4th Symposium of “Horses for Our Children” in Fürstenau – Focus: Integrating Horses More Fully into Education and Childhood
Symposium: How to Reintegrate Horses More Fully into Education and Childhood
from Jan Tönjes 
The organization “Horses for Our Children” invites you to its 4th symposium in October. Photo: Thomas Hellmann Riding school operators, educators, and club representatives are invited to the 4th Symposium of “Pferde für unsere Kinder” on October 2 at the Fürstenau Riding and Driving Club – Hippocampus Fürstenau. The club is hosting the event, and the program will run from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. The focus will be on providing information and discussing the future of children’s riding schools. Three main sessions are planned.
Why do partnerships between educational institutions and equestrian facilities fail?
Dr. Katharina Wiegand of Pferdeland Niedersachsen GmbH will open the event by presenting the results of a survey of teachers, early childhood educators, and riding school operators on the topic of horses in schools and preschools, The presentation will highlight the sticking points that can sometimes cause even a well-intentioned idea to fail. The devil is in the details—often even before the first pony and the first child have met.
Collaborations between educational institutions and equestrian facilities often fail because administrative issues have not been adequately addressed: insurance matters, liability risks, organizational burdens, and a lack of designated contacts on both sides—these are the common concerns circulating within the industry. The study by Wiegand, a horse science researcher with a Ph.D., now provides data on whether these are indeed the key factors—and which approaches may hold promise for success.
Practice: Best Practice
The research segment is followed by a real-world test: Anne Lau from Hofpferde Seifertshain will give a presentation titled “Between Tradition and the Future,” sharing her experiences from day-to-day operations. This is the part of the program where academic findings meet the reality of the stable. Her remarks are likely to spark discussion in the afternoon.
The discussion will take place in a “World Café” format. This format, which was first introduced to the equestrian community at the Federal Professional Riders’ Day in Marbach, offers participants opportunities for discussion in small groups. Practical experience has shown that this often yields better results than a panel discussion with speakers seated on a raised stage.
From Preschool to High School Graduation
Doris Bregen-Meiners and Sarah Boyemann from the host club will wrap up the event. Using concrete examples, they will demonstrate how horses can be integrated into educational processes—ranging from kindergarten through high school graduation. That’s the promise. The club in Fürstenau is known for its practical examples.
Coaches benefit in several ways
There are 3 LE positions available for trainers in Profile 4. To register or for more information, visit pferde-fuer-unsere-kinder.de.
The event is sponsored by HKM Sports Equipment GmbH, Horse Shop Landenhausen, JJ Darboven GmbH & Co. KG / IDEE Kaffee, Böckmann Fahrzeugwerke GmbH, spoga horse, Allspan German Horse Vertrieb GmbH & Co. KG, and EN GARDE Marketing GmbH.
