Children: Healing with Horses

CHILDREN:

THE C IN CHW

Healing With Horses

Rebekka’s Story

Rebekka Dullman, Head of Therapeutic Riding and Stables at CHW Nahalal Children and Youth Village tells us about the positive impact of the Na’aleh Program.

Rebekka Dullman Britain has come full circle as the new Head of Therapeutic Riding and Stables at CHW Nahalal Children and Youth Village. Her journey to Nahalal, filled with twists and turns, began when Rebekka moved from the city of Bonn, Germany, to the desert town of Be’er Sheva at the age of 14. It took Rebekka some time to get over the culture shock, but eventually, she found her path: a path, guided by her deep love and appreciation for the ‘magic and mystery’ of horses; a path, which she is now delighted to share with children as they navigate through the obstacles in their lives and cope with a world of uncertainties.

Rebekka shares: “It was very hard for me to adjust to a new life in Israel. I didn’t even want to learn Hebrew. I was pretty miserable until I found a stable in the neighbourhood where I could ride a horse again. I always loved horses and horse riding offered me stability and an outlet.”

Once she started enjoying herself again, Rebekka was ready to face her challenges, including Hebrew! She started learning ‘essential’ words, such as saddle, harness and reins! Rebekka’s passion for riding became her mission in life. At the age of 17, Rebekka completed her instructor’s course and became a certified horse trainer. At that point, Rebekka knew she wanted to help other children find their path in life as well. She earned an MA degree in Experiential Education, which complimented her degree in Therapeutic Riding. “I really believe you can help a child through a positive educational experience. They can learn so much by experiencing life and not just by reading textbooks. The stable is a perfect setting for learning because it is a microcosm of the real world, yet it still feels safe and protected. By taking care of horses, children learn responsibility. They learn to regulate their emotions, by overcoming their frustrations when a horse doesn’t respond to their commands. Horses communicate with the children and give them immediate feedback.”

Rebekka with one of her students, Sonia, at the CHW Nahalal Stables.

Since her very first job at CHW Nahalal over 20 years ago, Rebekka has gained invaluable experience and has trained dozens of other therapeutic instructors across the country. She has helped hundreds of children and youth through some of the most difficult periods in their lives. When the Coronavirus spiked in Israel, Rebekka sprung into action! Dozens of students from the Na’aleh program who intended to travel home for Passover holidays suddenly found themselves stranded in Israel, due to new travel restrictions and international border closures. Yet, the incredible staff, led by Galia Alef, the Director of the Village, created a safe-haven for over 60 Na’aleh students, as full lock-down measures began to take effect.

Rebekka says: “During lockdown, the stable felt like the only island of sanity! COVID-19 didn’t affect the horses, their routine continued. They had to be fed every morning and every night. We actually needed the kids more than ever. We needed their help to run the stable and care for the horses. Most of the students were upset that they couldn’t return home, but with time, I could see how relieved they were to be in a safe place. The daily routine at the stable helped them to better cope with the chaos of the pandemic.”

In fact, the entire Agriculture Track, which CHW Nahalal is renowned for, was bustling with activity during COVID-19. Rebekka saw positive changes among many of the students who rolled up their sleeves every morning to help out on the farm, but one student really stood out for Rebekka.

“I really connected with Sonia and took her under my wing. This was her first year in the program, and her first time away from her family. CHW Nahalal couldn’t be more different than her home, a small city in Siberia called Irkutsk! When Sonia arrived, she was very shy and didn’t feel comfortable expressing herself. If she wanted or needed something, she wouldn’t ask.” “However, since joining the horse riding programme, Sonia has learned to take charge. There are so many skills developed in the horse riding programme that can be adapted to everyday life. Simple skills, like speaking up and communicating clearly, are so important! If you want to make it in Israel, you need to be more assertive and use your voice. We practice this on a daily basis by communicating with the horses. I’m delighted that after a few months, Sonia feels comfortable to speak up now! She understands that it’s ok to ask for help.”

Sonia riding at CHW Nahalal Children & Youth Village

“The aim of our Therapeutic Program is not solely to train our students to become better riders. Our goal is to train them for life and give them tools and skills to overcome their challenges, and we set individual goals with each student. For the Na’aleh students, the stable is a place where they can come and feel connected and develop a sense of belonging. It’s their home away from home.”

Reflecting on her experiences during lockdown, Sonia shares: “During lockdown, I had more free time, so I decided to come to the stable. The more I went, the more the place felt like home. It felt warm and inviting. I got to know so many wonderful people, like Rebekka, and made new friends. I’m so happy to be a part of this special group. Everyone has been working together to improve the conditions at the stable. There’s still more to be done, but everything looks and feels so nice right now. I feel really grateful. I really miss my parents, but everyone cheers me up and makes me feel like a part of the family. I love them all!”

Although Israel has officially lifted many COVID-19 restrictions, there is still a lot of uncertainty and fear around a possible second wave of infections, which may lead to another lock down and travel restrictions.

Rebekka points out: “Students are clearly stressed right now. They’re unsure if they will be able to travel home this summer. For many, it will be a full year since they’ve seen their family!”

Rebekka and a core team at CHW Nahalal are gearing up for every possible scenario. Their mission to provide a safe and secure home for children and youth has never been more important.

Rebekka will be working closely with all the students over the summer to ensure their wellbeing during this difficult time. She feels confident she will succeed, with the help of many loyal horses.

“You can see whatever is going on inside a student’s mind as they begin to ride. If someone is stressed or upset, the horse will react accordingly. Even with all my years of experience, sometimes the horse picks up things that I might miss. The horse really completes the picture for me. Horses feel your body language and your body language does not lie. In the eyes of a horse, you see yourself. You can see your reflection in their big, warm eyes.”