Peace Villages Foundation


Therapeutic Horse Riding

If you enjoy working with children, horses and being outdoors then this is a project that you would find very rewarding. Horses are incredible animals. They seem to sense when people have special needs and they try their best to adapt to meet those needs. These gentle giants are unbelievably understanding, compassionate and completely non-judgmental. Unless one is deliberately brutal, they continually excuse us for our mistakes. Horses truly give their hearts and souls for the people that love them. It is no wonder then that horses make such wonderful “therapists.”

The horse’s movements are smooth, and for those who are not able to walk on their own, the riding experience can help to exercise muscles that are used in walking and for balance. For individuals with cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, the smooth motion of the horse can help to improve balance, overall gross motor function, as well as trunk, pelvic and hip motion.3,4 In fact, miracles occasionally occur! Jeannette Wood, an adult rider who spent seven years in a wheelchair as a result of M.S., is now not only able to walk, but able to trot along with the horse as a volunteer sidewalker at the therapeutic riding facility where she first attended as a participant.

Therapeutic riding can also be helpful for children with developmental disabilities, mental retardation and learning disabilities. Stevens (2007) discusses how horse interaction and therapeutic riding are particularly helpful for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This type of therapeutic setting may help children to improve their:

  • Listening skills and the ability to follow multi-step directions

  • Communication skills

  • Social skills

  • Self-esteem

  • Left to right orientation and directionality (start at the front, move to the back, move left to right)

  • Sequencing (step one, step two, step three, etc. in order)

  • Horse interaction and therapeutic riding can also help the child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to allow others to enter their world and eventually to join, at least to some degree, the world outside of themselves

Therapeutic riding and horse interaction is a powerful tool for many as they strive toward wholeness. Special needs that therapeutic horse riding with Peace Villages meet, include emotional and behavioral issues, at risk youth, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and vision, speech and hearing impairments.And for those who are able bodied with a lot of love to give, there is always a great need for volunteers!

Our therapeutic horse riding area is just one part of the multi-faceted Therapy Center which Peace Villages is currently constructing on its grounds. This Center will offer various types of therapies, skills training, and fun activates to children with special needs (due to physical or mental handicaps, or any other significant difficulties in their personal lives).

Our Horses:

Scooby-Doo

Simba

Medallon

Activities can include:

  • Daily maintenance and care of horses (MR: E1, L0, C0)
  • Assisting with therapeutic riding classes (MR: E1, L1, C0)
  • Maintenance of the paddock, arena and field shelter (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Assisting with horse care and management classes for children (MR: E1, L1, C1)
  • Maintenance of the saddlery and equipment (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Maintaining photographic and written records of the children's progress on a weekly basis (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Helping with the collection of grasses to feed the horses (MR: E0, L0, C0)
  • Opportunity to ride on weekends (lessons can be provided if inexperienced) (MR: E0, L0, C0
  • Train horses (MR: E2, L0, C1) 

Requirements:

Anyone with an interest in working with horses and children can apply. None to little experience is necessary as training will be given by our staff horse therapist. Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn is a must!
Please check each activity for its specific Minimum Requirements ( MR )
Level of Experience  None: E0; Little: E1; Advanced: E2; Experts: E3 
Spanish Language Skills  None: L0; Basic: L1; Conversational: L2; Fluent: L3
Minimum Time Commitment  None: C0; 1 Month: C1; 2 Months: C2; 3 Months: C3

Availability:

The facility runs throughout the year, though there can be a reduced program during school holidays.


  Photos     Cost


 

Fundación Aldeas de Paz
Lomas de Piedra Canaima via Sampai, Santa Elena de Uairén,
La Gran Sabana, Estado Bolívar, Venezuela
Phone: 0058 - 289 - 4160820  Email: mail@peacevillages.org
We are a registered charity: RIF J-30872287-1 (Vz) 
   

Copyright © 2008
Peace Villages Foundation
 
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