Horse Therapy in Saudi Arabia

Saudi knight Areej Al-Abdullah did not know that her fall from horseback in 2015 would be the reason for many people with movement disabilities to stand on their feet for the first time.

Nor did she understand at that moment why her instructor immediately asked her to return to horseback despite the pain of falling, she wondered, "Why I should go back to him and cause my injury?" The instructor replied: "He is also the one who will treat you!"

Search and discover trip:

This position was behind the allocation of "Areej" for a long period of time to conect with several specialists and research in a range of medical sources before announcing within one year the establishment of the initiative (sahwa hope), which is the first Arab project on the idea of horse therapy, later it became a source of hope for many people with movement disabilities, who make up about 7% of Saudi society.

It was not as much an outcome as it was an opportunity to discover, the team of eight cavalry, therapists and volunteers began receiving cases and assessing their potential for improvement and set a timetable including horseback riding and home-based exercises.

Treatment depends on the waves generated by the movement of the horse to move sequentially and regularly within the human nervous system, This becomes more beneficial through the dynamic compatibility between the parties.

Entrepreneur Areej Al - Abdullah with one of the children:

From barrier to incentive:

Malk Bedawi, A young man has reached the stage of recognizing that he has to live his entire life in a wheelchair because of his movement disabilities from birth.

But the will of God wanted him to experience the feeling of standing for the first time on his feet after 29 years, Because he believed Areej Al-Abdullah's joke that she asked him only to go see horses, Before finding himself in the hands of a specialized team putting him on a horse.

There is a defining moment on the psychological level preceding physical interaction, This was confirmed by Bedewi, whose experience made him see his disability as an incentive, not a barrier.

He says: "It was a state of shock, I wouldn't have acted on it, Later I felt I had to try as long as I wouldn't lose anything, I was not thinking about what would happen to me as much as I was contemplating the fact that I was disabled at that moment doing something many healthy people feared to do".

A team of young Saudi volunteers accompany a child on her journey to healing:

Doctor's astonishment:

Dr. Salman Al Alwani, Saudi physician specializing in rehabilitation therapy, He chose to volunteer in the team (sahwa hope) and his experience was not limited to medical volunteering but also represented him to discover new experience in his field.

He says: “I have presented some cases to consultants with 40 years of experience, they were amazed at the level of practical improvement in the results of horse therapy, they stressed that it is a rare occurrence according to the medical standard".

Alwani explains that this type of treatment depends on the cumulative structure, Potential improvement rates from 30% to 80%,It requires the cooperation of family with the Competent team and the implementation of the treatment plan, including home exercises, It is also related to the psychological and physical readiness from one person to another, And not to stop with the beginnings of improvement.

He adds: "I still remember that kid whose eyes tear when he gets rid of the wheelchair and can only complete his life with crutches, Then he said to me: "It is enough that I will not need anyone's help anymore, In caring for myself, Such situations are what make us continue for years to come in this project".

One of the children involved in a social program for sahwa hope:

Race of Hope:

Nothing is like imagining the wellness that runs as a horse in the veins of people whose hopes have diminished over the years, While Sahwa hope has succeeded in three years in achieving good improvement rates in more than 50 disabilities, and this success has so far received more than 3,000 cases awaiting its turn.

Initiative Foundation, Knight Areej Al-Abdullah, revealed to "Salam" that the next goal is to establish a center specializing in horse therapy and receive as many beneficiaries as possible.

She adds:" Earlier this year, we worked to develop the initiative to include several targets, including the expansion of scientific research in the field of horse therapy, and place it to create a suitable environment for the integration of people with special needs into society, We believe that horses are knitted with their good things, as the Holy Prophet peace be upon him said, This gives us more confidence in what we do".

Because Show jumping is an art mastered by horses and their people, It (sahwa hope) has already succeeded in overcoming challenges to making achievement, I got the official adoption from the Saudi Equestrian Federation, it was honored from several quarters.

While the most important moment was the participation of the initiative team in the Grand Horse Championship, along with equestrian professionals, and it was not strange... It is not strange with hope!