Therapeutic Horseback Riding: Helping Kids Tackle Fears and Find Joy

Amidst the bustling traffic of Highway 4 one busy afternoon, the screech of brakes and a loud bang shattered the air, followed by an unsettling silence. It was an accident, with injured people desperately needing assistance. Not far away, Menashe Goldis, a resident of Bnei Brak and a devoted Chassid, was returning from a riding session with a friend. Hearing the commotion, he immediately grasped the situation. 'I jumped back onto Jimmy and galloped onto the road. I was the first medic on the scene, and nobody understood where a paramedic on horseback had appeared from.' Till now, we have heard about rescue motorcycles, but Menashe introduces us to his unique option – a rescue horse. How did you find yourself at the accident scene on a horse? It's surely not a typical scenario for a Chassidic Jew. 'Back then, our horse farm was near Highway 4. I'm a professional medic with United Hatzalah, and thankfully, thanks to my loyal horse Jimmy, I was able to provide medical assistance to the injured quickly.' It's surprising to see a Chassidic Jew adeptly riding horses. How did you come into this field? 'I worked at the organization 'Beit Chaim,' where I was exposed to therapeutic horse riding. I loved the idea and asked our Rebbe if I should pursue it. He gave me his blessing. I studied sport riding at Ruppin College and therapeutic riding at the Wingate Institute. I was the first Chassid in the country to learn the field. After gaining expertise and work experience, we initiated several training courses for Chassidic riding instructors and an additional three for Chassidic women. The courses were held at our farm in collaboration with several colleges for certification. Now, becoming a Chassidic riding instructor is no longer an unattainable dream.' How did your community react to the new path you chose? 'I wasn’t interested in their opinions, and I didn’t check what everyone else was saying. Only Hashem matters to me. Thankfully, and perhaps surprisingly, the field was well-received everywhere. After gaining experience, I went on to manage a horse farm established by Rabbi Lawrence with the encouragement of Rabbi Shteinman, of blessed memory. Today, I work in cooperation with many Talmud Torah schools, and the farm has become a well-established fact.' What does a typical day at the farm look like? Every day, at nine in the morning, Menashe leaves his home in Bnei Brak for his horse farm in Rishon Lezion. 'The morning air is fresh and pure, and I feel a connection to Hashem through the earth, vegetation, and animals. The 13 horses await me after a night spent resting in stalls. Another worker stays overnight to supervise them. When they hear the gate's lock open, they neigh joyfully. At this time, two more workers arrive, and together we make a round through the farm, greeting the horses and ensuring everything is in good order. Afterward, we feed the horses hay and grains, and prepare the farm for the students' arrival. Then, it’s time for us to brew some black coffee. The coffee on the farm has a unique aroma you won’t find anywhere else. Shooky the pony likes to peek at us during coffee and ask for attention.' We then let the horses out to graze, using the time to clean the stalls. Morning hours are calmer on the farm, with horses resting. How do they rest? Simply grazing and roaming freely without a trainer directing them is rest for them, gathering strength for the rest of the day. In the afternoons, students come for therapy and riding lessons. Mostly, children and teens arrive for individual therapy, and occasionally groups come for shared sessions. Each lesson lasts about an hour or 45 minutes, after which the horses have a 15-minute rest. It’s beautiful to see four horses going out together for a group tour, or the yard full of pairs of trainer, child, and horse walking together. Lessons continue until around 8:00 PM. The horses remain active and not tired, even on winter evenings when darkness falls earlier. We have lighting in the yard, and sometimes, the darkness itself is an advantage, speeding up therapeutic goals by creating a need to navigate in dimly lit areas, showcasing resourcefulness. Afterward, we bring the horses into their stalls, enclosed spaces of 12 square meters, where they eat dinner and rest. No, they don’t go to sleep. Horses don’t require much sleep. In captivity, a horse sleeps only about 3 hours, in the wild even less – just one hour, as they fear potential predators, feeling more relaxed in captivity. (Incidentally, in *halacha*, the concept of horse sleep is mentioned.) During this time, we hold workshops, and by 10:00 PM, the farm closes, with one of us staying overnight to supervise the horses. Kids love to ride, feed, tack, and groom the horses. How do the therapeutic lessons at the farm run? 'The course of lessons varies greatly from student to student, depending on the student's age, personal needs, and fitness. Some therapies at the farm take place in the riding arena, while others occur in open spaces. Besides riding, some children enjoy feeding the horses, some want to tack the horses themselves and prepare them for riding, and others prefer grooming the horses and even helping the trainer in washing them. 'Most children love the horses,' Goldis explains, 'but of course, some children are afraid. In such cases, a significant part of the therapy involves confronting fears, which is a great benefit for a child who usually struggles with fears in other areas. Some kids have experienced trauma, now manifesting as aversion to the horse, and focusing on horse care helps them overcome this trauma. Others fear the responsibility of caring for a horse, lacking confidence in all aspects of their lives, or claim they are disgusted by the horses. In reality, horses are very clean creatures, and they love order and cleanliness, so there’s nothing to be disgusted about. Most of the time, this is a front for a deeper fear that hides behind it. Yet, we don’t flinch from any challenge, and with patience, we find the best path for each patient, allowing the riding to lead them forward, overcoming everyday nuisances.' Goldis outlines: 'There are three of us working at the farm, each with an official therapeutic riding instructor certificate. Some of us have additional certification; for instance, I have a CBT therapist certificate and a counselor certificate in the 12-step method. However, we don’t operate a clinic like 'regular' therapists but integrate all methods and tools in our riding and field excursions. The trainer talks with the child and navigates the therapy while managing the horse. The only therapy I conduct in a clinic is parent guidance. There are times when a child comes for riding therapy, and while he heads into the field with his horse, parents receive guidance in the clinic. Only rarely do we send parents on a horse, which is an intriguing experience by itself...' Who benefits from horseback riding? 'Horseback riding is for anyone who wishes to lead a better, higher-quality life. There’s no area or difficulty that horses can’t aid. Personally, I’ve met many kids whose parents had abandoned hope, or adults who had given up on themselves, and here on the farm, they rebuilt and rehabilitated themselves, transitioning from a place of suffering and hardship to a life filled with joy and delight. There is no despair in the world at all, and therapeutic riding is one of the marvelous tools to help everyone avoid despair and succeed in life.' Goldis adds that one of the unique experiences is observing how students carry their riding experience with them and, thanks to it, view life differently. The insights and strengths they discover during the ride accompany them in other real-life situations. The younger ones even began playing farm games at home with their Playmobil horses, reliving the therapy hour during their home playtime. The children eagerly anticipate and look forward to the riding hour throughout the week. A child came to us for therapy whose parents were undergoing a divorce. He suffered greatly from the home discord, experiencing anxiety and responding with outbursts and tantrums. I designed a therapeutic riding process for him, but it seemed his therapy wasn’t affecting him at all. The child remained with the same issues as though I hadn’t treated him. I was unsure what to do, and after praying to Hashem for guidance on how to help, an idea came to mind. I asked his father if we could conduct the next therapy lesson in the morning. The farm was empty of visitors, with only the horses engaged in their own business. I took two chairs, seated the child facing the horses, and sat beside him, letting him watch them. As every morning, the horses were engaged in disputes and mutual skirmishes. Some horses just don’t get along with others, and in the morning, they settle scores and squabble endlessly, much like grumpy little kids or parliament members... After the child observed the quarrels, I asked what he saw. The child described the horse disputes anxiously, and I returned with another question: 'Do you see me intervening in their fights as I do during the afternoon lessons?' The child shook his head in surprise. Then, I explained that I must allow the horses to quarrel – it’s a part of their need to let off steam. During lessons, I stop any quarrels so that children won’t be hurt, but in the morning, when there’s no danger to anyone, I don’t intervene or separate them. Right, it’s not pleasant and might cause some damage to my horses, but I can’t step in among strong horses. That’s their time, and I only ensure nobody gets hurt by them. 'Similarly, regarding your parents,' I explained simply. 'You can’t stop their arguments, and you cannot control them. It’s just not your problem. You only need to ensure you aren’t hurt and ask respectfully for it not to happen around you.' From that day, the child understood what was related to him and what wasn’t. He learned to protect himself and respectfully ask his parents not to argue in his presence, and the therapeutic process advanced greatly from there. The horses’ lively demonstration provided him with the best lesson. I saw it as a great sign from Hashem that led me to the right conclusion, and even the horses’ quarrels led the child to a better place for himself.' 'Therapeutic riding suits all ages,' Menashe says. 'From one or two years old up to one hundred and twenty. I have a 67-year-old student who comes weekly to ride! He does it to strengthen his muscles and enjoy his favorite sport. After all, riding is a highly aerobic activity engaging all body muscles. Even those not in top shape can enjoy riding, starting at a slow pace with a calm and obedient horse, gradually increasing the pace according to the desired level of training.' Regarding the different personalities of the horses, Menashe elaborates that 'each horse has its own personality and pace. Interestingly, like humans, horses have a very structured hierarchy. For example, our big mare Venus is the head, and no one will mess with her. Julio is the mischievous one. He’s always the adventurer, and while others rest, he seeks ways to sneak out to nibble on greenery. As soon as he notices that the trainer is busy, he’ll seize the opportunity. Milky is a very strong mare who’s still learning what’s asked of her, but she’s learning gradually. Jimmy is the tribe’s elder, a mature horse with a lot of wisdom. He knows how to give up for the sake of peace and quiet. I could continue detailing all the farm’s horses, but the idea is clear. Each horse has its own character and the personal education they need.' Education? How do you educate horses, or do you mean training? 'It doesn’t matter what you call it; to me, horses are like children who initially act like little rascals and gradually learn proper behavior. For instance, a young horse might not be well-mannered and could act without tact, whereas the older ones behave correctly and with diplomacy.' What is horse tact? I can’t help but wonder, and Goldis replies in all seriousness: 'A horse with less tact may, for example, slightly nudge a person standing nearby with its head. But a mature horse knows better and doesn’t push. We educate them on how to behave.' Goldis recounts about equine-style education: he distributes rewards to the horses for good behavior. These rewards might be a feed mixture or a treat the horse particularly likes. Goldis also 'talks' to the animals in their language, even scolding a less tactful horse: 'Don’t push me!' He says the horse understands his words through the voice’s intonation and adjusts its behavior for the better. Goldis repeats his motto: 'Horses are exactly like children, demanding a lot of attention, work, and care. We are three friends working together with love, ensuring the place feels like home and family for everyone. We love every creature of Hashem’s creation and strive to shine divine light to all.' Given your sensitive remarks about animals, I dare to ask: what is your general opinion regarding keeping horses? Wouldn’t it be better for horses to live freely in nature outside captivity? 'That’s a good question, without a single answer. In my view, if a horse is in a good place, receiving food, a consistent routine for rest, and training, then it will prefer to live in that setting rather than in the wild, where predators lurk, requiring it to fend for itself, including securing its own food. Horses love a steady framework and feel safe when they’re trained and shown how to behave. Just like children... And it’s no wonder a horse’s lifespan in captivity is longer than when it’s free in the wild.' How did the pandemic affect your horse farm? I ask Goldis, and he answers: 'During the first lockdown, we couldn’t work, but in subsequent lockdowns, it was clarified that since we always work outdoors, we were allowed to continue our work. One touching story was about a lovable student from Kfar Chabad who was under consecutive quarantines and couldn’t attend lessons. I felt we had to cheer him up and thought about how we could do so. We ultimately came to him with one of the horses in his backyard, and together we took him on a horse ride. He was extremely happy.' That outing with the horse was rare even for Goldis during those days, as his wife contracted COVID-19, and her condition became complicated. The doctors delivered her prematurely, and she was hospitalized, intubated, and sedated. 'For several weeks, my wife was in a very serious condition. The newborn was a tiny preemie, and we were in dire need of Heavenly mercy. As the husband of one of the first women in the country hospitalized due to COVID-19, I was interviewed by the media, asking the public to pray for my wife and our infant son. Also, in that moment, when given the microphone to speak, I shared my thoughts frequenting my mind over the past year: Of course, at that time, I couldn’t go to work on the farm. I was at my wife’s side in the hospital with our other young children, except for that one time when I took the horse to visit the child in quarantine. Who knows, maybe the child’s joy contributed rights toward my wife’s recovery. With Hashem’s grace, thanks to the prayers and merits of the people of Israel, my wife recovered, and baruch Hashem, she came home healthy. The baby also grew, developed, and was released home, and we thank Hashem every day for that. This week, I finally returned to partial work at the farm, and with Hashem’s help, we hope to return to a healthy routine with much blessing.'