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Therapeutic
Riding
Klaus
Pavel: It goes without saying that we help where we can
CHIO Aachen: "Moments of luck" campaign supporting
therapeutic riding
The international
top equestrian elite competes every year at the World Equestrian
Festival, CHIO Aachen: The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein
e.V. (ALRV) also always invites representatives of therapeutic
riding to the show grounds, to offer this form of therapy
a platform in front of journalists and visitors from all over
the world. Once again 2009 numerous charity campaigns will
be organised at the CHIO under the motto "Moments of
luck". It´s a cooperation by the ALRV, the German
Curatorship for Therapeutic Riding (DKThR) and by the Federation
of Sports for the Disabled. "It goes without saying that
we help, wherever we can," said ALRV President, Klaus
Pavel. "Therapeutic riding and sports for the disabled
has been a matter that lies close to our hearts for years."
Concerning the therapeutic riding the soothing, curing and
preventative effect of the horse is used to help people with
a variety of problems, including motoric disorders, people
who have perception, communication or contact problems, or
for people who are suffering from depression or who are disabled.
"It is
a miracle: The horse doesn't just know how to compensate for
a handicap. One actually senses that the horse really wants
to do so." Hannelore Brenner was World Champion, many-time
European Champion and is the reigning German Champion - in
dressage for the disabled. After falling from a horse years
ago she suffered damage to one of her lumbal vertebrae, since
then crutches have been her constant companion. "But
I was in fact lucky. I could have been completely paraplegic
or even dead." Through her horse she found her way back
to the sport, changed disciplines from eventing to dressage,
and won title after title - even if "I practically can't
build up any muscles in the lower half of my body anymore".
The thing that is lacking most in therapeutic
riding and sports for the disabled is money. In the meantime
it was possible to win over the Federal Chancellor, Angela
Merkel. as patron of the Federation of Sports for the Disabled,
of course donations will also be collected again 2009 at the
CHIO Aachen - at the traditional church service and all over
the show grounds. This collaboration has brought in tens of
thousands of Euros over the past years - a further 80,000
Euros were collected alone during the charity campaign at
the FEI World Equestrian Games 2006. Regulary, the people
visiting Soers Sunday are able to enjoy an exciting show programme
by the Aachen therapy centres in the warm-up area of the jumping
ring. During the entire tournament week the DKThR also informs
the public on the background of therapeutic riding and riding
for the disabled at their own stand.
"It is wonderful that the ALRV also asserts
itself for the interests of handicapped people during its
tournaments," praised Gerda Pleitgen, Chairwoman of the
Federation of Sports for the Disabled. And the DKThR Chairwoman,
Cornelia von Rüxleben-Plöger, added. "The CHIO
Aachen is a magnificent platform for people with a handicap.
Here they can demonstrate, everything they are capable of
doing.
More information:
Deutsches
Kuratorium für Therapeutisches Reiten
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