Published by: Ainslee Sutherand and Maxine Carlill / ICEJ Australia
Gentle Horses Calm Traumatised Children
Near the Gaza border, Kibbutz Urim residents have endured decades of rocket attacks and incendiary balloons. Children in the kibbutz learn to rush to the bomb shelter whenever the siren screams. Fear and trauma causes them to regress emotionally, lose their joy, or develop negative social behaviours.
Recognising their community’s need for proper counselling, kibbutz members established a horse therapy farm particularly aimed at healing the deep wounds in their children, using an innovative method known as zootherapy. This type of therapeutic approach uses animals as mediators to treat people suffering from sensory, physical, intellectual, or psychological disorders.
Riding, grooming and generally interacting with the horses seems to provide a calming effect often encouraging lost communication skills and confidence.
The technique has proven its worth worldwide, with tangible effects apparent from the very first sessions. As the children establish relationships with animals, it promotes a sense of well-being and other physical and mental benefits, such as lower heart rates and stress reduction. This is especially true with therapy horses, as children learn to trust again through interaction with such large but gentle animals.
ICEJ Gifts Two Horses - Diana, The Pony and Andy, A Large Horse
In response to the growing number of traumatized children needing help, ICEJ Aid staff became aware of the Equine Therapy program at Kibbutz Urim.
Initially ICEJ sponsored children to have lessons at the horse farm. More recently, they invested in two specially selected horses to join the stables there. Diana is a pony, specially suited to the young children, while Andy is a bigger horse. They both seemed delighted to greet their sponsors from ICEJ.
A Beacon Of Hope For The Children
The Horse Therapy farm at Kibbutz Urim is a beacon of hope for the children of the surrounding area as they rebuild their lives and attempt to establish normality, despite the ongoing war. The staff’s dedication and innovative approach is providing not only healing for the current traumatized children, but is building resilience for the future.
Not only are the children encouraged but parents and staff who witness the transformation that occurs in the children, are deeply impacted.
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem began sponsoring horse therapy sessions at Kibbutz Urim and quickly saw the positive impact on the children, so we went a step further.
Currently, 96 children are enjoying horse therapy lessons at the farm. However, the demand is much higher now, and an additional 84 children are currently on Urim’s waiting list. Since 90% of children in the region suffer from varying degrees of trauma, increased support and resources are needed. Riding and grooming sessions, initially limited to 30 minutes, have been extended to 50 minutes to meet the considerable needs of the children. While the therapeutic benefits are evident, parents find it difficult to afford the longer lessons, so outside support is crucial to help families give their children the care they need.
The impact of the horses has been profound. Take Erez, for example, a young Israeli boy who was kidnapped by Hamas and held captive in Gaza for 50 days before his release last November. Just two days after being freed, he requested to reunite with his beloved horse, “Dingy,”. Despite the challenges of gaining permission to visit the Urim horse farm, located at the time in a closed military area, Erez arrived and spent over two hours riding. He later shared with his teacher that the thought of riding “Dingy” again was what had kept him strong during the long days of his captivity in Gaza.
Another memorable moment on the farm came when a small 5-year-old boy brushed a horse while singing loudly. Looking on from nearby, his mother was in tears. She explained that her son used to sing all the time, but after being stuck in a safe room for 12 frightful hours last October 7, he had stopped singing altogether. Yet grooming the horse at the Urim farm that day sparked his singing again for the first time.
As Kibbutz Urim and its surrounding communities continue to rebuild amid the ongoing threats from Gaza, this therapeutic horse farm stands as a beacon of hope. The farm was originally conceived as a simple riding school, has evolved into a lifeline for the region’s children. Through their dedication and innovative approach to healing, the kibbutz members have offered a pathway to resilience for the next generation.
With your continued support, the healing touch of horses like Andy and Diana will continue to restore young lives. ICEJ Australia is having a specific appeal to purchase a new therapy horse, This reflects the link between Israel and Australian horses established in the very formation of Israel as a result of the Charge of the Australian Light Horse at Beersheva. Please do your part by giving to our Israel in Crisis fund.
