Home sought for horse programme
A horse programme helping Cromwell young people find confidence and calmness is on the hunt for a new home.
Zara-lee Macdonald is set to begin another six-week course with pupils from Cromwell College next week at the Cromwell Racecourse.
For five years, Ms Macdonald has hosted her "A Horse Of Course" programme every term at the location, floating her horses there for each session.
Now, she is hoping to find flat paddock space close to town where up to four horses can be kept for the duration of a course, and the young people can come for two hours once a week from school to visit them.
A more permanent space would help ensure she could continue offering the opportunity into the future, she said.
The Covid-19 pandemic and a herd of out-of-work trekking horses were the catalyst for Ms Macdonald to start the programme, which works with youth selected by the school.
"They may have been bullied, or they may have ADHD. They can be someone who has gone through a trauma at home that needs a boost. It can also be someone struggling to learn at school, or someone new to the community," she said.
"I don't actually get told why they come to me."
At first, Ms Macdonald found many of the young people were unsure around the horses and uncertain of themselves.
"They're huge and [people] can feel intimidated by them — but I want them to understand that's OK," she said.
"It's like anything we come across in life, you know, that gives you fear — you've got to learn how to deal with that to move on."
Participants do not jump straight on to a horse — they build up to a bareback ride over weeks of grooming, leading and feeding the horses, allowing a connection to begin and trust to take root.
Ms Macdonald was hesitant to call her work therapy, but had seen first-hand the positive effect her horses — patient and non-judgemental — could have.
She described horses as a "mirror" that allowed the young people in her care to see the impact of their own behaviour and emotions on another being, and respond accordingly.
"It's really, really hard to explain. It's something I invite people to come and take part in as it's easier to show them how I do it."
kim.bowden@alliedpress.co.nz
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