In the saddle: Horserback riding does wonders for self-esteem

In recent years with children from increasingly difficult backgrounds coming to Youth Aliyah residential villages a greater emphasis has been placed on therapy. The Therapy Center at Kiryat Yearim pioneered drama, art, music and other disciplines in order to decrease violent and disruptive behavior as students were able to express what bothered them and ‘act out’ their problems. This past year Kiryat Yearim’s Therapeutic Center has placed greater emphasis on confronting trauma due to the security situation as well as the prevention of drugs, violence and smoking.Ben Yakir has also in the past year expanded its therapeutic program in particular using horseback riding to enhance self-esteem.

“Studies have shown that horseback riding can do wonders for giving children better neurological control over their bodies,” explains Claudio Glaser, Director of the Therapeutic Center at Ben Yakir. “We also use pet therapy and workshops with both individual therapy and groups. There is much less violence and hostility here now.”The same has happened at Ramat Hadassah Szold. Efrat Harush the Director of the Psycho-Social Center there says that therapy stresses an integrative approach. “The therapist or social worker cannot give away information told to them in confidence by the children,” she observed. “But they can give guidance to teachers and counselors trying to help the student.”

Tamuz 5764 - July 2004