Princess Haya Visits Children’s Center for Therapeutic Riding
Equestrian News Release

H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan, accompanied by members of the German Vaulting team, took time during the FEI World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006 to pay an informal visit to the Kohlshof in Aachen – the “Riding Therapy in Adventure Land“. 60 children are currently undergoing therapeutic riding treatment at the center under the dedicated supervision of Angelika Todzey´s team of volunteers and therapists.

The new President of the Federation Equestre Internationale has long been devoted to many humitarian causes worldwide. “It is very heartwarming to see the amount of dedication and effort that the team at the Therapeutic Riding Center put into bringing so much hope and happiness into the lives of individuals with health challenges and disabilities,” said Princess Haya on Friday at the Kohlshof. “Horses can have an unbelievably soothing and healing effect on people“, explained Klaus Pavel, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV).

Regardless of whether they are suffering from motor or perceptional problems, communication or contact difficulties, depression or a mental disability. “In our capacity as a non-profit making club it goes without saying that we are currently supporting the Adventure Land to build an indoor school“, says Pavel.

The riding lesson was also attended by the former Vaulting World Champion Nadia Zülow, as well as Anja Barwig, Luisa Berger, Ilka Kempkes and Sylvie Barwig - members of the German Vaulting Team. “It was very generous of the German Vaulting Team to devote their time in this way to underline their involvement and support for therapeutic riding and by doing so exemplify the unique common bond that links everyone within equestrian sport.“ commented Princess Haya.

During the Princess’s visit, children aged between four and six demonstrated how at home they already are with the horses: They eagerly brushed the horses’ coats and then they moved on to a little course, to show the FEI President and visiting riders everything they have already learnt. “They were very nervous beforehand, but they were also really looking forward to it and ended up having a truly wonderful time“, said Kerstin Keus, Riding Therapist at Adventure Land.