PLEASE WRITE TODAY TO KEEP SLEEPY HOLLOW OPEN: If you havent written your letter of support for Sleepy Hollow to get their license to keep operating their horse riding and therapy school please do so today and mail to lisa.hare.mccallum@gmail This is a situation where red tape changed and lines of communication with the effected were not used. If you need some inspiration as to what to write please see mine below. To whom it may concern: From The Larters, Erf #114 We are writing to you to implore you to be reasonable and sensible in deciding whether to allow Sleepy Hollow the licence to continue operating as they have done for the last 30 years plus. We have been living in Noordhoek for over 8 years now. We chose Noordhoek as the pace we wanted to put down roots and start a family because of the rural feel of the area, the open spaces, the common and because it is one of the few places where cars have to slow down for horses. The world we live in is spinning faster and faster and gems like Noordhoek are few and far between. But Sleepy Hollow Horse riding in more than just a place for people to go horse riding. It is a crucial centre for people with disabilities. There is a lot of research that has been done on the use of horses as therapy but few places that offer this amazing treatment. Until our son (now 6) contracted viral encephalitis and was been left with severe brain damage we didn’t know about hippo therapy (Occupational Therapy incorporating horses). It was one of the first therapies we started as part of his rehabilitation. When Jack started riding, he couldn’t even sit up. But Lisa Hare, her assistants and the horses have helped him build up his core strength and endurance over the past 2 and a half years to a point where he is sitting independently and able to do more challenging activities. One of the beautiful things about the horses that I have learnt is that no matter what you are doing on the horse (sitting backwards, forwards, sideways, lying down on tummy or back, etc) the rider cannot escape doing work and activating muscles. On top of that there are the benefits of interacting with a huge animal with its own intelligence, being out in the outdoors in the wind, sun, rain, smelling and hearing the world around us. In a nutshell activating all the senses. And magically incorporating all of this in a therapy that is exciting and fun. For special needs children (and their parents and loved ones) who have so many challenges and hardships and frustrations to have a therapy like this on our doorstep is one of the biggest gifts we can have in our lives. On top of this the school is open once a week to the previously disadvantaged to ride free of charge. For some this is the only therapy they get. This issue of this is not about an absent neighbour who has taken a dislike to Sleepy Hollow and what it does. It may have been started by the neighbour. But Sleepy Hollow has many many neighbours who would be saddened if Sleepy Hollow was shut down. Our neighbourhood would lose something difficult to quantify. But honestly I believe it would be the start of us losing our soul. Given all the good that is generated out of the school and the number of lives that are improved directly and indirectly it would be short sighted and counter to the spirit that is embodied in Noordhoek to not allow the school to continue providing the wonderful service they do. I have only good things to say about Lisa and her staff. When we first met her we were reeling from the blow dealt to us by fate that stole our happy healthy boy away from us. Lisa has been a huge support to me listening, giving advice on Jack’s needs (from eating, communicating, medication, aligning therapies, etc) and basically going above and beyond. She has a huge passion for her work. It’s a calling. We are privileged to have her and her team in our community and I am horrified and disappointed in the manner in which this has come about. We should be looking for ways in which to ensure that these types of organisations thrive, not tying them up in red tape and making them feel like they are breaking the law. Sleepy Hollow is a huge asset to Noordhoek. Let them continue to work their magic on our children and our community as a whole. Yours sincerely Sarah, Doug, Jack and Max Larter
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 08:59:31 +0000
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