For the next 20 months, Association FOR YOU will be a partner in an interesting project of the Paint and Quarter Horse Bulgaria Foundation. It aims to bring together organizations from different sectors and improve the quality of work, activities and practices in the field of youth participation in therapy assisted by horses not only in Bulgaria but also in Europe. The project is called “Youth in Equine-Assisted Therapy” and is funded by the Erasmus + program. Partners are organizations from Bulgaria, France and Belgium.

As a result of the project, a handbook will be created containing methodologies for creating and developing a horse-assisted therapy program with youth participants, a youth volunteer program, methodologies in different types of horse-assisted therapy, and a comparative analysis of good practices in Bulgaria, Europe and the world.

The first working meeting of the partners was held in France from the 7 to the 10th of January 2022. Representatives of all partners were present. The Bulgarian side included the Paint and Quarter Horse Bulgaria Foundation and  Association FOR YOU. Host was the French organization “Luck 33”. From Belgium, there were representatives from the Democratic School of Nature “BOS”.

Within 2 days we managed to get acquainted with the goals and activities of the project, to distribute tasks and plan the participation of each of the organizations. There were planned visits to horse bases in the area, but due to the limitations of the epidemic situation, we were able to visit only one base for racehorses.

Along with the work program, we also had a cultural tour of the area. We visited oyster farms, as well as the highest dune in Europe “Dune du Pilat”. Our hosts from LUCK 33 made sure to introduce us to typical French dishes and drinks.

About the partners:

Paint and Quarter Horse Bulgaria was started in 2017, becoming the first licensed organization for animal therapy in the country. They provide opportunities for young people with disabilities and their families to benefit from therapeutic horse-riding and spending time in nature.

Democratic School of Nature BOS is a Belgian organization with an innovative teaching approach. It was established in 2017. Their mission is to restore children’s contact with nature and to support the individual qualities of each of them.

LUCK 33 is a French organization that deals with non-formal learning. Organizes youth exchanges for disadvantaged students through theater and arts.

There will be more working meetings as part of the project and an educational mobility in Sofia in May 2022. Youth workers, parents, professionals working with children and young people with disabilities will be invited to participate in this mobility. The aim will be to gain knowledge and share experiences about the usefulness of horse-assisted therapy.

 

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.