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Qatar Tribune
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Naimi tops Young Champions class at Al Shaqab National League
DOHA: The penultimate round of the Al Shaqab National Showjumping League got underway on Friday at the Longines Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab, showcasing spirited display of skill and precision from riders across various categories. The highlight of the day came in the Young Champions category (125 cm), where Saif Mohammed Al Naimi triumphed on Hero. Abdulaziz Fahad Al Eid, riding Kayenne Of de Rocky Mounten secured second place, while Yaqoub Nasser Almas took third on Aphrodite S Z. Mohammed Hamza Al Kuwari, Director of Corporate Services at Al Shaqab, presented the awards. In the Future Champions class (105 cm), Mohammed Faisal Al Marri took the top spot astride Haines, followed by Sherida Nasser Al Kaabi on Doremi du Flot Z, and Yousef Abdul Rahman Al Muftah on Senna Lafont. The winners were honoured by tournament director Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi. The 80 cm competition saw rider Melina Karagiannidi take top honours with Geale. Alreem Hamza Al Kuwari rode Janne to second place, and Sheikha Mohammed Al Thani claimed third with Cascade Sammy. Other strong performances came from Salman Faisal Al Marri, Mohammed Abdullah Al Marri, and Aisha Jassim Al Sorour. Winners in this round were crowned by Ahmed Khaled Al Humaidi, Heritage Specialist at Al Shaqab. In the 40 cm preliminary round, Abdulrahman Hamad Al Attiyah claimed first place aboard Pedro, a 2003-born mare owned by Al Shaqab. Al Attiyah completed the course without faults in a time of 36.26 seconds. Aisha Sultan Al Enazi, also representing Al Shaqab, secured second place with Tinkerbell, a 2009 mare, finishing just behind at 36.32 seconds. Fahad Abdullah Al Sulaiti took third place on Lilly in 36.45 seconds, also with a clear round. Khalid Sanad Al Nuaimi, the tournament director, crowned the winning riders. The championship is conducted in line with the regulations of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), with some modifications in the preliminary rounds. A cumulative points system is used to determine the overall winners at the season's conclusion, adding an extra layer of competitive intensity. The Al Shaqab League, a cornerstone of Qatar's equestrian calendar, serves as a vital platform for discovering and nurturing local talent. In alignment with Qatar National Vision 2030, the league supports excellence and innovation in equestrian sport. By fostering inclusivity and offering opportunities for riders from Al Shaqab Equestrian Academy and other institutions, the League reinforces Al Shaqab's mission to empower the next generation of Qatari riders. As the League approaches its final round, anticipation continues to grow for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to another memorable season.
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Namibian programme uses horses to empower children with disabilities
Susan de Meyer runs a project in the African country of Namibia. The programme uses the power and gentleness of horses to help children with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. De Meyer's dusty paddock is just outside the capital city, Windhoek. Each weekday morning, it is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from special schools. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses. They have always been part of her life. She says they have an invaluable quality: they don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. De Meyer's programme, 'Enabling Through the Horse', is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation. It won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation. Answer: 'Enabling Through the Horse'
The Star
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Horse therapy program brings joy to kids with learning disabilities in Namibia
Susan de Meyer's horses have different effects on different children. Hyperactive kids learn to be a little quieter around them while non-verbal children are moved to communicate and to bond with them. De Meyer runs a program in the southern African country of Namibia that harnesses the power but also the gentleness of horses to help children with learning disabilities and conditions like ADHD and autism. Each weekday morning, de Meyer's dusty paddock just outside the capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the special schools she helps. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. Merci who participates in the 'Enabling Through the Horse', therapy program, petting one of the animals horse. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and they've always been part of her life. She said they have a quality that is invaluable: They don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. 'The horse is the hero in this whole situation because these kids don't want to be around a lot of people,' de Meyer said. De Meyer's program, 'Enabling Through the Horse', is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation because it 'underlines the wonderful characteristics of the horse in exuding sensitivity and intuition'. Horse therapy has been promoted by autism groups and those that work with children with learning disabilities as having a positive impact. And animal therapy in general has been found to be useful in many instances, like dogs that help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and therapy cats that are taken to hospitals and nursing homes. Program founder De Meyer (in red) grew up on a farm surrounded by horses. Some survivors of the devastating 2023 Hawaii wildfires in the United States found relief in horse therapy while grieving loved ones they had lost. De Meyer jokes she has 'two-and-a-half horses'. These include two Arabians – a white mare named Faranah and a brown gelding, Lansha – while the 'half' is a miniature horse called Bonzi, who is about head-high for a five-year-old. The Arabians are often the most useful for the children's therapy because of their size, de Meyer said. 'It gives them self-esteem. When they stroke the horse, the therapy starts because this is a very big animal compared to their height, and they are not scared to stroke the horse ... and then to ride it and tell the horse what they want,' she said. De Meyer works with children with a range of conditions or disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, those who are non-verbal or touch sensitive, and some who were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and have developmental problems. She has received interest from other countries in Africa and Asia to start similar programs there. 'The changes that I've seen with the learners are significant,' said Chriszell Louw, a teacher at Dagbreek School, which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for children with intellectual disabilities. 'We have a learner that likes to talk a lot. When we come here, she knows she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place.' 'Some of them you see they are more open, they are happy. Some of them were very scared when they started with the horse riding but now they are very excited. When they hear we're going to the horses they are very excited and just want to go by themselves,' Louw said. De Meyer said her program helps with fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance and posture, all important for kids who struggle to sit at a desk at school and learn. One simple exercise de Meyer has children do when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out straight and to the sides, using only their torso and lower body to balance as a groom leads the horse around the paddock. Some of the kids break out in smiles when they let go and look like they're soaring. 'We make the world different for these kids,' de Meyer said. – AP
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Horse therapy programme in Namibia brings joy to children with learning disabilities
Windhoek: Susan de Meyer's horses have different effects on different children. Hyperactive kids learn to be a little quieter around them while nonverbal children are moved to communicate and to bond with them. De Meyer runs a program in the southern African country of Namibia that harnesses the power but also the gentleness of horses to help children with learning disabilities and conditions like ADHD and autism. Each weekday morning, de Meyer's dusty paddock just outside the capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the special schools she helps. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and they've always been part of her life. She said they have a quality that is invaluable: They don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. "The horse is the hero in this whole situation because these kids don't want to be around a lot of people," de Meyer said. De Meyer's program, "Enabling Through the Horse," is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation because it "underlines the wonderful characteristics of the horse in exuding sensitivity and intuition." Horse therapy has been promoted by autism groups and those that work with children with learning disabilities as having a positive impact. And animal therapy in general has been found to be useful in many instances, like dogs that help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and therapy cats that are taken to hospitals and nursing homes. Some survivors of the devastating 2023 Hawaii wildfires found relief in horse therapy while grieving loved ones they had lost. De Meyer jokes she has "two-and-a-half horses." These include two Arabians - a white mare named Faranah and a brown gelding, Lansha - while the "half" is a miniature horse called Bonzi, who is about head-high for a 5-year-old. The Arabians are often the most useful for the children's therapy because of their size, de Meyer said. "It gives them self-esteem. When they stroke the horse, the therapy starts because this is a very big animal compared to their height, and they are not scared to stroke the horse ... and then to ride it and tell the horse what they want," she said. De Meyer works with children with a range of conditions or disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, those who are nonverbal or touch sensitive, and some who were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and have developmental problems. She has received interest from other countries in Africa and Asia to start similar programs there. "The changes that I've seen with the learners are significant," said Chriszell Louw, a teacher at Dagbreek School, which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for children with intellectual disabilities. "We have a learner that likes to talk a lot. When we come here, she knows she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place." "Some of them you see they are more open, they are happy. Some of them were very scared when they started with the horse riding but now they are very excited. When they hear we're going to the horses they are very excited and just want to go by themselves," Louw said. De Meyer said her programme helps with fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance and posture, all important for kids who struggle to sit at a desk at school and learn. One simple exercise de Meyer has children do when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out straight and to the sides, using only their torso and lower body to balance as a groom leads the horse around the paddock. Some of the kids break out in smiles when they let go and look like they're soaring. "We make the world different for these kids," de Meyer said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-04-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Horse Therapy Program in Namibia Brings Joy to Children with Learning Disabilities
Susan de Meyer's horses have different effects on different children. Hyperactive kids learn to be a little quieter around them while nonverbal children are moved to communicate and to bond with them. De Meyer runs a program in the southern African country of Namibia that harnesses the power but also the gentleness of horses to help children with learning disabilities and conditions like ADHD and autism. Each weekday morning, de Meyer's dusty paddock just outside the capital, Windhoek, is enlivened by a group of eight to 10 children from one of the special schools she helps. The children ride the horses, groom them, stroke them and often, de Meyer says, talk to them. De Meyer grew up on a farm surrounded by horses and they've always been part of her life. She said they have a quality that is invaluable: They don't judge the children, no matter how different they are. "The horse is the hero in this whole situation because these kids don't want to be around a lot of people," de Meyer said. De Meyer's program, "Enabling Through the Horse," is supported by the Namibian Equestrian Federation and won an award last year from the International Equestrian Federation because it "underlines the wonderful characteristics of the horse in exuding sensitivity and intuition." Horse therapy has been promoted by autism groups and those that work with children with learning disabilities as having a positive impact. And animal therapy in general has been found to be useful in many instances, like dogs that help military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and therapy cats that are taken to hospitals and nursing homes. Some survivors of the devastating 2023 Hawaii wildfires found relief in horse therapy while grieving loved ones they had lost. De Meyer jokes she has "two-and-a-half horses." These include two Arabians — a white mare named Faranah and a brown gelding, Lansha — while the "half" is a miniature horse called Bonzi, who is about head-high for a 5-year-old. The Arabians are often the most useful for the children's therapy because of their size, de Meyer said. "It gives them self-esteem. When they stroke the horse, the therapy starts because this is a very big animal compared to their height, and they are not scared to stroke the horse ... and then to ride it and tell the horse what they want," she said. De Meyer works with children with a range of conditions or disabilities, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Down syndrome, those who are nonverbal or touch sensitive, and some who were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and have developmental problems. She has received interest from other countries in Africa and Asia to start similar programs there. "The changes that I've seen with the learners are significant," said Chriszell Louw, a teacher at Dagbreek School, which says it is one of just two government schools in Namibia for children with intellectual disabilities. "We have a learner that likes to talk a lot. When we come here, she knows she has to keep quiet. She sits in her place." "Some of them you see they are more open, they are happy. Some of them were very scared when they started with the horse riding but now they are very excited. When they hear we're going to the horses they are very excited and just want to go by themselves," Louw said. De Meyer said her program helps with fine-motor skills, gross-motor skills, muscle strengthening, coordination, balance and posture, all important for kids who struggle to sit at a desk at school and learn. One simple exercise de Meyer has children do when they ride is to let go of the reins and stretch their arms out straight and to the sides, using only their torso and lower body to balance as a groom leads the horse around the paddock. Some of the kids break out in smiles when they let go and look like they're soaring. "We make the world different for these kids," de Meyer said.
