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Riding instructors training be to equine assisted therapists
Horse Lovers Club
The rider, Herb, is being taught how to pull
her reins from right to left using coloured reins. This will teach her how
to steer her own pony through cones.
Many disabled people benefit from riding, some from the
therapy it gives, others by actually learning to ride. The benefits can be
enormous and wide-ranging. They include improvements to balance,
co-ordination, muscle tone, concentration and behavior. The riders may
benefit from the necessary discipline, respond to requests, overcome fears,
learn trust and interact socially with their helpers and their peers,
developing an increase in confidence and self-esteem.
The horse moving naturally in walk simulates and synthesizes a movement as
close to the human walk as is possible. This movement is used as a treatment
base. Each rider is taught on the basis of their own individual needs and
goals within a group lesson aided by the volunteers. The movement and the
warmth of the horse encourages relaxation, stimulates the function of the
internal organs and digestive tracts. The riders develop balance and learn
to position themselves to accommodate the pony’s movement. In time
co-ordination and communication may be developed and improved. It can offer
the opportunity for physically and otherwise challenged people to experience
mobility on a par with their able bodied peers.
Horse Lovers
Club - in training
Throughout Thailand many riding clubs are starting to understand the
huge benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy. Recently, Horse Lovers Club in
Bangkok, along with instructors from Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, have been
attending training & coaching from riding therapist Sandra Cooper at
Horseshoe Point Pattaya. Sandra has trained and helped qualify riding
instructors and volunteers for many years in Malaysia, now living in
Thailand, a qualification system will be implemented by the end of 2013. A
log book for qualifications will be acquired from the UK and adapted for
Thailand.
Rider Herb is learning to
kick her pony forward into trot. Herb can already do rising trot but needs
to learn to give the correct aids to do this herself from walk to trot.
Horse Lovers Club have been learning how to set up a safe
environment for their therapy classes. Finding suitable quiet ponies/horses
takes time and training to teach them to cope with this therapy which is
most important. Training is taught on mounting and dismounting all
disabilities as their needs are very different. How to work and fix a
programme with disabilities such as Autism, Downs Syndrome and Cerebral
Palsy which are the most common disabilities we face.
On February the 11th and 26th 2013 Horse Lovers Club experienced working in
a class situation and how to lead therapy horses correctly. If you would
like further information on how to attended these courses, or would like to
volunteer at Horseshoe Point Pattaya or Horse Lovers Club in Bangkok, please
contact Riding Therapist Sandra Cooper on 0868483684 Pattaya or Angela
Navoraj 0816460847.
(L to R) Sandra Cooper
(riding therapist), Charlotte Weber, riding coach and instructor, Angela
Navaraj, riding coach and instructor, Herb riding Tiffi, Akkasit Tiatrakul,
riding coach and instructor (SEA Games gold medalist for Thailand), Vaewratt
Kamonkon (owner of Horse Lovers Club Bangkok), and Suvich Prechaharn (father
of Herb).
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Jesters Care For Kids helping ATCC
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2013
Khun Ja with the 5 girls who will
reside there, in front of the house Jesters provided.
Bernie Tuppin
The Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Abuse Centre was established in Pattaya in
order to deal with problems of human trafficking and child sexual abuse. The
main target groups are street kids and children at risk. Supagon Noja, the
director, has many years of experience in this field and established their
current home less than a year ago.
The centre’s main objectives are assisting these children in obtaining education
and life skills that will enable them to return to their families and society.
It is important that these children are cared for in a safe environment during
this period.
Jesters Care for Kids recently installed a water filtration system at the
premises and while there we were told by Khun Ja that there were several young
girls that he was unable to help owing to lack of accommodation. At a subsequent
committee meeting, we agreed to fund the construction of a bungalow that would
accommodate 5 children.
As usual the construction was carried out by the older boys at the Centre under
the guidance of Khun Ja. This system works to keep the cost down and has the
added benefit of teaching the boys some valuable skills. Jesters applaud the
contribution made by this organization in confronting what is a serious problem
in our community and are happy to be of help in some small way.
For more info, please visit www.atcc.or.th, www.care4kids .info and www.facebook
.com/jesterscare.kids.
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70 vacationing students head back to class for Photisampan science camp
Sunisa Sombun (left), assistant director of
Photisampan Pittayakarn School, presents certificates to children who
participated in the science camp.
Warunya Thongrod
Not wanting its students just to goof off during the holidays, Photisampan
Pittayakarn School organized a science camp to keep about 70 young minds fresh.
Assistant Principal Sunisa Sombun opened the March 6 workshop for Mattayom 1
pupils at the Pattaya school. It was aimed at providing scientific knowledge in
hopes of inspiring kids to enjoy science.
Activities consisted of experiments, building scientific tools, decomposition
and building hypothesis. It is hoped the two-day, one-night camp also would
increase memory retention and mechanical skills that can be used across their
school studies.
Seniors teach juniors how to record various
readings from their scientific experiments.
Regent’s School hosts their first MUN Conference
Students hold up their represented
countries.
Rachel Miller Year 10
In the first Saturday of March, Regent’s hosted their very first Mock United
Nations (MUN) conference with students from St. Andrews International School. It
was the first time most of the delegates had been to a conference and many had
to come to terms with the very formal ways of the MUN.
There were two committees; one on Human Rights and another on Political Issues.
The morning was spent preparing for the debates in the afternoon and writing
resolutions to the questions.
After lunch the debating began; at first the debating was very confusing because
it’s not your typical debate, it’s more of a questioning of the person who put
forward the resolution. As a delegate of a given country, you look out for the
aspects of the resolution that would be beneficial to you. There are all sorts
of complicated motions and points you can rise to. While hard to grasp at the
start, by the end of the day almost everyone was using them to make the debates
more interesting.
Personally, I was really anxious as this was my first conference but by the end
of the day we were all really into the debates and having a lot of fun. I know a
lot of people might be sceptical about the excitement of MUN, but as long as
you’re involved and putting yourself out there in the debates, you are going to
enjoy it!
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GIS celebrates International Day
Year 7 students dancing at the International Night
show.
Words by Abhi Khullar (Year 9)
Photos by Ritche Guisona
Garden International School (GIS) held a spectacular International Day with
music, food and activities from every corner of the globe.
With students from around 35 countries, it was a great chance for everyone at
Garden to learn more about each other’s culture.
This year’s event started with the Samba Band from Africa followed by a flag
parade. Then, as each national anthem was played, students from their countries
took to the stage and proudly waved their flags.
Primary students put on a great routine.
After this, Years 6 and the Secondary students attended the point-earning
International Quiz or took part in internationally-themed activities, such as
cricket, football, Thai-Cooking, the ‘Arty Party’, Ceilidh Dancing and other
games from around the world. The quiz involved answering mind-boggling questions
on everything from international cuisines to famous Asian monuments. The winner
was Team Tiger with 46 points, closely followed by Team Gecko with 44 points.
In the evening everyone returned for a night of flawless performances and
mouth-watering, luscious dishes, provided by the International Baccalaureate
(IB) students. The night ended with two elegant Chinese dances and the Ceilidh
Band, Korean Band and finally Rohit’s Band performed ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’.
All the performers then went on stage for a fitting end with the song “We are
Children of the World.” Thanks to all the teachers, maintenance staff and
students (especially the IB chefs) for organizing another great event.
GIS is based in Ban Chang near Pattaya. For more, visit
www.gardenrayong.com
Friends of Garden PTA joined in the fun with a
performance of ‘Sister Sledge’s We Are Family’.
Year 9 girls staged a stunning Indian dance.
The Chinese fan dance was amazing.
Making friends at International Day.
GIS is a truly international school!
Head of Music Mr Shiells leads the Samba.
The flag parade involved 35 countries.
A GIS student hard at work during one of the
international activities.
Don’t wobble! A GIS student tries a balancing act.
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