Equitherapy is gaining supporters as previously disadvantaged South African children are learning about love, acceptance , trust and companionship through their interaction with horses. The options in training equestrian team plan to participate in a second Eventing Fundraising Training day for the Dare2Dream foundation on Sunday 15 November 2009.

The objectives of this day are to:

*Raise funds to support the work done by Lyn Stevenson, Brenda de Klerk, Sharon Herselman and their South African teams
*Develop local horse riders from the community by encouraging them to try their hand at cross country, or give their young horses an outing

The Dare2Dream Equitherapy Programme for Healing & Growth is a non-profit organisation, operating in Walkerville and Laezonia in Gauteng. Volunteer facilitators use horses and ponies to assist young South Africans to develop self-confidence and communication skills, as they overcome personal challenges.

At the last Dare2Dream Training Day in September, our Training Manager, Chanty Gomes, took her 'old man', a chestnut gelding called Latin Fire, on one and a half rounds of the course. Chanty and Fire took a tumble in a very spectacular fashion after the log combination. They temporarily retired until the medics declared the partnership fit to compete later in the programme. Both Chanty and Fire were quite bruised for a week after the training day, but showed guts and determination by overcoming the obstacles and completing the course!

Michelle MacKenzie introduced her ex-racehorse, Lights Out, to the Eventing discipline because the horse is working on overcoming self-confidence and pain issues. Despite a bit of a shaky start at the first jump, which Lights Out was convinced would eat her alive, this combination learned to trust each other more as they negotiated each obstacle on the course at a fast canter. The chestnut mare especially enjoyed the water obstacle!

The options team took time out to assist young riders new to the discipline of cross country from the Walkerville branch of the South African Pony Club both during the rounds, and afterwards by conducting a bit of impromptu training!

Walking the talk

When the organisers of the 13th annual Tour de Walkerville approached options in training to get involved, we were more than happy to oblige. The brainchild of the late Rob Wiseman, the idea behind the event was to raise money for local charities and have some fun at the same time.

568 people in this rural village , south of Johannesburg, walked ,rode or drove in this year's event. The route started at  the Walkerville Showgrounds, visited the Abbeyfields Senior Citizens' Home, and stopped at several local pubs and restuarants along the way.

Every cent of the participant's entry fees, donations from individuals, contributions from participating pubs and restuarants, proceeds from the raffles as well as sponsorship from local businesses went to the 17 listed charities from the area.

options in training gave both time and money to the event. As a marshall, Ann donned a red T-shirt and a yellow reflector vest. In between conversations, she guided participants along the route with her large red flag. Chanty and Michélle, as Mounted Community Police, patrolled the route on horseback.

At one of the stops, Chanty was able to make a young boy's dream come true. This ardent horse lover from Precious Place of Hope rode a pony for the first time. He didn't stop grinning for hours afterwards!

The Tour de Walkerville was a resounding success, not only because so many needy people were helped, but because it was a reflection of true community spirit that we don't see too often.

Supporting sport in education  

options in training is not only involved in the training and development of adults, but of teenagers and children too. We currently support two learners from the Support a Child Feeding scheme, as well as providing resources and equipment to Oliver's House Education Centre. Our financial sponsorship is used to provide nutritious food, stationery and equipment to learners of all ages.

We have also sponsored the Alberton High School Golf Challenge with a training voucher. The winner will be able to attend a two day computer training course at our premises.

Inspiration from the White Envelope project

A lady called Nancy Gavin knew that her husband hated the sheer commercialism of Christmas and came up with a creative gift which inspired The White Envelope project and options in training. Instead of buying her husband a Christmas present that cost a fortune, which he may not have liked or ever used, she spent the money buying some shoes for needy kids. In place of a gift under the tree, Nancy placed a white envelope in the branches, with details inside it about her gift. 

Nancy’s husband so loved the idea that it became a family tradition, as  well as inspiring countless people who read her short story called ’For the man who hated Christmas.’ The organisation called ‘The White Envelope project’ is supported by the Gavin family as they spread the concept of charitable giving all over the world.

www.whiteenvelopeproject.org lists 9 reasons for giving. Our company was inspired by # 1, 2, 6 and 8 which describe acting out what we believe in, in order to make a difference in the lives of others.

Instead of buying corporate Christmas gifts for our clients, we donated money to a charity close to our hearts, Oliver’s House. Our clients were happy to hear that money had gone to fund Grade 12 extra tuition, AIDS awareness classes, computer training and Adult literacy training.

Our staff is proud to work for a company that supports non-profit organisations, and have been inspired to follow Nancy Gavin’s example of volunteer work and giving.

Support a child - Alegrai and Nomathamsanga 

options in training has become involved with the Support a child feeding initiative in the Dukathole area. The daily nutritional requirements of over two hundred children in this impoverished community are met by this programme initiated by the St. Boniface Anglican Church in Germiston.

We help to provide two meals a day, a daily nutritious milkshake and school stationery to two young school girls. As a result, Alegrai Wate has been able to concentrate on learning in her Grade 2 class this year. Thirteen year old Nomathamsanga Maduna is meeting the challenges of Grade 5 on a full tummy and with a complete pencil box.

With our focus on training and development, we are happy to provide the healthy diet vital to their progress, as well as the stationery pack to enable them to get the best out of their school classes.

St John Ambulance 

Monthly donations go to St John Ambulance who offer training and services in first aid, basic health and home care to all those in need of their expertise. Visit their website www.stjohn.org.za to find out about some of their special projects like the Phelophepa train, frail care at the Stella Londt Retirement Village and their work along with Unicef and WHO in the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI).

  Oliver's House 

Oliver's House Education Centre is a charity close to our hearts. Situated in Benoni, they offer extra tuition in school subjects to grade 11 and 12 pupils from the Daveyton and Etwatwa communities who cannot afford it privately. They also offer AIDS/HIV classes, as well as Adult Basic Education and Training.

In addition to financial support, we continue to donate hardware to the computer training centre which opened in February 2006. Although the focus is on school children, the centre is also available to unemployed and disadvantaged persons who wish to gain computer skills in order to increase their chances of finding employment

Senior Citizens of Walkerville

options in training are co-sponsors of the Senior Citizens Club in Walkerville, run by the Walkerville Agricultural Society. Their monthly get-togethers will be spent socialising, playing perennial favourites like Bingo, watching DVD's and - of course - enjoying refreshments provided by a dedicated team of volunteers headed by Jan Newton.