For grades 6-8 or older youth. Duration: 2.5-3 hours. Price: 70 PLN per person (depending on the programme).
Workshop goals
- •Making young people sensitive to the needs and limitations of people with disabilities
- •Developing empathy and the ability to work together
- •Understanding that diversity is natural and valuable
- •Experiencing how horses support people facing difficulties (including in hippotherapy)
Programme outline
💬 Introduction: “Everyone has their own pace”
A short conversation about differences between people, about invisible disabilities and about the barriers created by the surroundings rather than by the person. Relaxed and engaging in form, with examples from stable life.
👟 Experiential stations - “Walk in someone’s shoes”
Participants go through tasks showing what people with various difficulties face. Mobility station - simple tasks with limited mobility (e.g. leading a horse with an immobilised arm). Sensory station - working with a horse with muted stimuli (e.g. earplugs) or, conversely, with an excess of them. Communication station - a task to be completed without words or with limited communication. This always makes a huge impression on young people.
🐴 “The horse as a therapist” - a mini workshop on hippotherapy
How a horse supports people with disabilities, examples of exercises, an equipment demonstration and short movement tasks inspired by therapy.
🏇 Horse ride
A short, safe ride for everyone - as an element of calming down and integration.
🔥 Bonfire with sausages and summary
A conversation about what was difficult, what surprised us, how we can support people with disabilities in everyday life and what we take away from the workshop.
Why it works
- •Young people experience rather than listen to a lecture
- •Horses naturally lower tension and open people up
- •The tasks are engaging but not childish
- •Disability becomes a “human” subject rather than an abstract one
What we provide
Safety and the supervision of a riding instructor throughout the classes; calm, experienced horses; riding helmets for participants; educational aids.
Where the classes take place
We run the classes at our riding centre in Hucisko, located next to the Orle Gniazdo resort (where catering, accommodation and conference rooms are available for a separate fee).
Booking and payment
To book a date or a series, an advance payment is required (we issue a pro-forma invoice). We accept card, bank transfer and cash payments, and issue VAT invoices. The programme may be subject to change.
For younger children and preschoolers we recommend “A Horse Adventure with Education” - a visit to Horseback.