When I found out about HERD Singapore, I wanted to give my son the chance to experience EAL. The few things I had in mind for him were firstly, have him engage in activities outside and away from gaming. Secondly, I have read about how one can establish connections with horses and understand oneself better through interacting with these huge yet surprisingly gentle creatures. Lastly, having participated in these equine guided therapy (EGT) sessions myself, I felt that EAL would complement his character development learning even better. The programme caters specifically to individuals’ needs and I understand that it is not psychiatry, so for us, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to give him a taste of what he can expect in a different setting. With the above-mentioned considerations, I geared him up from anticipating the unknown angle, attuned his hopes to enjoy the experience and certainly, I wanted him to pat some horses and ride on them. I personally feel that the seasoned and skilled therapists at HERD (Human-Equine Relationship Development), Singapore handle children extremely well and they definitely know when, how and if they can bring across their concepts of resilience, patience, kindness and release of emotions and the joys these horses bring so effortlessly. My son’s first session began quite smoothly. As I expected, he was apprehensive but genuinely excited at the same time. From the get-go, he was introduced to horses that won his heart immediately. He started getting comfortable with them in no time. One of the facilitators handed over a horse grooming kit instructing him to groom the horses because they were dirty and that horses feel loved, at ease and rewarded (not materially), after we groom them well. Dave took it seriously and gently groomed the half- bay horse in front of him. Without thinking twice, he leaned on the horse’s neck and this gentle soul licked him! If that wasn’t enough to encourage Dave, the facilitator made sure to talk about the emotional state the horse must have been feeling. It (the facilitator) went on to share the rough background some of these rescue horses were facing in the past and how grooming formed a bond with these horses and sparked their desire to be around humans. With subsequent sessions, Dave developed trust with all their horses. Dave and the horses connected with each other in ways I had never imagined before. Sometimes, they’d meet in the middle of the paddock. Then, they’d do things together. The horses and even the therapists gave Dave cues, to build the course of action depending on the topic up for discussion that hour. It was nerve-wracking, captivating at the same time. The horses led him towards “self-management” and that helped him to figure out his feelings. The best part about the facilitators in HERD (Singapore) I feel is that they’ve managed to tap into the depths of Dave’s mind and got him to reflect on his actions each time he spent time with the horses. Their programme literally touched Dave’s heart and uncovered a new insight every visit he made to them. Moreover, HERD has done the impossible with my son, they’ve made him yearn for the next session eagerly and fortnightly! It’s amazing to see how Dave has opened up, his empathy has grown gradual with these horses and they adapted brilliantly to him too. Incidentally, his friends found out at school and probably due to the detailed input Dave shared about the sessions, we were more than bombarded with questions. Dave had maturely answered them and certainly as parents we all do what it takes to ensure social stigma to be managed well, insulating the child from getting carried away and instilling more realistic expectations. They showed genuine interest and requested a similar programme be designed for them too. Life’s best gifts come unplanned. HERD is definitely an exceptional programme, with experienced therapists who really made it happen! We would love to see this programme grow further! Kudos to HERD!

When I found out about HERD Singapore, I wanted to give my son the chance to experience EAL. The few things I had in mind for him were firstly, have him engage in activities outside and away from gaming. Secondly, I have read about how one can establish connections with horses and understand oneself better through interacting with these huge yet surprisingly gentle creatures. Lastly, having participated in these equine guided therapy (EGT) sessions myself, I felt that EAL would complement his character development learning even better. The programme caters specifically to individuals’ needs and I understand that it is not psychiatry, so for us, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to give him a taste of what he can expect in a different setting.