The Pfunanane Christian Academy in Modjadjiskloof has been in existence since 1997 and what started as a pre-school with limited learners and has since grown into a bustling academy with 360 learners from pre-school grades through to Grade 7.
Three years ago, an equestrian element was brought into the curriculum and the effect the horses have had on the learners is really something special.
Sarah Terwey, the school’s Sponsorship Coordinator has always had a great love for horses and studied Equestrian Studies at a tertiary level.
Sarah has had a long love affair with Africa, working as a missionary in many countries across the vast continent. Before starting work at Pfunanane 11 years ago, she was assisting at a school with 55 children in Namibia which incorporated horses into the learning and this was a dream for Sarah.
Read: SLC learners are certainly not horsin’ about
When Sarah arrived at Pfunanane 11 years ago, the school had a total of 75 children, of whom 12 were sponsored to attend. Now 125 sponsored children make up over one third of the school’s total number of learners.
As the school began to grow, Sarah realised she could finally incorporate all aspects of her dream and decided to buy a few horses three years ago.
Since then, the patient and docile equines have become an integral part of the academy’s identity.
On a weekly basis, educators from each class put forward a list of students’ names who are struggling in some way or another.
Those identified children are then selected to interact with the horses, from grooming and patting the ponies, to sitting on their back and engaging in games with the Assistant Equine Director, Shannon Hreyo.
The unique equestrian programme uses horses as therapy for the struggling learners. Riding a horse has been shown to have emotional and psychological benefits as well as physical.
Shannon told the LETABA HERALD, “We see an increase in positive energy and improved confidence. The teachers often report back seeing a marked difference in the pupils.”
Physical benefits include learning a new skill as well as balance and co-ordination but psychologically, interacting with equines has proven to increase empathy, relieve stress and promote self-discipline.
Some of the learners who show great potential and can offer their time to the sport of equestrianism are then selected to be on the Pfunanane team.
At the moment, seven learners are being given the opportunity to ride the horses after school hours and improve on their riding abilities.
As well as the luxury of riding, the students are taught and encouraged in all aspects of equine husbandry. Sarah believes that they must learn and take on all the responsibilities of horse ownership, so the students are taught how to groom, tack up, prepare feed, clean water buckets and clean tack.
Recently Sarah wanted to take some of the learners to Polokwane for a riding lesson but got tied up and was later than expected to the stables. Upon her arrival, she was astonished to see what the girls had achieved, “When I got to the yard, the box was hitched, feed was packed, the horses’ boots were on and the horses were loaded in the trailer. I just had to hop in and drive. They had literally thought of and done everything,” she proudly told the HERALD.
The HERALD asked some of Pfunanane’s up and coming riders what the horses mean to them.
“I was struggling when I was young. The horses are my friends. I work harder in school because of the reward of riding. Sometimes when I am angry, I come to the barn and I calm down. Even when I am lonely or sad, I come to the barn.” Grace Ramokgola (16).
“You get to know the animals and learn their ways and know how they feel. Horses are the most forgiving animals. Even when you pull them hard, they forgive you, but they do let you know that it hurts.” Lankie Rabopane (12).
“They are clever, they are smart and they are beautiful. I love them because they listen.” Engei Hlongwani (10).
“One day when I grow up, I want to have horses and work with horses.” Florina Ramokgola (10).
