Once terrified of horses, a group of children with special needs will be in their first riding show on Saturday. The young enthusiasts live at the East London Child and Youth Care Centre for vulnerable children.
They have caught the riding bug and can’t wait for their weekly lessons and horse interactions at Cavalo Stables in Gonubie, where volunteers from Germany teach.
“When they first started they were terrified to touch a horse and some were even crying, but now when I ask who wants to ride first all their hands shoot up,” said Nicole Koenig, who oversees volunteers on the global Weltwarts volunteer programme.
Koenig, an animal osteo and physio therapist, is also a horse-riding enthusiast and along with her daughter Maisha, 14, owns two horses named Chocolate and Janna Tjardas.
“The Weltwarts volunteers come from a sport background and so they set up sporty projects like swimming, soccer and handball, but three years ago two of them were also into horse riding so we decided to add a horse programme,” explained Koenig.
The children she teaches to interact with horses have challenges like foetal alcohol syndrome, HIV, autism and physical disabilities.
“A boy with autism doesn’t talk much to humans but has no problem speaking to horses,” said Koenig. “And a girl who has partial paralysis has learnt to relax and feel the movement of the horse.
Horse riding promotes balance and teaches children to relax. It’s good therapy and helps them with their confidence.”
The horses – Janna Tjardas in particular – seem to sense their young riders need a gentle touch and are calm and gentle around them.
“Janna is a huge black horse and has quite a temperament with me and my daughter but with the children she is so soft and calm. Three kids can be brushing her and she keeps still. She has never stepped on their feet like she has on mine.”
Koenig, who took some of her charges to horse shows to watch her daughter compete, said they had begged her for their own show.
“That is why there’s a horse riding festival at Cavalo Stables on Saturday morning – for them to show people what they have learnt.”
The festival, which begins at 11am and has an entry fee of R20, will also feature regular riders as well as games, food stalls, face painting and a jumping castle.
East London Child and Youth Care Centre CEO Stuart Ralph said children in the programme had shown an improvement in self-esteem.
“They are energised because animals accept you unconditionally.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Horses helping to heal children
They have caught the riding bug and can’t wait for their weekly lessons and horse interactions at Cavalo Stables in Gonubie, where volunteers from Germany teach.
“When they first started they were terrified to touch a horse and some were even crying, but now when I ask who wants to ride first all their hands shoot up,” said Nicole Koenig, who oversees volunteers on the global Weltwarts volunteer programme.
Koenig, an animal osteo and physio therapist, is also a horse-riding enthusiast and along with her daughter Maisha, 14, owns two horses named Chocolate and Janna Tjardas.
“The Weltwarts volunteers come from a sport background and so they set up sporty projects like swimming, soccer and handball, but three years ago two of them were also into horse riding so we decided to add a horse programme,” explained Koenig.
The children she teaches to interact with horses have challenges like foetal alcohol syndrome, HIV, autism and physical disabilities.
“A boy with autism doesn’t talk much to humans but has no problem speaking to horses,” said Koenig. “And a girl who has partial paralysis has learnt to relax and feel the movement of the horse.
Horse riding promotes balance and teaches children to relax. It’s good therapy and helps them with their confidence.”
The horses – Janna Tjardas in particular – seem to sense their young riders need a gentle touch and are calm and gentle around them.
“Janna is a huge black horse and has quite a temperament with me and my daughter but with the children she is so soft and calm. Three kids can be brushing her and she keeps still. She has never stepped on their feet like she has on mine.”
Koenig, who took some of her charges to horse shows to watch her daughter compete, said they had begged her for their own show.
“That is why there’s a horse riding festival at Cavalo Stables on Saturday morning – for them to show people what they have learnt.”
The festival, which begins at 11am and has an entry fee of R20, will also feature regular riders as well as games, food stalls, face painting and a jumping castle.
East London Child and Youth Care Centre CEO Stuart Ralph said children in the programme had shown an improvement in self-esteem.
“They are energised because animals accept you unconditionally.”
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