International Para Equestrian Competition
December 1st, 2008
On the morning of November 29th, a couple of PAS students woke up early in the morning and were on their way to Taiwan’s Therapeutic Center where they would be helping out at International Para Equestrian Competition for mentally- and physically-challenged children and adults along with students from National Tsing-Hua University.
Upon arrival, the students each hopped unto a horse and warmed it up for the upcoming competition. People became pouring into the stable around nine o’clock in the morning and soon, the students became busy with saddling the ponies and horses as well as aiding each rider unto his or her horse. Everything had to be done carefully for these riders were fragile and required a lot of attention and care.
The competition began and the first event, also the most challenging, did not require much help of the PAS volunteers. In this event, riders were capable of riding themselves and moreover, could walk, trot and canter to music on their own. The next events, however, required the PAS students to help lead the horse as well as support the rider and dutifully the PAS students lent their hands and thankfully, no one was injured that day.
Many of the events actually relied on the students’ speed as they led the horse to go around cones and poles but the PAS students had a lot of fun competing with the college students and helped the riders place in the top three numerous times. It was a hectic day and the only break the volunteers received was a short lunch break. Even though the wind never stopped blowing into the PAS students’ faces, these five students never stopped for a minute to complain but had smiles on their faces as they gave the mentally- and physically-challenged a great and memorable time.