''The Horse Beside You'' for the parents of children with special needs

In the daily lives of parents of children with special needs, there is often no time for rest. Care, responsibility, constant organization and emotional stress become part of every day. For those parents Paint and Quarter Horse Foundation Bulgaria created the free “The Horse Beside You”program.

The program offers a different type of support – calm, nature-friendly and equine-assisted. Through contact with horses, time in nature and a safe environment, parents are given the opportunity to break away from the tension and pay attention to their own emotional state.

Why horses?

Horses are extremely sensitive animals that react to human emotions, behavior and energy. In therapeutic work, they help build a sense of calm, trust and love “here and now”.

The organization’s approach is based on the principles of natural interaction between a person and a horse – without violence, fear or coercion. The foundation is mutual respect and calm communication.

What is the program?

"The Horse Beside You" is aimed at parents of children with special needs who need:

• emotional relief;

• time for themselves;

• a calm and supportive environment;

• contact with nature;

• restored internal balance.

The meetings do not involve riding. No previous experience with horses is necessary.

The meetings are held with trained horse therapists and a team that has experience in providing equine-assisted therapy and activities. We develop our activities with a mission to provide accessible and quality assistance through the interaction between a person and a horse.

How is the program free?

One of the most important features of “The Horse Beside You” is that participation is completely free for the parents.

This is possible thanks to the organization’s special sponsorship program. Through the program donors, partners and like-minded people support the conduct of therapy sessions and the care of the horses.

You can find more information about the initiative here: Sponsorship program.

A few moments of peace matter

Sometimes support does not come in the form of advice or solutions, but through a space in which a person can simply be calm, understood and accepted.

“The Horse Beside You” creates just such a place – in nature, in the presence of horses and people who believe that caring for parents is also important.

How to join?

Learn more about the program and apply in the form provided here: The Horse Beside You