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Throwing a ball
whilst on a moving
horse develops gross
motor skills
THE EARTH

CENTRE

Kyalami Estates residents are invited to therapeutic horse riding also extend beyond
sign up for The EARTH Centre’s ‘Swing into the children, positively affecting the quality
Spring’ Golf Day on Tuesday, 3 September of life for parents, friends and carers within
2019, at the Randpark Golf Club. surrounding communities, and continue even
after leaving the programme.
f you own a horse or have been around
horses, you may have noticed their HOW IT WORKS
Iremarkable ability to naturally be present Riding a horse teaches new skills, and
DQG LQÀQLWHO\ DZDUH RI RWKHUV· HPRWLRQDO learning skills is a challenge in every sport.
states. In addition to this, the unique In this instance, however, the challenge
movement of the horse, coupled with its presents an extra dimension because the
temperament and sensitivity, has rendered horse is a large animal, he has feelings and
it the perfect animal for physical therapy for a will of his own, is sensitive, intuitive and
SHRSOH D EHQHÀW GLVFRYHUHG LQ 5RPH DURXQG has enormous strength. To ride a horse in
600BC. a successful partnership and with a high
A team of two side-walkers and the instructor
degree of safety requires discipline of body
lift a Cerebral Palsy rider onto his horse
Therapeutic horse riding is a multi-faceted and mind, as well as the development of tact,
therapy modality for people with a variety of sympathy and patience. It is this challenge
disabilities. It utilises the inherent traits of the which provides a never-ending goal for every
horse and through them teaches the skill of rider, whether disabled or able bodied.
riding. Therapeutic riding is known to enhance Therapeutic horse riding is a unique
physical, emotional, social, cognitive, opportunity for any person:
behavioural and developmental skills. ‡ ZKHUH WKHUDS\ LPSURYHV VHOI FRQÀGHQFH
and is fun;
7KH ($57+ &HQWUH D 1RQ 3URÀW &RPSDQ\ ‡ ZKHUH RQH OHDUQV UHODWLRQDO VNLOOV LQ RUGHU WR
based in Ruimsig, specialises in therapeutic connect with animals, and other beings;
horse riding, mainly for disabled children from ‡ ZKHUH KRUVH ULGLQJ DQG LQ IDFW ZLGHU
disadvantaged communities. Weekly therapy life skills, like self-regulation and decision-
riding sessions help these children to begin making, are learned in an experiential setting.
to overcome their disabilities, thereby setting
them up with the possibility of integrating into Just by sitting on a moving horse, the three-
society. The Centre aims to empower children dimensional movement at a walk (forward
with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down and back, side to side, up and down)
Syndrome, Autism, ADD/ADHD, Foetal Alcohol automatically stimulates the muscles in
6\QGURPH 6SLQD %LÀGD JHQHWLF GLVRUGHUV DQG our hips that we use to walk. The rhythmic
Relational skills are
developed as the rider KHDULQJ YLVXDO LPSDLUPHQW 7KH EHQHÀWV RI movement activates the vestibular system
succesfully connects
with another being
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2019
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