The Horizon Farm Trust is a Non Profit and Public Benefit Organization that provides accommodation and meaningful occupation to mentally & physically handicapped children, therapeutic activities and respite care facilities for children with disabilities and outdoor programmes for at-risk youth.
The Horizon Farm’s therapeutic horse-back riding programme for children with disabilities has significantly grown over the past few years and is run by Carol Hilton-Barber (registered occupational therapist). Over 40 children benefit from this free service every week, ranging in age from 20 months to 18 years, with disabilities including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism, visual impairment and down syndrome.
Imagine the joy of a child who is in a wheelchair every day being able to look down from a horse rather than up at people all the time!
In response to a growing need for a local facility for children who are intellectually impaired, the Horizon Trust Academy was opened on 10 September 2011. This dream has become a reality thanks to a generous donation from The Albert and Molly Baumann Trust.
Set in the tranquil farm-like surroundings of Shongweni, next to Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park, the school offers a caring, friendly and personal approach to teaching, making use of diverse and hollistic teaching methods, including horse assisted therapy and gardening. Staffed by a qualified teacher and an occupational therapist, the school caters for up to 15 children, providing individual educational programmes specific to the needs of each child.
“Our philosophy is to treat all our children as individuals without favour or prejudice, in a loving and kind environment. We don’t believe in comparison, but rather encouraging each individual to be the best that they can be,” says HFT Academy teacher, Debby Jameson.
HFT Academy Principal, Kobus Cronje, says: “We are passionate about giving children with special educational needs opportunities that will promote their optimal development and enable them to become confident members of society in their own way.”
Join The Horizon Farm Trust for a night at the races to raise funds for their therapeutic horse programme for children with disabilities.
Date: Friday, 7 October 2011
Time: 6pm – 10pm
Venue: Greyville Racecourse, Steward’s Classic Room
Cost: R250 per person, including a full buffet dinner with starters, mains, desserts and a cheese board, as well as an open bar (excluding imported spirits).
For more information, call Lee-Ann Conway on (031) 765 1436 or 082 456 8487, email lee-ann@sai.co.za or visit the Trust’s website.
1 Comment
Hi Carol
I worked with you and Geoff at the Natal Society for the Blind. I was Joan Wilson then.I have a referral that I hope you can assist with. An elderly lady at our complex in Kloof has recently been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. Can you assist with some referrals for some OT? She is 81, she seems depressed and has always been very active. Goes for 10 Kilometre walks every day. She is missing reading and sewing the most. She is Italian but can speak English. I thought I would start with you rather than a cold phone call to someone I have never met. Kind regards from Joan. 031 7645745 or 076 072 9225