The Healing Horses of Beit Yehoshua

Anita and Giora Shkedi established the Therapeutic Riding Club of Israel in 1986 at their farm in Beit Yehoshua, north of Tel Aviv. The idea for such a Club harks back to Europe after World War II when many disabled soldiers came home in dire need of physical and emotional therapy. Today the concept is backed up with scientific data after years of research. The Israeli Club provides over 700 lessons a month for more than 350 disabled students. Therapy on horseback can be a wonderful boost for people recovering from severe physical, emotional and psychological trauma, for children with cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, with learning disorders and behavioural problems, for elders who live in old age homes, the visually and hearing impaired, for wounded soldiers and civilians injured in accidents. It is a proven effective therapeutic tool.

The gentle, undulating movement of the horse causes the rider's body to react unconsciously to shifts in balance, mimicking the natural movement of the human pelvis during walking, exercising those muscles normally involved in locomotion. No other physical exercise provides comparable three-dimensional manoeuvring which reminds the human body of the sensation of actual walking. Training on horseback teaches coordination, promotes bipedal walking balance and muscular abilities, builds confidence, improves concentration and self-discipline, and develops self-esteem and self-confidence.

Waiting their turn to take a ride, people describe their experiences: Riding is a miracle. Imagine you are person unable to lift a spoon and then, all of a sudden, here you are sitting high on a mighty animal, able to move anywhere you want. All your life you have been pushed around in a wheelchair and then, here you are going where you want - free. Imagine you are an hyperactive child, unable to concentrate, who cannot maintain a simple conversation and, then, you have this enormous animal under you, patiently accepting your riding him, your directing him, your being in close physical contact with him. Imagine you are a troubled child, afraid of the dark, terrified of your playmates who make fun of you, and then, here you are on horseback, and this fantastic creature under you accepts your presence, your directions, he turns back his ears in attention to your slightest indication. Suddenly, you feel you are empowered and capable.

When you actually experience being such a person, you realize that becoming so is not out of your reach.

And then there is the Club experience. You are a handicapped person coming from the busy, noisy city and find yourself in the beautifully verdant moshav village of Beit Yehoshua, on the Sharon Plain. "How are you?" cheerfully salutes Meir, a blond young man with thick glasses covering a deep cavity in his face, an army veteran. "You appear well, old man. Good to see that you are looking healthy!" "Well, it would be going too far to say I am healthy, sitting in this wheelchair, but at least I am not regressing," calls back Zevi, in high spirits.

For all the fun and excitement, riding at the Club is serious work. The instructors are mostly unpaid volunteers, working within the framework of high school or army programs, or earning credits for graduate degrees in the health professions. They even include prisoners from the local prison who do community service as part of their rehabilitation. Michal started as a student volunteer and went on to graduate as a registered therapeutic riding instructor at the Wingate Institute for Physical Education. Lee, an instructor, is doing her army service at the Club. Amir, accompanying a handicapped person, hopes to be accepted for postgraduate studies in psychology at the Tel Aviv University. Effi, the live-in maintenance person, is himself a handicapped person who fell in love with the place.

The environment is rural, peaceful and quiet. "Horses are creatures of remarkable intelligence and extreme sensitivity. They are temperamental and very easily upset. Quiet is very important when the riders are not fully in control," says Giora. It is evident that the animals feel empathy with the troubled humans they work with. Do horses know they are helping? "I presume they are aware of the situation, but it is not easy on them." Giora elaborates, "Ablebodied riders naturally adjust their body movements to those of the horse, but the handicapped lay heavily on them, causing them some discomfort. That's why we need a special breed of horse, not too tall, with strong muscles and a patient, sweet disposition. The highstrung Arab variety common in Israel is unsuitable, and we acquired our 22 horses from all over." The nature of the relationship the horses seem to establish with their riders is special. It electrifies the people waiting their turn to be in contact with the horses.

Anita adds that at the moment the Club is run on the bare essentials. Looking around her spartan stables and outdoor riding ring, she says that future plans include an indoor riding arena as protection from the elements - the debilitating heat in summer and the cold and rain in winter - and a swimming pool, art and music therapy, stress counselling, a play area, riding trails, a library....the possibilities are many. The Shkedi's Therapeutic Riding Club aims at integrating disabled into the wider community with close interaction and communication.

The Club's Therapeutic Riding Program is accredited by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, Riding for the Disabled Association in Great Britain and the Horse Society of Israel. The Club is also a member of the International Paralympic Committee and the International Association for Riding for the Disabled. As the National Centre for Therapeutic Riding in Israel, the Club also operates the National Training School for Therapeutic Riding Instructors, attached to the Nat Holman School of Coaches at the Wingate Institute for Physical Education. It is also recognized by the Israel Land Authority, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance.