“Children that never talk, will talk in the presence of a horse”.These were the words of a teacher working with Bethel Foster Home, describing the positive impact of Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy (EAAT).

Hippotherapy, one form of EAAT, is based on the human/animal relationship and also utilizes the dynamic movement of the horse to achieve certain therapeutic goals. This type of treatment is effective because the regular, symmetrical and rhythmic movement of the horse has a beneficial effect and simulates the human walk.
Therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activities are the two most common EAAT methods, which can help people with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities such as cerebral palsy, muscular weakness, Down’s syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and visual impairment, to name only a few.

Though it can be dated back to the 1900s and is widely practiced in many countries, EAAT is still mostly unknown in China. However, the non-profit organization HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment) is on a mission to change this.

beijingkids attended a recent volunteer training session at HOPE in Shunyi,
where we joined the horseback riding experience of a 7-year-old Xiaole.

Now operating from Dongfang Mahui in Gaoliying village in Shunyi, HOPE was founded in 2009 by Dr.Priscilla Lightsey, a physical therapist, certified therapeutic riding instructor, and hippo-therapy clinical specialist from the US. Priscilla moved to Beijing in 2006 and found EAAT almost non-existent in China at the time, so she decided to set up an organization to promote EAAT to help more children in need.

HOPE is currently operated by Sun Haixia and Manuela Tournier (Riding for the Disabled Association Instructor), with the latter working as chief instructor, using her long and varied equine and teaching experience. There are a dozen of volunteers who act as side walkers. Volunteers commit to helping on a weekly basis. They are trained before they can start and receive training once a month to improve skills.

In partnership with Bethel Foster Home, Angle Home Orphanage, Shepherd’s Field Orphanage and Migrant Children Foundation, four Beijing-based non-profit organizations serving children with special needs or orphans, HOPE provides therapeutic horse riding courses and other equine-assisted activities. The sessions are free to orphans and migrant children, and there is a charge of RMB 400 for a 40-minute course for other children.

All the horses are well trained and well cared for. Before riding the horse, the children are encouraged to prepare the horse by grooming and maybe helping with the tack (saddle). This may facilitate a bonding between the horse and rider.

“The connection between the children and the horses is really important. Horse riding is not just a sport but a relationship; the trust between horse and rider really matters,” Tournier explained.

Besides daily individual therapeutic riding sessions, HOPE runs summer camps every year, which are attended by children with special needs, including children from areas outside of Beijing. Serving as a model program with high safety standards is a long-term goal for HOPE.

Here, Xiaole is enjoying the ride of his life.

In the years since its foundation, HOPE has developed gradually into a professional therapy provider, witnessing positive changes in children with special needs through EAAT.

“What we have gained from those children is, we think, much more than what we have offered to them.” Both Haixia and Tournier expressed this feeling when they shared some touching stories with beijingkids.

Cancan is an 8-year-old boy from Xi’an, who attended HOPE’s summer camp in 2017. When they met Cancan for the first time, he could not walk unassisted. After eight days attending the EAAT-focused summer camp, Cancan suddenly walked unaided when he was dismounted from his horse.

“We were so surprised, happy, and proud of him.” Tournier still can’t hide her excitement when replaying the short video that was taken, showing Cancan walking independently.

Though they are delighted to see the potential for development, they recognize that there is still a long way to go, since hippo-therapy in Beijing is still similar to a stumbling toddler, and it is better to take small but stable steps.

“It takes a long time to train and qualify an instructor. We aim to see a big future for HOPE, but we don’t want to expand rapidly at the expense of the safety for these children,” said Tournier.

To ensure proper safety standards, in a typical therapeutic riding session, the horse will be led by a horse handler and there will be a side walker on either side of the rider. Due to limited funds and a small number of trained therapy horses and staff members, HOPE currently only provides individual courses. They are aiming to train instructors to a high level, so they can develop HOPE to support a wider range of people.

“There are several elements, or to put it more accurately barriers, that make hippo-therapy a slow walker in China: high expense; a lack of qualified instructors and people’s lack of knowledge about it,” Haixia said.

Having worked at HOPE for more than two years, Haixia shared with beijingkids what has impressed her most and the reason she decided to stay with HOPE to continue promoting hippo-therapy, these are the magical changes that have happened to these kids.

“For children with severe autism, something as easy as turning a palm is like climbing a mountain for them,” she said. “In order to show them how to pull out a chair and take a seat, you need to repeat it a hundred times before they can follow your words and do what they’re asked to do.”

“Hippo-therapy works like magic. When I see the smile blossoming on the faces of children in front of horses or during the horse riding, it gives me incomparable satisfaction.”

“Fan Fan is a migrant child from Hunan. We are struck by his incredible willpower to achieve despite the many challenges of his physical disabilities. He is now back in his hometown, but we’re trying to arrange special lessons for him in the near future,” Haixia added.

However, hippo-therapy is not a cure fit for all. Before accepting a child into their program, HOPE will consult a doctor or a physiotherapist depending on the child’s condition.

There are many other examples showing the notable changes, which have happened thanks to EAAT, and parents are also excited to share with us the difference it’s made to their children.

“My child changed on the horse, and was happy, calm and able to pay attention,” said a parent of a child who attended the HOPE summer camp.

“We saw that our child with autism was able to connect with the horse, which is a great encouragement,” said another parent.

We visited HOPE on the last day of their 4-day volunteer training course and by chance, 7-year-old Xiaole was taking the horseback riding session and I could barely tell any difference between him and the other child, who didn’t have special needs. Seeing that smile on Xiaole’s face touched me deeply and I realized the power of hope and love, which is in abundance at these EAAT sessions at HOPE.

Photos: Uni You
This article appeared on p38-39 of beijingkids March 2018 issue.

Dragon Boat Festival (龙船节), also known Duanwu Jie (端午节) is a public holiday commemorated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of every year, and in this case, this year’s holiday falls on a Tuesday (May 30). Just remember, the Saturday (May 27) before it is a working weekend. On this holiday, it is a customary activity to eat zongzi (粽子) or steamed glutinous rice with various fillings wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves), drink xionghuang jiu (雄黄酒), a kind of alcohol made from realgar, and watch dragon boat races.

Aside from them, there are more happenings where your family can spend the holiday. In this edition of The Weekend Ahead, we bring you some great activities to make your Dragon Boat Festival more fun.

Stop Motion for Dragon Boat Festival, May 27-30
Kids 10+. Atelier is holding a stop motion animation workshop during the Dragon Boat Festival. In the workshop, kids will be taught the principle of stop motion, an animation technique used by filmmakers to bring to life static objects. Kids will also be able to do a short movie animation. 10am-6pm. RMB 3,300. For more details on the registration, email Atelier at contact@atelier.cn.com. Atelier. 204-205, Building 2, Central Park, No.16 Road Yufeng, Shunyi District, Beijing (Go to F2 from Entrance A of Commercial Buildings)

Dragon Boat Festival Coding Workshop, May 27 to May 30
Ages 12 and under. During this workshop, students will learn the basics of coding using an Arduino microprocessor. Arduino is an electronics prototyping platform that helps you control real-world objects. Children will get familiar with electronics and C programming language. They will realize funny and useful objects including sensors, lights, and electro-mechanical components. During this workshop, they will build a detection system, radar, traffic light system and control a car for an obstacle course. RMB 4500 per child. 10am-4pm. Atelier.

HOPE Fundraising Auction for Children with Special Needs, May 28
All ages. HOPE (Horses Offering People Enrichment), a non-profit organization offering therapeutic horse riding for children with special needs, is holding a fundraising auction at the Roundabout Community Center in Shine Hills on May 28. The event features arts and crafts from local and foreign artists, and artwork by HOPE’s young riders and also children with autism. 10am-3.30pm. Free. Roundabout Community Center, Shine Hills Mall, Shunyi – #104 (Behind Momo coffee), Building 4, Shine Hills, No. 9 Antai Street, Shunyi District 中粮.祥云小镇, 北京市顺义区安泰大街9号院中粮祥云小镇北区4号楼104室（么么咖啡后面）

798 International Children’s Art Festival, May 28-30
All ages. The 798 International Children’s Art Festival (798 ICAF) is back and now on its fourth consecutive year. This year’s festivities are part of a wide program of children’s day events scheduled across the bustling 798 Arts District. Families can enjoy mini workshops or go booth to booth to find handmade accessories and products, toys and activity sets, clothing, artworks, food and drinks, books, and more. All day. Free entrance. 798 Arts District.

Dragon Boat Festival Feast at the Great Wall, May 29 to May 30
All ages. Come out to the farmhouse under the Great Wall and try “zongzi” along with other traditional fare. The feast will be served at night and there will be live folk music. View the menu and book online here. RMB 98 to RMB 188. All day. The Brickyard Inn and Retreat Center at Mutianyu Great Wall.

Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival at Sofitel Wanda Beijing, May 30
All ages. Sofitel Wanda Beijing brings out a variety of well-designed rice dumpling gift boxes in time for the Dragon Boat Festival. The selection contains seven different designs in traditional Chinese and modern style. Sofitel says it adds more creativity to the traditional festival by integrating French art into its design elements and showcasing art, gastronomy, literary, cultural and musical programs regularly. All day. Prices for each gift box start at RMB 88. (8535 3168) Sofitel Wanda, Xi Dawang Lu and Soho Xiandaicheng, Tower C, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District 北京万达索菲特大饭店 西大望路 现代城朝阳区建国路93号万达广场C座

Fragrant Sachet Crafting and Dragon Boat Craft & Race, May 30
All ages. Fragrant sachets were crafted and worn in ancient times as an auspicious charm or gifted as a symbol of love. The SLab brings the tradition of fragrant silk sachet crafting using traditional herbs at the Green T. House. Meanwhile, a scaled-down version of a dragon boat race will be held in the central pond of Green T. House. 2-5pm. For Fragrant Sachet Crafting: RMB 248/child, RMB 888/four children (fee includes ice cream, juice, and crafting materials.) For the Dragon Boat Craft & Race, register via email at reservations@green-t-house.com. (6434 2519, WeChat ID: 13601137132, www.green-t-house.com) Green T House, 318 Sunbai Lu, Hegezhuang Village, Chaoyang.

Photos courtesy of 798 ICAF, DCB, Atelier, Hope, Sofitel Wanda Beijing, and The SLab.

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Email: andypenafuerte@beijing-kids.com
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Horses Offering People Enrichment (HOPE), a Beijing-based non-profit provides horse therapy for children and adults with special needs. HOPE opened in Beijing in 2009 and currently houses three therapy horses which they care for and with which students interact. On May 28th from 10am-3.30pm at the Roundabout Community Centre in Shine Hills, HOPE will be hosting their first fundraising art auction to help cover the cost of stable rental, horse medical fees, equipment, training, and new horses.

The event will feature supervised arts and crafts for kids, and a Tai Chi demonstration for adults and anyone else that may be interested. The items to be auctioned off have not been completely finalized, but may include such works as Tibetan Tangka paintings or photographs and photo books. For those who wish to make a donation but cannot attend the auction, maximum bids (or simply donations) can be made via WeChat (150 11547338) or through the HOPE Paypal account. HOPE will also be hosting a second auction at the compound where the organization’s stables are located, Grassetown Compound, on June 3rd.

HOPE provides sessions to individuals ages four and older, sometimes making exceptions for children as young as three years old. HOPE’s website states that horse therapy can help to people with a range of disabilities including those with “cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Sensory Integration Disorder (SID), as well as those with no specific physical disabilities but with global development delays.”

For those interested in becoming more involved in HOPE outside of attending the auction, the organization has volunteer opportunities. Jacqueline Chen, whose son has been participating in horse therapy at HOPE for years, volunteers at HOPE and is helping to organize the auction. Chen mentioned that international schools and local students have also gotten involved as volunteers at HOPE. “Currently, a student from WAB is designing and creating a sound activation system to be used with the orphans from Bethel, who are blind and/or visually impaired. We also have volunteers helping with administration, including translating documents and the HOPE website.” Other volunteer opportunities include walking alongside horses to ensure a child’s safety during their sessions, helping instructors prepare the area prior to a training session, and providing assistance with horse grooming. No experience with horses is required.

Horses Offering People Enrichment (HOPE) Therapy sessions by appointment. Grassetown Compound (East Side of Wenyu River) hopebeijingchina@gmail.com, WeChat: 150 11547338 北京市顺义区格拉斯小镇马场 (温榆河以东).

Photos: courtesy of HOPE