Home in focus: Horses in the heartland

Herd will be in Yishun weekly for pilot therapy programme to help people with special needs develop social-emotional skills

Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Above: Instructor Matthias Kumar from Equal preparing a "tea break" for therapy horse Matahari in Yishun on Oct 16. Due to their size and gentleness, horses are useful as therapy animals for people who are not easy to engage, such as those with special needs or dementia. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Chevy (right) and Matahari munch on hay in the trailer on their way from Thomson to Yishun. This keeps them occupied and creates a link between travelling and snacking. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Matahari (right) and Chevy with their instructors at the sheltered basketball court in Yishun where the experiential learning activities in the programme are conducted. They were in a session to adjust to the new urban environment on Oct 16. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Chevy being led out of the trailer ahead of Matahari by Equal instructors near the sheltered basketball court between Block 311 and Block 327 in Yishun Ring Road on Oct 16. The horses drew the curiosity of residents. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
After some coaxing, four-year-old Janice Png places her palm gently on therapy horse Valentina for the first time. Like many children with autism, Janice faces challenges in relating to others. Horse therapy helps her to develop social-emotional skills through experiential learning. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Chevy getting a bath after his morning exercise to help him relax before the trip to Yishun on Oct 16. The Wednesday routine sees the horses being fed at 6am at their stable in the Thomson area, before they do small rounds in a riding arena. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Valentina in hoof boots, which provide better traction on smooth surfaces and also prevent the floor from being scratched by the metal horseshoes under her hooves. She takes part in activities such as Crossing The River and Pinkie And The Brain in therapy sessions. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Like a real-life carousel, Chevy runs circles around Equal instructor Wan Hafizam, who controls her speed with the help of a rope, as well as his body language, eyes and tone of voice. The exercise lets Chevy expend energy before going to Yishun, helping her be calm when the therapy sessions begin. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Therapy horses Chevy (left) and Matahari grazing on a hillock behind charity Equal's office off Thomson Road after a morning of familiarisation in Yishun last Wednesday. Grazing releases endorphins, which calms the horses. Left: Matahari (left) and C
Curious children from Bethlehem Educare Centre checking out Matahari at the sheltered basketball court in Yishun Ring Road on Oct 16. The teachers halt class for an impromptu visit whenever word spreads in the neighbourhood that the horses have arrived. ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG
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Updated
Nov 04, 2019, 01:57 PM
Published
Nov 04, 2019, 05:00 AM
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A tow truck pulled into the outdoor carpark near Block 311 Yishun Ring Road on Oct 16, ferrying two "therapists" in their own special trailer.

As the two stepped out and trotted towards the sheltered basketball court between Block 311 and Block 327, curious onlookers scrambled for their cellphones to take photos and videos.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 04, 2019, with the headline Home in focus: Horses in the heartland. Subscribe

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