The Polotsk equestrian club "Living Delight" held the campaign "Lend a Helping Hand to Children".

Those who have ever looked at the world from a horse's perspective will never want to look at it differently, assure avid riders. But even if eternal love for beautiful horses doesn't blossom at first sight, no one will remain indifferent.

Polotsk residents got the chance to get to know these wonderful, intelligent animals better a little over a year ago when the "Living Delight" equestrian club opened in our city. This club doesn't just offer horse rides; the team actively participates in the public life of Polotsk and implements its own social projects.

One such initiative, "Lend a Helping Hand to Children," brings together children who haven't had the easiest lives: residents of a social shelter, members of the "Strumok" association, teenagers registered with the Juvenile Affairs Inspectorate, and other adolescents.

By taking such initiative, the club's team, led by director Viktor Volkov, aims to contribute at least a small part to the care of the younger generation – the future. "After all, unfortunately, the number of children needing our attention is not decreasing," urges PR manager of the club, Tatyana Pakhomenko, to reflect.

Of course, Polotsk enterprises and organizations also respond to such appeals, providing feasible assistance in similar initiatives. For instance, this time Maria Gavrilovich offered face painting to everyone, drawing horses, beloved characters, or abstract designs: "I experience immense pleasure creating drawings for children and seeing their happy faces. I will definitely come to the equestrian club again!"

From May 1 to September 1, the interdepartmental special program "Care" is held, aimed at organizing summer leisure for minors, and the "Lend a Hand to Children" campaign has been a real find. Svetlana Alekseenok, head of the juvenile affairs inspectorate of the Polotsk District Department of Internal Affairs, notes its undoubted benefit: "The main thing for our teenagers is the desire to improve. And such an activity helps a lot." One of the participants in previous campaigns later traveled to a club from the other end of the city to help care for the animals he had grown fond of. Another of Svetlana's wards, Dasha Vasilyeva, is participating in the charity project for the first time. And she admits: it's a worthy replacement for computer games or hanging out on the streets.

"Horseback riding also benefits health," notes Irina Polovinkina, the club's chief instructor. "It has helped many of our children with scoliosis, for example. And the influence of communication and positive emotions during hippotherapy is also very important."

Saida Dabizha, deputy chairman of the board of the association of parents with disabled children "Strumok," in turn, emphasizes that the very fact that the children, thanks to "Living Delight," have gotten out and about among people is of great importance.

Meanwhile, the boys and girls are getting acquainted with their new friends, the horses. As Irina Polovinkina said, today the "Living Delight" club has five horses. Little ten-year-old Roza, especially suitable for riding children; twenty-two-year-old Elita, the most experienced mare; the calm and obedient stallion Kentavr; the new six-year-old Vita, who is just beginning her training; and the very affectionate and reliable Zarya, who is currently pregnant – all of them require careful care and supervision. And in return, they offer a tender love that is impossible not to feel.

Varvara MOROZOVA. "Polatski vesnik"

Photo by Andrey MARTsinkevich.