Lush green branches sway in the wind. Surrounded by meadows, fields and forests, there is a place where people and animals feel at home. It smells of hay, freedom and horse manure. The Bethel animal project "Animal" near Detmold combines riding therapy and animal-assisted education. Not only horses are involved, but also the donkeys Olli and Rosalie, the charming goat Ludmilla, Shetland ponies, rabbits and chickens, cats and bees. Stefan Simon likes them all. Without exception. The young, lanky man lives nearby in a Bethel facility for people with mental disabilities. And hardly a day goes by without him visiting the animals.
Bethel - Stefan Simon has a heart for animals
He also enjoys helping out. After working in a workshop for people with disabilities, the animals are a nice change from his everyday life. He grooms the donkeys. He runs a brush through their dusty fur and strokes them between the ears. "That feels nice," he says with a smile. He also helps to scrape out the hooves. Employee Gisela Krohn makes sure that Rosalie doesn't get out, as the donkey is a little ticklish. The educator always makes sure that everyone is doing well - people and animals alike.
"He usually needs a lot of support. But with the animals, he can do completely different things almost on his own."
With freshly cleaned hooves, the donkeys are now taken out for a walk. Stefan Simon leads the way with Rosalie. He looks happy as he does so. Riding therapy is also important for him. "It gives him confidence to sit on the big horse and hold the reins properly. He needs a lot of support otherwise. But with the animals, he can do completely different things almost on his own," says Gisela Krohn. Stefan Simon smiles contentedly. Before he goes to eat himself, he watches the animals as they peacefully pluck hay from a large pile and crush it. The crickets chirp. The chickens cluck. Maybe there'll be an egg for breakfast tomorrow.
Text: Heike Lepkojis | Picture: Christian Weische
This story simply told
People and animals feel at home in an animal project near Detmold. Stefan Simon visits the donkeys, goats and horses there every day. He helps with grooming, scratching out hooves and walking the animals. Interacting with the animals gives him pleasure and boosts his self-confidence. He particularly likes the donkeys.
Would you like to find out more?
Contact
Eben-Ezer Foundation
Animal Project Animal
Wohnverbund Stapelage
Südworthstraße 41-45
32791 Lage-Stapelage
E-mail: tierprojekt.stapelage(at)eben-ezer.de
Offers & services
The Animal Project Animal is a certified centre for therapeutic riding. In addition to riding therapy, there are other animal-assisted educational programmes for clients of the Eben-Ezer Foundation as well as for children and adults who come from outside the foundation.
The animals are specially trained for their tasks and are kept in a species-appropriate manner. The Animal project includes horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, cats, rabbits, chickens and bees.
