THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER OF KALAMATA IPPOSXESI

The non-profit organisation Ipposhesi uses horse riding as a therapeutic tool. It is a program that fully improves the health and quality of life of people with physical, mental or emotional disabilities. In therapeutic horse riding the horse becomes an extension of the body. It helps the person to dare new experiences and feel emotions they had not experienced before, such as the pleasure of riding, the enthusiasm of a country walk, and especially the sense of movement and personal independence. The walking of the horse resembles human walking and for this reason it transmits to the rider's body the same movement that produces the legs of a person without mobility difficulties. Target group are children and adults with mental or physical disabilities who are members of rehabilitation and therapy centers, public or private. Daily activities are built around the stakeholders who participate at the therapies and usually are: - Escorting the children and safeguarding the safety. - Guiding the horse - Taking care of the horse - Participating in non formal education games - Facilitating the free time of the children before and after the therapies (through games and animation) - Taking care of the area in which the therapies are taking place - Assisting the experts to their job - Developing in cooperation with the experts, new educational activities