Horse Therapy Program in Namibia Brings Joy to Children with Learning Disabilities

SUSAN DE MEYER’S HORSES HAE DIFFERENT EFFECTS ON DIFFERENT CHILDREN. Hyperative Kids Learn to Be a Little Quieter Around Them While Nonverbal Children are Moved to Communicate and To Bond With Them.

From Meyer Runs a Program in the Southern African country of Namibia That Harnesses The Power But the Gentleness of Horses to Help Children with Learning Disabilities and Conditions Like Adhd and Autism.

Each Weekday Morning of Meyer’s Dusty Paddock Just Outside the Capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the Special Schools She Helps. The Children Ride the Horses, Groom Them, Stroke Them and Often of Meyer Says, Talk To Them.

By Meyer Gree Up on a Farm Surrouded by Horses and They’ve Always Been Part of Her Life. She said have have a quality that is Invaluable: They Don’t Judge the Children at the Matter How Different They are.

“The Horse Is the Hero in This WHOLE SETTING BECAUSE These Kids Don’t Want To Be Around A Lot of People,” by Meyer Said.

By Meyer’s Program, “Enabling through the Horse,” Is Supported by the Namibian Equestrian federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation Because it “Underlines The Wonderful Characteristics of the Horse In Exuding Sensitivity and INTUITION. “

Horse Therapy has Been Promoted by autism groups and that works work with Children with Learning Disabilities AS Having A POSITIVE IMPACT. And animal therapy in General has Been Found to Be Useful In Many Instances, Like Dogs That Help Military Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Therapy Cats That Are Taken to Hospital Hospitals and Nursing Homes.

Some Survivors of the Devasting 2023 Hawaii Wildfires Found Relief in Horse Therapy While Grieving Loved One Had Lost.

By Meyer Jokes She has “Two-And-A-Half Horses.” These include Two Arabians-White Mare Named Faranah and a Brown Gelding, Lansha-While the “Half” is a miniature Horse Called Bonzi, who is about Head-High for 5 -year-ord.

The Arabians are Often the Most Useful for the Children’s Therapy Because of Their Size, from Meyer Said.

“It Gives Them Self-E-E-E-ESCER. When they Stroke the Horse, Therapy Starts Because this is a Very Big Animal Compreded to Their Height, and They Are Not Scared to Stroke the Horse … and then to Ride It and Tell the Horse What They Want,” She Said.

By Meyer Works with Children with a Range of Conditions or Disabilities, Including Autism, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Down Syndrome, Those Who Are Nonverbal or Touch Sensitive, and Some Who Were Born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Have Developmental Problems.

She has received interst from other country country and asia to start programs there.

“The Changes That’ve Seen With the Learners Are Significant,” Said Chriszell Louw, Teacher at Dagbreek School, Which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for Children with Inabilities. “We have a Learner that likes to talk a lot. When we eat here, she knowns she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place.”

“Some of Them You See Thes Are More Open, They are Happy. Some of Them Were Very Scared When they are Started with the Horse Riding But Now Are Very.

By Meyer Said Her Program Helps with Fine-Motor Skills, Gross-Motor Skills, Muscle Strengthening, Coordination, Balance and Posture, All Important For Kids Who Struggle to Sit at Desk at School and Learn.

One Simple Exercise by Meyer has children from when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out Straight and to the Sides, Using Only Their Torso and Lower Body to Balance as Groom Leads The Horse Around the paddock.

Some of the Kids Break Out in Smiles When they let and look like they’re Soaring.

“We Make the World Different for These Kids,” by Meyer Said.

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