The All-Russian Special Olympics Equestrian Sports Contest has opened in the church Hippotherapy Center of the Pyatigorsk diocese "Healing Essentuki". More than 110 children with intellectual disabilities from 23 regions of Russia will take part in the competition. It is planned that about 500 guests will come to the center.
"This is the second time such a competition has been held in our center. Last year it became the largest in the history of the Special Equestrian Olympiad, with 105 participants from all over Russia," said Priest Sergiy Trostinsky, head of the "Healing Essentuki" Hippotherapy Center. — The main thing for us is that children feel the joy of communication and know that they are loved. It is also very important that hippotherapy classes really have an effect — children who have been confined to a wheelchair get back on their feet and even run."
Athletes will take part in four equestrian disciplines: dressage, relay race, English riding and work trail. The competition will end on September 19th.
The "Healing Essentuki" center helps children with disabilities and combat veterans. 5,000 children and 300 veterans have been rehabilitated during the entire period of work.
The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the largest charity organizers in Russia. Hundreds of projects have been opened to help orphaned children, single mothers with children, people with disabilities, the homeless, and addicts. This activity is coordinated by the Synodal Department for Charity. There are over 400 Orthodox organizations in Russia that help children and adults with disabilities.