm, Sweden)
Year2018
Volume53
Issue4
Pages451-470
Publication date2018-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Review for the Sociology of Sport (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1012-6902 • E-ISSN: 1461-7218
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1012690216665111
OpenAlexW2512708105
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited35

Equestrian sport is one of the largest sports among young girls in Sweden. A majority of these girls get their riding education at riding schools that provide horses and instructors. Previous research has pointed out that the Swedish riding school is characterised by a traditional stable culture that originated in army practices. Presently Swedish children and youth sport at large are undergoing a change driven by increased commercialisation and individualisation. The aim of this article is therefore to explore and analyse how Swedish riding instructors perceive and experience their professional role in regards to these changes. Interviews with 10 riding instructors have been analysed using a constructivist approach of Grounded theory, as well as institutional theory and institutional economic theory. It was discovered that the riding instructors, due to an economic recession, feel that the institutional arrangements of the riding schools have become governed by the economy. The riding instructors thus feel impelled to change and adapt to new teaching styles - from instruction characterised by giving orders to teaching characterised by dialogue. This study illustrates how economic challenges require continuous development of the riding instructors' pedagogical ability, and have made them more aware of their profession, its historical heritage and norms

Economics · Free riding · Grounded theory · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Qualitative research · Recession · Social science · Sociology · Physical Education and Pedagogy · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society