Special-needs children were given a physical and emotional boost by riding horses courtesy of Nongprue Sub-district and the National Health Insurance Fund.
Mayor Mai Chaiyanit donated use of the Pattaya Shooting Park to the Parents Group for Special-Needs Children so it could organize the equine-assisted therapy event June 26. The therapy sessions will be run monthly on the last Thursday.
Children participate in horse-therapy activities to promote their physical and mental health.
Kids from the Father Ray Center for Children with Special Needs enjoyed a day of drawing, coloring, trampolining, food and pony rides in a day that mixed fun with constructive work on overcoming disabilities.
Organizers noted that horses are ideal therapy assistants that provide benefits on both the physical and emotional level. Their natural motion mimics the feeling of walking, giving disabled children a chance to “walk” on their own.
Horses also are extremely empathetic animals and riders can learn to control their pulse and social behaviors, as the pony mirrors to the feelings of the child on its back.
Additional activities included drawing & coloring.
