Horses help troubled kids in south
Troubled Southland children are using a horse riding centre to put them on the path to recovery.
Children with depression, been bullied or abused by a family member or caregiver are benefiting from lessons at the Flying Horse training centre at Otatara, its co-owner Julia Latham says.
The children, aged 10 to 17, are taught how to ride and look after horses.
‘‘Some of these kids have never touched a horse before . . . it’s a major achievement for some of them,’’ Latham said.
When confident in the saddle, the children are given various tasks, including riding through a simple obstacle course and playing hoofball.
Latham teaches them how to stand in the stirrups without holding the reins.
The children’s concentration increases the first time they are on a horse without assistance.
‘‘Suddenly, they’re in control of this big animal,’’ Latham said.
‘‘The work we do teaches them [children] how to cope when they’re out of their comfort zone.’’
Providing the children are competent on their horses, Latham takes them for short treks at Sandy Point near the end of the 10-week course. By that stage they are riding the horses over logs and small jumps. ‘‘We teach them to respect life. ‘‘I treat these kids like my horses, with firmness and kindness. They are taught to be assertive with the horse without being angry.’’
Latham and her husband Dave opened Flying Horse 13 years ago. Latham runs the business, which provides a variety of services for horse owners and riders.
She has been helping troubled children for seven years. ‘‘It started with a client’s child.’’ Four years ago, the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki contacted Latham.
‘‘They heard good things about what we’re doing out here,’’ Latham said.
The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki and the Poppycock Trust arrange lessons for children under their care. A few children from Aurora College also attend.
Usually, after two or three lessons, Latham notices the children beginning to enjoy their time with the horses.
One boy told Latham that he had been taught to steal by his family.
‘‘I was gobsmacked,’’ Latham said.
She believes lack of exercise can led to problems in people.
‘‘These kids have never done [regular] outside activities, moving around having fun.’’
She has trained 12 children. Two pulled out but returned six months later.
Four children are currently receiving training, with two on the waiting list.
‘‘Some have been coming for a couple of years,’’ Latham said.
‘‘We’re having some really good success with these kids, it’s so rewarding.’’
Meanwhile, Dave Latham has scaled down his work overseas as a helicopter fire pilot. He has fought bushfires in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Dave was one of the many who battled the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria in 2009. The fires claimed 173 lives and left 414 people injured.
With Dave not working overseas as much now, Julia is looking forward to him spending more time at Flying Horse.