Riders head to Special Olympics
DIEPSLOOT - Shumbashaba stables, near Diepsloot is proud to announce that two of their riders have been selected to participate in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Shumbashaba held an advancement event in association with Special Olympics South Africa at their premises to choose a pair to head to LA. The event was well attended, and young athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities from across racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic backgrounds participated.
There were 37 young riders who participated, and two, Maria Matlala and Themba Sibiya were chosen to attend the Special Olympics next year. Both Matlala and Sibiya are from Bona Lesedi Disability Centre in Diepsloot and they both participate in Shumbashaba’s therapeutic riding programmes.
For more than 10 years Shumbashaba’s Horses Helping People programmes have reached out and touched the lives of more than 1 500 people, many of whom come from Diepsloot. In recognising the long and key role horses have played in history, and by harnessing the power horses have to impact meaningfully on man, Shumbashaba has developed therapeutic programmes that involve both riding and non-riding.
Special Olympics World Summer Games will bring to the world’s attention the talents and capabilities of people with intellectual and physical disabilities, where more than 7 000 Special Olympics athletes from 170 nations will compete in 21 Olympic-type sports.
