Tuesday, March 26, 2013


Back to South Africa



I’m here in South Africa again, this time near Durban.  Originally I was going to be working at a horse farm near Cape Town but once there it was clear it was not a good fit.  So I found the Horizon Farm, a non-profit residential program for disabled adults.  There is also a little school here that works with disabled children.

My first ride on Polo
Just like Greece, we've a new puppy
The farm is like old McDonald's farm.  There are chickens, pigs, ducks, rabbits, dogs, cats and horses.  9 horses actually.  I’ve been out riding with a volunteer who’s now moved on.  I rode a pretty little palomino named Polo.  He’ll be my horse for the duration.  The country is very different than the horse farm near Cape Town.  There, it was much like Southern and Central California with beautiful mountains in the distance.  Here, we’re on the east side of Africa where it is wetter and more sub-tropical jungle.  It’s hilly but not mountainous.  The ride Polo and I took went through some beautiful country, ending at a waterfall in an area that looked like a garden of Eden.  There are some good swimming holes there which I hope to plunge in.


Johann and Margaret groom Polo
There are 21 permanent adult residents here.  The farm provides a safe, comfortable place for them to live.  There are many activities for them to participate in – helping with chores, games, classes, craft projects and of course the horses.  Every morning the horses are assembled and residents groom them. This is more for the residents than the horses, though I think the horses enjoy it too.  And depending on the disability, residents may be taken out on short trail rides or in the case of a more severely disabled – cerebral palsy for example – it may be just a walkabout or sitting on the horse.   This becomes a very simple form of equine therapy.
Justin works out in front of his cabin.  Jay cheers him on.











Horizon School House (kinda looks like a Besant Hill building!)


Aside from my involvement with the horses, I’m making videos here – one to show volunteers what is like here. one to use to show prospective parents what it’s like for the residence
and one for to help their school get day students.
I started on the school video today and as the videos progress I’ll post them on uTube.
Debbie and Tristan

More later….