Horseback therapy for the disabled

Inspire, one of Malta's leading NGOs in the disability sector, has opened an upgraded therapeutic horseback riding area at its Marsascala complex using a donation of €13,980 made by the Vodafone Malta Foundation.

Therapeutic horseback riding was having a huge impact on the lives of people with disabilities, Inspire said.

Among the physical benefits were limb strengthening and balance while intellectual benefits included interaction in a social setting and learning through enjoyment.

"You see the children who experience therapeutic horseback riding here and you see the joy they get out of it. You also see what it does for them not only for the hour they're on the horse but also for the rest of the week," said Lidwina Schembri-Wismayer, Inspire's head of services.

"It helps their self-esteem, their self-confidence, their sense of achievement as well as to improve their physical abilities."

The arena where the horseback riding takes places was previously exposed to the elements, and its use depended on the rain, wind and extreme heat. Consequently, sessions sometimes had to be cancelled and children missed out on a lot of riding time, especially in the summer.

Overflow of rain water was also flooding the riding arena, paddock and grooming area and also affecting the animal park.

However, with the foundation's aid, a draining system has been installed to facilitate the flow of the water. A tent was also set up to provide shade and protect the arena from excessive heat while the pony area was extended and a second stable built.

The previous hay stack area has been converted into a grooming area where the children learn all about caring for the horses in a safe and well-equipped environment.